The daily gazette., 1878-12-26
SECOND EDITION
rIstna as Decorations.
SOME OF THE MOST NOTABLE AND AR.
TISTIC In THE CITY.

SOME OF THE MOST NOTABLE AND AR
TIsTIC IN THE CITY.
Throughout the city, yestarday, there
were number of very handsome Christ
mas decorations, SONS of which were be-
yond the general average as to deserve
more than passing notice.
Ex-coUNcILMAN JoHNsoN's HOUSE,
No. 512 West Third street, was "open" all
day and evening, to the hosts of fri ends
who called to wish him AMI his family a
Merry Christmas" and TO enjoy the
beautiful decorations which are a dis
tinctive feature of the holiday observan-
ces at his house This year Mr.. johnson
and his daughters fairly exceeded all pre-
vious efforts in this direction, and decor
ated the parlor In manner that called
forth the warmest commendati ons of all
who had the pleasure of looking upon
the beautiful scene.
The decorations touched every part of
the spacious room. From the center of
the ceiling graceful loops of evergreen
were festooned, some of which were sup
ported by curved iron rods, while ten
Inedium-siZ-d Norway spruces were ar
ranged against the walls nearly all the
way round the room. These trees were
set in the midst of messy plat, edged
with boXwood and were adorned with
all the fancy contrivances of Japanese
cardboard, pdpier-mache, gilt paper, glass
&c, that human ingenuity can contrive
for Christmas decorations. AT the head
of the room, In front of the mirror, two
tall, slender Irish jumpers, decorated
with string of blushing- cheeked apples,
stood in solemn dignity, as though keep
ing guard over their more snowy, hut less
imposing companions. Along the upper
side of the room, in front of the fire place
was scene representing couutry man
sion, surrounded by extensive grounds.
On one side of the house is a flock of
handsome sheep followed by little shep-
herdess, while on the other side are
full military band and company of sol
diers on dress parade. The grounds are
laid off into a handsome t1ower-garden,
adorned with an assortment of real natu-
raj looking artificial flowers. This beau
tiful ornament is Mr.. Johnson's especial
favorite.
The effect of these handsome decora-
tons is greatly heightened by small
fountain, set in the centre of the floor.
Several gold-fshes swim gracefully about
in the water, while on one side sits a
miniature fisherman, who with pole in
hand intently watches the cork bobbing
up and down, and patiently waits for the
bite that never con es. This fisherman,
Mr.. johnson claims, closely resembles
prominent barrister of the New Castle
county bar, who is vertable Isaac Wal
ton in his piscatorial propensities. A
PAIR of neat little jumpers, trimmed with
cotton and bits of glass; to represent snow
and icices, stood at either side of the
fountain while three little china dolls,
unadorned with any superfiuous clothing
were grouped around the centre to rep
resent the water nymphs that are sup
posed TO pleSiJe over such beaut ful re-
treats.
The decorations are completed by a
red, white and blue Malta cross, which
covers all the unoccupied portion of the
floor.
Hundreds ofpeople visited Mr.. John
son, yesterday to view the beautiful
decorations, and partake of his bounti-
ful Christmas hospitality. The decora-
tions will remain for two weeks, and Mr..
j. will be pleased to have all his riends
come and enjoy them.
COUNCILMAN ADAMS TREE.
Councilman Joseph X. Adams, OF 707
French street, confined his Christmas
decorations to an immense tree, which
certainly exceeds anything In the tree
line ever seen in this city. The tree reach
es to the lofty ceiling of the room, and is
fairly covered with all the beautiful arti-
cles that are now made for this purpose.
The grounds about the tree are about
ten feet square, and present variety of
scenes. In front is a pleasant little GRO
quet party, with four handsomely dressed
dolls dexterously manipulating the NAL
lets. In the rear is military soone, with
two white tents and the soldiers busy
around the camp fire, while just beyond
the camp line are mum ber of skirmish-
ers, gallantly charging upon an imagi-
nary enemy. A country scene. with sheep
and cattle and several tiower-beds, ,adorn-
ed with natural and artificial flowers,
together with two or three neat little
rock cries complete the decorations. Al
together the scene is a very handsome
Que, and is well worth visit.
NAT. HENDERsoN's HOUSE.
Mr. Nathaniel Henderson, of No. 505
Lombard street, has on exhibition
miniature house and grounds, which is
certainly splendid piece of workman
ship. The house is two-stories high,
with mansard roof and back building,
and Is comp lete In every detail, all the
rooms being furnished as thoroughly as
the rooms of the finest mansion III the
city. AT night all the rooms are lighted
up and the etfec! is splendid. The grounds
are nicely laid out, AID a little fountain
sets off the front yard. Mr.. Henderson
has no trade, yet he made 1t with his own
hands. He invites the public 70 inspect
this elegant piece of workmanship, and
tnouSn ne makes 10 chaiS &c no uo0s hou
object to visitors dropping a small con-
tribution into box which is placed in
one corner of the yard for that purposer
JOSEPH HooPEs' DISPLAY.
The display made by Joseph Hopes,
proprietor of the Washington House, is
very fine and tasteful. In one end of the
parlor a represe ntation of yard has been
made, in the ceuter of which is minia
ture lake, upon the placid waters rest
several sailing vessels. Two trees have
be zen erected, and are fairly loaded down
with every Imaginable toy. At the base
of one of the Trees is arranged cam,
palgn grou nd, and at the other repre-
sentarion of farm. The arrangements
show great taste on the part of the ladies
who had cha, ge of the affair.