The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-26
Sharon,s Palace Car.
Washington Letter ]


Last winter, when Senator Sharon had
to yield to pressure and warm his chair
in the United States Senate, he ordered
out his Pullman palace car and gave his
steward carte blanche to fill its refrig-
orators and lockers with all the good
things that make this life worth living.
Fish, fowl and fruit, game, wines and
ice, and every vegetable, from the crisped
earth -bleached celery to that 'plumed
knight" the "tassel corn, '1were put away
each in its proper place.
The Senator and his Secretary, Miss
Sharon and a young lady friend, who
had been invited to accompany her, and
four gentlemen acquaintances, guests of
the Senator, made up the party. The
Virginia and Truckee trains speeded
them on to Reno, where their Pullman
was coupled to the Atlantic express on
the Central Pacific Railroad, and they
pursued the morning. The fire glowed
in the range and shone on polished pots,
pans and porcelain utensils in the cutest
of kitchens, as clean as a holy-stoned
deck.
In the pantry is pastry table which,
when raised, disclOses zinc sink FOR
washing dishes. Pudding and jelly
mouids, skewers, steamers and sauce
pans as bright as silver hang on the
hooks of the dresser. Stores Of delicate
china are nestled in the snug closets,
crystal and slverware crown the oaken
buffet in the adjoining room, where there
is a table. The Car is miracle OF con-
venience and comfort. 1t was built at
the Pullman Car shops in Detroit. 1t is
constructed OF rare woods, whose beauty
of quality and grain have been brought
out by oil polishing and shellac. There
are mirrors and hanging book shelves.
The evening card table is the breakfast
and dinner table Of the day time. The
upholstery is bronze leather, fastened
with silver-headed nails. There is hot
and cold water in the bathroom; the
seats are converted into luxurious beds
at night, and partitions envelop them
with all the privacy Of sleeping apart
ments produced like magic from no
where.
Even England's Queen does not travel
SO royalty as this Silver Satrap of the
Sierras. Rolling along in his palace, on
the sixth day he reaches the end Of his
journey without fatigue or annoyance OF
any kind, and the whole party alight az
fresh as daisies The Pullman is stored
| in the car-house until such time as the
Senator shall choose to return to Ne
vada. .... .s.
William Sharon Is q native of Ohio.
He studied law in the Office of Edwin
M. Stanton, and was admitted to the bar
of st. Louis. His health failing, he went
to California in 1849. Real estate, bank
ing and mining have been the sources
from which has been drawn his stu
pendous fortune. In personal appear.
ance he resembles Senator Baldwin Of
Michigan, being Of the same heighth
the same amiable face and the
low-pitched voice. He is aAable
and easy to approach, simple in
his tastes, it is said, "and only os.
tentatious to give pleasure to his friend. "
He wears plain clothing and has no air
| OF new TlcH uau dDoue AAu. NOnoVoA
Sharon is widower in his fifty-ninth
year. He has two daughters. The eldest
was married several years ago, the we'd
ding being made the occasion of mag
nifcent entertainment given at "Bel-
mont" the home of Ralston, in the San
ia Clara Valley, CAL, when he rode on
the topmost wave of prosperity to sui
eide, as supposed by many. The young
est daughter has been here with hel
father, and it is the first winter since his
election that he has given any consider
able time to his Senatorial duties, which
are in fact distasteful to him. He ha'
made his home at the Arlington ant
Riggs House, and gone but little intt
general society. His term of Office ex
pires next March.
/