National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-09-04

a Lady Describes the Treasures which She
saw In His Eiorentine Palace.
Correspondence Pittsburg Chroniclel
Prince DomidoT owns the malachite mines
ofRussa, and it is said docs not know what his
income Is. We entered lodge where the
cusodians were handsomely uniformed The
grounds are really nothing astonishing. There
are many bridges and paviions, rustic work
and bronze animals, and most unique slucco
or rocky entrance to swimming-bath of large
dimensions. Tho arrangement of statuary, of
figures fishing or crouching in inches and I'M
expected places, has very pleasing effect.
There are forty-fivo servants employed in tho
palace, not including secretaries, clerks and
stewards, aud they include Germans, French,
Russians aud Italians, except in the grooming
department there only English need apply
The palace seems to be built on three sides Of
square, and has l20apartments over thirty Of
which we visited. In the piazza the seats looked
ike cushions that might be shaken up or
thrown about at will, but they were of maiol-
lea or imitation of gayly figured crotonne or
glazed cambria. We turned to our right into
the chapel. The doors, in beautifully carved
woods, dark and rich are the reproduction Of
tho famous door of tho Baptistry in Florence,
which Michael Angelo said were "fit to be tho
gate of Paradise" The ceiling is of carved
wood, oxqsito in design. The chapel is in tho
style of the Greek Church, although some say
Prince Dcmidou is u Catholic. Life.size
saints are beautifully frescoed on the walls
figure OF the Madonna had the crown and
dress ornamcnted with gold and precious
stones, and the books of service, In glass cases,
are decorated in the same way The maguil-
cent stairway has been remodeled within tho
past four years, and is in Oriental style. The
carpet is u solid, rich red, Gobein aud other
tapestries adorn the walls, aud the
ceiling is a pointed arch, with the rafters
gilded and worked up in true Oriental style.
Mirrors are arranged ut the top of the stair
case where are vases and tall, heavy columns
OF most uncommon and peculiar marble
J here are, | think, sixteen or more of these
| columns i'll different places each surmounted
with gilded chapter and an immense vase
| oil Sevres japanese, or other rare china. lu-
Vulnerable lamps, with exquisite pink globes
| are closely arranged around, and all this, COM
bincd with the width aud gradual ascent of
the staircase, must make the effect at IA ball
very imposing. The marble is black, with
what seems to be quartz all through it, which
i'll the light has IL beautiful effect. At tho
second landing Is u roCcption-rOom and "a bal
cony Is so arranged that band in playing Is
| III view OF the room aud stairway. This bal
cony is "a gallery of the fifteenth century, ex-
quisitely carved in bold relief, and now gilded
with fine effect. The ceiling of this room is
beautifully frescocd.
Some rooms have tapestries of great worth
| on the walls, and some have tapestry of differ
ent colors. One is hung with embossed leather,
| and Is lovely i'll effect. The ceilings are of i'm
finite variety. The mantelpiecc in each room
is different, and some are old handsome ones
| with beautiful bas.relefs, some of inland
| WOODS, and Ill one room IL is of modern and
ancient Florentine mosaics In that room the
furniture is chiefly mosaic Everything seemed
| to be used. Photographs IN all varieties of
traIln tyar nd Al.
| Prince and his wife. In his reception-room
| the pillows and cushions were covered with
lndla shawls. Some of the furniture is uph0l-
stored with the most delicate brocade of
danask, and the embroidered flowers on them
| look SO perfect that one feels like plucking
them.
| The gem of all tho apartments Is long, mar
ow gallery containing original pictures. They
| are mostly of the Flemish school, aud there is
| fine collection of Ruysdaels. One of the
choicest-a Rembrandt--cOst the modest sum
OF $4,000 and another $4,000. The walls of
this room were covered with light olive
green velvet tapestry, rs was the furniture.
| The picture-frames were of ebony, finely
carved and gilt. Beside each picture was a
candelabra of silver, bronze or brass, so ar
ranged MS TO hide and reflect the light.
In the Princes private library was an inn
mense round table covered with papers yet UNI
opened, and in every language. In one large
| 4
| hfty-three pieces in one and think they aver
| age about forty. One plate Viennese china,
| cost t12O. In the same room Is long case of
rare fans. In another room is a collection Of
watches, interesting aud rare. One belonged
| Napoleon. Another room is draped with
the rarest old embroidery aud needlework.
| The collection of old vestments of priests
bishops, cardinals. &c, is immense and choice
In one room grand fre-screen OF ebony franc
| is filled with an old robe of Louis XIV, most
| exquisitoy embroidered in flowers and gilt
Of one room the door and furniture We're all
OF malachite. In many rooms were splendid
cabinets OF rare workmanship. A servant en-
| tered and told us that the Princess had sent
permission for us to go AS far us her boudoir,
which she would vacate q little while for our
| benefit IL was the perfection of restful
| place, and the odOr of fresh flowers in vases
around the room made it like fairy-land. The
walls aud furniture were light blue. The
| panels of the walls were satin. with borders of
| Venetian lace The ottomans, divans chairs,
tables, &C., were all covered with satin bro
cade and lace. cozy lounge had coverlid
of delicate pink satin aud lace. gilt pro-
lection above dado held photographs in cum
ming frames and all sorts of attractive things.
We hurried down through the dinng-hall,
where eighteen powdered servants in full dress
made fine picture.
We went through the offices pertaining to
servants, and saw busts and statuary at every
turn. forgot to mention one room, contain
ing a small statue OF Peter the Great, aud some
most antique chairs busts aud portraits fthe
family Of Napoleon |. We next visited tho
splendid library, which is an old church with
one wall taken down, and connected with the
house. On the remaining walls are finely pro-
served frescoes. The old tower is repaired,
| aud adds ~ the exterior effect Of tho building
In this library u portion is entirely devoted to
articles pertaining on once belonging to Ma
poleon |, In glass case is his last.worn
clothing, maps which he had at Eba, books,
charts, papers, sc, Prince Demidon's father
married u daughter of Jerome Bonaparte We
passed out through long, covered greenhouses
or Conservatives containing beautiful statuary,
and came to kind of grotto which led by
flight Of rustic steps to the lighthouses. Prince
DemidoH is said to be handsome man, be-
tween forty and fifty years of age, aud is very
| charitable
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