The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-08-29
THE DEMlDOFF VILLA AT FLORENCE.

Prince Demidof owns the mslachite m ines
of Russia, and, it is said, does not know
what his income is. He has collected a
rich variety of treasures from all parts of
the world, and seems to be influenced more
by love for the beautiful than the unique.
We went, party of six of us, in tram
car, and, walking short distance, entered
lodge where the custodians were hand
somely uniformed. The grounds are really
nothing astonishing. They lie low and
level. There are pretty bridges and pavil-
ions, rustic work and bronze animals, and a
most unique stucco, or rocky entrance to
swimming bath of large dimensions. The
arrangement of statuary, of figures fishing
or crouching in inches and unexpected
places. has very pleasing effect. There
are forty-five servants employed in the
palace, not including secretaries, clerks and
stewards, and they include Germans,
French, Russians and Italians, except in the
grooming department; there only English
need apply.
The palace seems to be built on three
sides of square, and has one hundred and
twenty apartments. In the piazza the seats
look like cushions that might be shaken up
or thrown about at will, but they we're of
majolica, in imitation of gaily figured
cretonne or glazed cambric. We entered
and turned to our right into the chapel.
The doors, in beautifully carved woods, dark
and rich, are reproduction OF the famous
doors of the Baptistry in Florence, which
Michael Angelo said we're eft to be the gate
OF Paradise" but of course, they are much
smaller. The ceiling is also of carved wood,
exquisite in design. The chapel is in style
of the Russian or Greek church, although
some say Prince d. is Catholic. Life-size
saints are beautifully frescoed on the walls.
A figure of the Madonna and Bambino have
the crown and dress ornamented with gold
and precious stoues, and the books of service,
in glass cases, are decorated in the same
way. Many valuable church ornaments are
to be seen. The whole room is gem of
architectural design and taste. The arrange
ment of the hall seemed very grand as we
came out of the chapel, but we did not stop
long to examine it, as the magnificent stair
way absorbed our attention. 1t has all been
remodeled within the past four years, and
is in Oriental style. The carpet is a solid,
rich red. Gobelin and other tapestries
adorn the walls, and the ceiling is pointed
arch, with the rafters all gilded and worked
up in true Oriental style Mirrors are
arranged at the top of the staircase, where
are vases and tall heavy columns of a most
uncommon and peculiar marble. There are
sixteen or more of these columns in different
places, each surmounted with a gilded
chapter, and an immense vase of Sevres,
japanese or other rare china. Innumerable
lamps, with exquisite pink globes, are closely
arranged around, and all this combined with
the width and gradual ascent of the stair
case must make the effect at a ball very
imposing. The marble, which attracted my
eye at once in columns and vases, is black,
with what seems to be quartz all through it,
which, in the light, has a beautiful effect.
At the second landing is reception room,
and balcony is so arranged that band
in playing is in view of room and stairway.
This balcony is gallery of the fifteenth
century, exquisitely carved in bold relief,
and now gilded with fine effect. The cell
ing of this room is beautifully frescoed.
This was a reception dining room, and the
table and chairs were rich mosaics in wood,
and in all points the room was grand indeed.
Some rooms have tapestries of great worth
on the walls, and some have satin tapestry
of different colors. One is hung with en-
bossed leather, and is lovely in effect. The
cell ngs are of infinite variety. The man
tlepiece in each room is different, and some
| are old handsome ones, with beautiful bas-
reiefs some of nlaid woods and in one
room it is of modern and ancient Florentne
mosaics. Photographs in all varieties of
lovely frames were around the rooms of the
Prince and his wife. In his reception room,
the arrangements for comfortable sitting or
lounging are complete. Quite number of
the divaDs around the room were only q
hall foot from the hoor and the pillows and
| cushions were covered with India shawls.
Everything that refined idea of comfort
and luxury can suggest has been collected
from all countries.
The gem of all the apartments is long
narrow gallery or hall, lighted from the top
and containing the choicest OF original pict-
ures. They are mostly of the Flemish
schools, and there is a fine collection oi
Ruysdaels. One of the choicest of the pict.
ures-a Rembrandt-cost the sum of flO,.
900, and another near it fS,O00. None o.
the pictures were large, but all of choicest
fame. The walls of this room were cover
ed with light olive green velvet tapestry
and furniture of the same. The picture
frames were of ebony, finely carved and
gilt. Beside each picture was candela
brum or high lampholder of silver. bronz,
or brass, so arranged as to hide and refec
the light.
In one large room are cases of rarest chi
ma. One plate, Viennese china, cost f72O
In this same room is long case with rar
fans. In another room is a collection O
watches, interesting and rare. One belong
ing to Napoleon. Another room is drape,
around with the rarest old embroidery an
needlework. The collection of old valuabl
vestments of priests, bishops, cardinals, etc
is immense and choice. In one room
grand fire screen of ebony frame is file
with an old robe of Louis XIVth, most ex
quisitely embroidered in flowers and gill
, Of one room, the entrance door and furni
, ture were all of malachite. In many room
were splendid cabinets of rare and choc
workmanship, and, turn which way "
would, we were face to face with a treasul
of some kind.-C6r. Pittsburg Chronicle,
Feasibility Of Navigating the Susquehann