The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-09-04
WORTH. THE MAN MILLINER.
what the Women Have Done for Him

The establishment in the Rue De La Paix
of III. Worth, the famous dressmaker of
Paris has often been described in CORE
spondence, and even in books of travel, but
no detailed account of his elegant home az
Suresnes, a suburb of the gay capital, has
ever been published. His extensive grounds
and chateau with the surrounding chalets of
bis own sons, are in the Rue De Mont Vale
rian, and Immediately under the guns
of the chief defense of Paris, Fort
Mont Valerian, which the Germans in the
siege of 1871 failed to reduce, and from
which, as a base, the French nationals, un-
der MacMahon, operated against the COM
munists in the same year. This suberb of
Paris is noted for its picturesque surround
ings, and might also well be admired for its
approaches. John Johnston, the senior
member of the dry goods firm OF ]. 4 @.
Johnston, paid a visit to Mr.. Worth's home,
and to New York Tribune reporter gave
very interesting account of its rich appoint
inents and its interesting personnel.
Monsieur Worth, as all do not know"
said Mr.. Johnston, sis not Monsieur at all,
but is a plain Englshman, without drop
of French blood in his veins. And it may
be added here as well as any other place
that he is Protestant In religion, while his
French or Partisan wife Is dev0ut Catholic,
and their two sons, born in Paris have been
educated In the faith of their mother. Mr..
though he prides himself, singularly enough
for an Englishman, on his Napoleonic cast of
countenance. He is most affable and agree
able in manners, and very genial as host,
however dogmatical he may be in matters OF
business or dictatorial in questions of style
and taste. Madame Worth has also large
figure and an imposing appearances. She is
most graceful In carriage and pleasing and
The grounds of Mr.. Worth's residence
are several acres in extent, say about the
size of one of the ordinary blocks of New
York city. They are enclosed by high brick
walls-an ugly style OF enclosure common
in suburban Paris, and probably dictated
less by taste than the necessity for the pro-
lection of gardens and their shrubbery and
statuary. The gardens are filled at every
turn with figures and fountains and grotto-
like structures, which give them an oriental
aspect There is large dollhouse, from
which may be obtained at all times the
choice fruit and flowers of almost every
cline and season. There is also a skating
rink, for parlor skates. Many tropical trees
decorate the grounds. In the center OF the
garden is a miniature lake, and in the
island. Lions and dragons of immense
size, cast in iron, stand near the shores Of
the lake, and by sr ingenious arrangement
of pipes the former do service as sprinkling
fountains while the latter are made to
spout str. ans of COO, and refreshing water in
every direction. Gas lamps and Chinese
and Japanese lanterns and transparancies
throughout the grounds light IL up at night
Columns from the old Hotel de Vile and
the palace of the Tulleues destroyed in 1871
by the communists, and lately purchased by
Mr.. Worth, and bronze and other souvenirs
of the reigns of Francis 1. and Louis XIV.
ad0rn the grounds AT the main entrance
charity box of elaborate design, surmounted
by an lmploring figure. appeals with its
plain inscription, Pour les panores, 70 all
entering the grounds.
1.-THE residence itself is of brick and stone,
and palatial in size and appointments OBJ
jects of vertu from eastern nations are scat
tered about every room in the hall in lavish
profusion and tasteful disregard of arrange
ment The walls of the reception room are
inlaid with strips or rows of the finest por-
celain strips or tiles of varied and brilliant
color and sizes The large brick fireplace is
silver mounted; brass had not become the
fashion when Mr.. Worth built his mansion.
/ A wood fire was lightly burning at the time
of my last visit, and the effect of Its light
upon the porcelain tiles was indescribably
pleasing One of the most interesting
! of the many apartments propose
! describing only the more unique
I rooms-is the music saloon. Its furniture
! is upholstered in the finest satin. The
chairs are of ebony frames and the backs
! are of the finest aud most costly lacquer
work On raised platforms on either side OF
the room are lounges, sofas aud tete-a-tetes,
artistically arranged in most admirable dis
order. The piano is Of French make and