Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-09-22
yANDERBlLT'S PALACES.
The Wonder OF Fifth Avenue Mag.
nificence. Elegance and Liberal Pat
rOnage OF the Arts.

The great Vanderbilt palace on Fifth
avenue approaches complete For
three years it HIS been in course of
erection, and is now SO nearly finished
that its owner expects to occupy it be-
fore Christmas. 1t fronts the avenue
on the whole block extending FROM Fiji
ty-tirst to Fifty-second streets, on the
western side. II is Of brown stone. 1t
is commonly spoken of as a mansion,
but it ID really two. One of these Mr..
William builds for his own residence.
The other is present to his two daugh-
tiers. This, although it appears to be
but one house. is divided into two.
The entrance of the northern one is on
Fifty.second street, while that of the
other is in the massive portico which
connects the two buildings. These are
of brown stone also and are four stories
high. Mr.. Vanderbilt's, which is at the
Fiftytirst street end of the block, is "A
feet wide by 115, while the other is a
few feet smaller. Though so immense,
there is nothing heavy in the appear
ance of the twin buildings. 1t is nee
essary to walk around these buildings
awhile and carefully scan them from
several points of view before one can
realize how enormous they are. BY
the courtesy of John B. Shook, the
architect your correspondent was taken
through the vast structure
Standing directly opposite the build
ings and taking in the whole front, we
see majestic exterior. The plot of
ground is inclosed by stone coping
surmounted at intervals by richly-cut
pillars, on which will be placed lamps
deliberately worked in bronze. AS a
whole the interior is remarkably square
and not very ornate. Absence Of bold
and striking architectural ornament is
more than compensated for by the
elaboration of carving in detail. On the
lower story on all sides of the building
runs wide entablature of wild grape
vines deeply cut in the stone. On the
second and third stories are entabiatures
in radically different style, but forming
a most felicitous combination, that on
the third story being a renaissance, es-
pecially bold in design and rich in exc
cution. From outside, the fourth story
does not look like story at all Its
windows are reticulated in such a way
that the glass will not show from the
street. Below it runs a gutter of solid
bronze, with open-mouthed lions heads
at short intervals. Above it is the cor
nice, which is 76 feet from the pave
ment.
The two houses are connected by
solid and spacious portico, whose ex-
terror is of brown stone, but whose in
terror is set with mosacs of curious
marbles and will be furnished with a
costly pavement OF tile. A skylight of
glass and iron will shed down on this
pavement pleasant light through
windows of elaborate stained glass.
This portico is reached by pavement
of stone thing. which extends some 80
feet from the line of frontage on Fifth
avenue. Its front will be open to air
and sunshine On the right is the en-
trance to Mrs. Sloane's house. On the
left we enter Vanderbilt's house through
the famous double bronze doors, which
are said to cost $50 600
Entering through the S25, 700 door
way, We plant our feet in hall the
pavement of which will be of tile and
mosaic and will cost $4,000. 1t is in
the centre of the house. 1t extends by
Il series of galleries to the roof, open
ings being made through the floors of
the upper stories. The floors are sup
ported by great iron columns, faced
with various kinds of many-colored
Egyptian and other African marbles.
A rich mantle Egyptian marble, with
open fireplace, faces the entrance door.
On the west the great hall opens to the
picture gallery; on the south to the
dining-room, which is on the Fifty-iirst
street corner, fronting Fifth avenue.
On the east it leads to the parlor, draw
ing-room' and library, these three
rooms being in a range on the Fifth
avenue front. The great stairway is on
the north side. 1t is wide enough for
the stairway of q meeting house, and
is richly carved in solid oak. The
bronze newell post at its base will cost
about $1,000. The wall frescoes Of the
hall are for the most part finished. !
They are rich with gliding, especially |
on the frieze work which appears on
the balustrades of the several floors, |
and which is pierced with panels for
the reception of paintings on canvas.
The walls of the hall and stairway are
chiefly done in crimson with style Of
gliding which at first sight looks as if
intended to simulate brick work. 1t is |
odd, and does not, unit! closely exam |
med, strike a beholder pleasantly.
The picture gallery is the largest APP |
artment in the house. 1t is 80 by IS
and as high as two stories. Lighted |
from above by curious construction
combination of roof and skylight, it
will afford on every foot Of It's extern
sive wall perfect light for the display of
oil paintings. At one end is the "Aqua-
relle" room which is separated only by |
an archway. This is Is by 80 feet and |
has gallery. AT the other end of the |
picture gallery and connected with it
Is the conservatory, which is the same |
size as the aquarelle room. On the
second floor, bet en- the hall and pict-