, 1879-08-08
DEMIDOFF'S VILLA.

DEMIDOFF'S VILLA.
a Lady Describes tho Treasures Which sho
Saw In Ills Florcntfnp Palace.
Gprrffpondence PitsonrD Chronicle
Prince Dem.doH owns tho natacnto mines
Of Russia, and IL I. said does nut know what
his Income is. Wa entered q lodge
where tho cussodans wcre handsomely
uniformed. The grounds arc really noth-
ing astonishing. There are pretty bridges
and paytltons, rustic work and bronze animals,
and tnost unique stucco or rocky entrance to
n swimmng-bath of large dimensions. The ar
rnngcmcnt Of statuary, Of figures fishing or
crouuhing In nicbes aud unexpected places has
very pleasing effect. There aro fort5-ire scfr
ants employed IN tho palace, not including sec
rotarlcs, clerks, aud stewards, and they include
German. French. Russians, and ltalsana. except
in the grooming department.; there only English
need apply.
The pa!acc seems 10 be buttt on thrco sides Of
asquarc, and has le0 apartments, over thirty Of
likc cushions that might be shaken up or thrown
about at wilt, but they we're Of majoltea fp lni-
ta,ion Of Enyy figured crctonne Or glazed cam
brio. We turned TO our right Into tho chapel.
Tie doors. In beautifully carved woods, dark
famous doors Of thu Bapsistry ~ Flor
ence which slchael Angelo. said were
"dt to be tho Gate OF Paradise" Tho ceiling
he s chapel ia'Is Is II the n style q ts areet c6utsa
although sone sa5 Prince DeutdoR tsa catho-
lie. LLtc-sizo saints arc beautifully. ires-
coed Oh the walls. A figure u the
s.sgsa M.sSs sad s @ ssa pises S sts:s es
and the books of service, in glass cases,
arc decorated In tho same WAY. rls
magnificent stairway hns been remodeicd
within ;hs past four years and ts - orssntal s!i
and other tapcstr!es adorn lie walls, and the
ceiling is a pointed arch, with tho rafters gllded
ind worked up In true Orcnsat style. Mirrors
arc arranged at the ton Of tllc staircase, wnerc
arc Vases md tal. heayy column OF q most un-
common nud peculiar marble. There are
think. sixteen or more OF these columns In
different places, each surmountea with gilled
chap!ter aud All Immense yasc Of Sevrcs, jap
nnese or other rare china. 1nnumcrablc lamps,
with exquisite pink globes, arc closely arranged
around, and oil this confirmed With the width
aud gradual ascent Of the staircase must nake
tho elleet at ball very imposing, The mar-
ntl through It, which in the light has q beautiful
effect. A. lite SECOND landing is q reception
room, and d bzlruny is So arranged that band
IN playing Is tn view Ut tue 1ooIn and stairway.
tury. sx9ussitclY carved n build relief All now
ril1cd With tine efFcct. The caillg OF tllts room
Is beautifully frescoeu.
Some rooms have tapestries Of great rorth
Qu luC Walls NAlA dt1IllE HAfE u AIucE.
ent colurs. One Is lung with embossed leather,
and 10 sovalv IN effect. 'fle ceilings arc OF sn-
tute variety. The nlautelpiece in each room 10
different, ulll sone ure old handsome nnrs With
a,ld III onu room it is Of modern aud au.
clcnt. Flortntine unossigs. III lEat room
the furniture is chiefly mosaic. Everything
seemed to bo used. Photographs iu nll varieties
Prince and his wife. III bis reeep.lun.roou, The
pillows a,M1 cush!ons wcre covered with lnia
shaws. Hou,e OF tho furniture Is upholstered
with the most dclcato brocade Of dahnask, aud
the embroidered owcss on them look ~ per.
feet that ono feels ltGe p,urking them.
The gun Ut all the ApartmcnIs Ia long, mar
row cutlery containing original pictures. They
arr mostly OF the Flemish school, mud thcrp Is
line collection OF ltuysdac!s. Que OF TIE
cho!ocest-a kennrAndt--Soss the modest su'n
Uf sl0,OU0 and Rnotller s3,U30. Thu walls Of
this room werc covered with a light olive
green velvet tapestry, US was the furnt-
tuse. Tht pictnre.tratnes wers nf ebony
finely carve4 and gill;: Besiie each picture
was caudelabra of silver, brunzo, or brass,
SO arranged as lo hldo a,Wl rBlrct the Hight.
In thu Prtnco'a private t!brary was at In
me1Ae round table covered win papers yct Nm
upenrtl. nnI III eycry language. In oie large
threo piecesi unc, and tiuk tileY Average about
torty. Uus plate, Vlcnnrso china, cost ss4ao. IN
the same ro0lu Ia louE caae vi rara tasls. III
interesting and rarr. One belonged to Nj
Loluou. Another room ts irapel With tho rarest
uld umhra!lury uud nccl!ewotk. Tie collection
OF old vestInenta Of pritsts. bishops, Cardinals,
| etc., rs inurnse and choice. IN oiu roo,. 4
IN old rvhe Of Louis XIV, must exquisite
" embroidered iu Aowess and gilt.
| ut one room the door aud furnItura
were vi of malaehite: IN many roon,s
Il aerYatt cnterol aH1 told US tiat The Pfngess
hui sent permission fot ua 10 10 as fur as titr
boudolr, which 6he would yneNtu Ittt!o white
for our benefit. II was the perfection y rtst'
ers In vases around ille room nadu 1t
Ilka taEsy.ial,d. The wu.ls aud furniture
were llglt-blue. Tho paMeis OF the nails
wvre satlu with bortlera Of Venetian 'aes. lhs
coyeTed with satia brocada aud luce. 4 easy
lounge bad cuyerlld u delicate plnk sut,n anl
luce. A tilt projection abaso dadu held us!oso-
graphs tn cunning fta!acs n.u all sorts 81 A. q.
tiin,ns-Ilall, where clEl,eul pouuefuu servants
| III full dresa u1nuu lua picture.
| We Want through, tLu Offices pertaining TO
servants. md saw butis anl statuary Ut every
tutu. forEut ~ nHutton ono room, conlainlh.
| Il small atAtus Ut fetrr tho GreAt, aud sotlv
must antique chairs, busts, anu puflsaits uf tic
faulty Of NapolcuE !. w uexl visited tilu
sulsualh lihFaFF, whlrh is an old church. with
uuu wall takea down. aud conncctrd With Tile
hullAs. Dh tile trnsatn,HE wills nru 1I,tly pre-.
acrvu1 tEssyoes. The Old tuuer IL repaired, and
ulids 70 The exterior elect VI tile building. III
thts library purt.o4 II uH.lrety devoted to a.
etrles pertaining Ur uuca tcln.{.tsE 10 Naposuou
l. In Elass rasa IL his lust Hurn clothusH,
maps which, le hau II Elha, hunks, charts, tI4'
l,ora, utc. frtwu Drn,lolps father luarruu q
daughter OF Jeroliu !iollalarie. W. pussett u,lt
through long eoyerea greeubouscs Ur ruuseryA
tories continuing beautiful 4laluntY, aul calnt
10 I kind VI Etuttu whlrli led 1J Y flight pf rus
tie sthps 10 Ills l.ot-Auu.es. Frlrc DtlutupsH Ii
said to bs 4 huudsu!uu tnan, hetHee ~ aud 81
| .,F nlrc mt "a vtrp am nj