, 1881-06-19
The Handsomest and Most
Artistic Offices In
America
Are Undoubtedly Those of the
National Printing com'
paf1y,
Which Concern Is the Largest and
Most Prosperous show-Printing
House in the World.

->HithIiti l'fllltinI tDl1lp:lll1. No NV inl,rHt
street. dispatched representative t.1ithcr
who went expecting 10 SEE lla1nlsolnely-fur
nshcl and wcli-!ittesl business n:licts. hut on
entering the door found himself sn cnnlplctc-
" disappointed :S 10 The general ensemble
that it Immediately became apparent that
here Was Il st,lnetlling which was SD elegant,
complete, and thoroughly artistic rs to merit
ln extended description rs a matter "E news;
and 50, blending his avn knowledge "f the
artistic with the necessary information as to
technical points and details from the artists
who had been illtrllsted with the work, lic
has prepared for TIE TElB,;NE'S readers the
following description Ut what may safely he
termed the most elegant business establish
lnent in xtllcrica. if not indeed lit the world
Io begin with the beginning, Il massive
! crystal and git chandelier hangs oyer tile
doorway, which, like :l the woodwork nt
the n:1ire, is eboM!y, will! gold carvings alttl
9rnanniatlml. liz the doors are glass panels
With the naliles Of the departments to which
they lead AMI the monogram Ut tile Company,
executed by tile s:lIN!-blast prnccss. Tile first
thing WHICH strikes the observer once inside
Which .mrvadrs ull. When Mr.. {. II. Nc
Ennncll, the President Ut the Company,
started to carry out his declared intention of
fitting his office to far olttStrip any business
Office: in The world. if possible he wisely de-
1
Sani, artistic, ami finished rs money and tile
| employment Ut the hest artistic taste could
nllke It, a!tl in accordance With this wise
determination ~ have everything III perfect
harmony. lIr. Mcdonnell intruslcd to MIR. IL.
j. Miligtn. of lis Randolph street, tile tlecu-
ration Of ceiling aud side walls paper hanging,
| and general arrangements Here. Mr. Mill
gan and Mr.. lIaykcn, his chief artist, lave
shown another instance OF true artistic skill,
attained only by Years OF study and expert
| c1lcc i'll fresco and general decoration; and
! certainly also shown III the completeness and
harmonious blending, tile Qnrt confidence
iig the whole subject Under thorough coll-
troll. In ton many eases Of the present rage
for decoration tile isnoble aim Of the artist
! Is merely IL prnttilre surprise or create gap
ty of I'LL Interior Is sn entirely dependent OH
tue general harmony Of its furnishing and
| tie richest effect uf carpets, furniture, and
pictures, and may he so married or so entirely.
lost t'1rngh improper treatment of the walls
al;.i ceiling, that the highest art Of the deco
| rator should be called forth in the selection
| uf hangngS alul wall decorations, to serve
! as Il harmonious background to all tile
| objects in the room; Here. on enter
sansc @ '1S of peSS? pieasre 'an and u csteie See de-
light, OF that simplicity and unity so es-
sciltial h the best artistic results Il dignity
anu cilsteness. strict compllanec With the
teachings of the besi masters, which shows
that the decorator has really felt that 1.-The aim
Ut all art must be tile realization of trlith.:'
The ceiling proper is lad out III ''MarQuet-
rieH palltls. The central one Il light cream
color. with diaprc patterns Of gold, divided
tint, edged with carved moltlings uf :s0id aud
black, broad friezes Of flowers Of Il very hand
some design and colorirg, expressly designed
for this purpose, divided ut the central points
width, representing NEUROLOGICAL symbols
and figures prominent in art anu science.
-Four corner panels of rich crimson velvet,
with llaNtl-i>ainted branches OF gold and
main. panel. give sich II richness AMI uni
f0rtntty of decoration as to emphasize and
render more apparent the particular work
which is the decorative object III view.
\ broad velvet band OF ''oid gold - tlivit itles
the ceiling from sidewalks, on Which are, first,
broad fricZc 0f 4 most charming !ynolnet-
rlcal design. beneath which is Il band Of Grim
son velyet and allelry carved picture mnlu-
splendid selection Of fine works Of art;
pictures in crayor, and photographs of the
celebrities of the theatrical world, in hand
some frames Of gold. The sidewalks have 4 !;
and crimson, Il "tlato" of about tiye feet |
high, DECORATED and painted in uii, divided |
into panels oI crimson and solid gold, on !
Which ar: paintctl (by Sly. +. IArrc&onD |
copies OF the cciebratc, frescoes in the l:oyal |
Palace Of Dresden, representing Painting,
Printing, Architecture Sculpture, Music, |
Poetry, Meditation and Inspiration. Beneath |
these is 6, painted frieze and 4 Dashboard,
ebony striped with gold.
The tlooriS covered witha magnilicent VIII t
ton velvet carpet, nlatle ON special order after
!! design furnished by the decorator. Tie
desks, which are highly carved ;l,ld uf Il uni
form coIor all.l woo.l. are each ILL orll;l-
nacnt. The floor ;1boun,is with handsome
Turkish rugs, while e:seI> in ebony and gold,
costly, marble and ebony pcdcstais, support
inS bronze bustS; Of Rembrandt, Al
bert Dllrer AMI others, 2d t" the general
asf siSs With bE4saa fcr hsrs:ss and ear nr9e
and above Il magnificent plate mirror, ex-
pcnsiye. Bohemian glass vases, and large
bis:lre figures, arc among the most striking
objects 1t the office. Two magnificent pier
On marble peticstals; i marble table with 4
lofty silver urn and drinlins-Srrvicc; a HIS
sivc library table, an whie! lie a profusion
Of art works; an elegant aid hat-rack and
grated with paraK marble anu bisuue stat
l1ctles, hro'lZes, and costly vases; the hand
soonest g;ls-iXtures that money could pur-
chase (tllc gift of William Emmett, Ess., of
the Academy of Music, 10 is friend McCnn-
ncll1 sofas, reclining Chairs. cabinets. and
generally, with vases ot artificial
1toweles and tropical plants, all t;tstcflllly ar
ranged anil placed by III artist Hand. rt,nl-
the decoration Of the lnan Or front office, !k22x
ii feet.
\ unique feature of the decoration of
these magnificent art parlors is the treat
laei,t of tile windows. Tiluse III front, three
i'll number, consist 1f staIlletl-.laSs tops two
feet in depth, underneath which are sand
blast signs i'll fur coIurs, the words Nation
III - Printing" ''Co,npuny," zach occupy
Ing Il window, and then eight feet Of French |
plate .iiss: magnificent lartt-painted and
satin curtains complete an !
ensemble uneuualcd in the art experience of t
I11E TKJErSE'> representative. The Will
low over the hall and the two large windows I |
dividing the front from the rear olliccs, each
ixl1 feet. are ii elegant designs Of stained
glass, the cnl0rc;i lights streaming through I
whici! cause !, peculiarly beautiful effect In I
4 business office.
Immediately in the rear Ut the main office I
Is auotllcr one equally large. with ccil-
lugs and Sidewalks decorated in fres-
:oes to correspond. with the room in
front. LII. this rear office are {
four massive walnut sample cases, each I
.en feet high by twelve feet wide, and I
.wo feet ,lcep for tic display Ut cuts and $
vood cn@ravings. the leaves openin. like an
slbuN. This runili is also richly carietcA |
and furnished, the walls hung with pictures,
.tc. On oilt size are three cosy private ,
,iiiccs for the use Of customers, in each nne
1t which is Ill elegant ebony desk, apDro-
,riate furniture and handsome chandeliers ]
:lld stat1t;tcS. Back 9f them IS the lec!ta1l-