New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-29
WORK ON MR. TILDEN's HOUSE.

Ex-Governor Tilden comes to the city generally
every day, on the 8 o'clock tram; returning TO
lonkers early in the afternoon While here ne eur
ploys most of his time looking after the alterations
IN his Gramercy Park houses. making themlnto one.
heSe alterations advance very slowly no conllac.s
having been made. and while the rougher WORN Is
nearly done il will he some time before the house
will be ready for its and his library None Oh
the decorations are finished, while IN only TWO vi
three rooms have they been begun.
An excellent view OF he front OF the mouse il oo-
tanned 10y standing on the opposite side OF wen
tcth-st. This has only lately been exposed 10 pup
lie view, having been shut III by canvas Enclosure,
which was built 10 project the elaborate painting
or the ceiling IN the rcccpton-rooln OF No. 10 tIle
ODD house the whole front OF Whcn had Dtcn 1ot III
ont. This was done because Mr. 1ilden wished 10
have only one front for both houses The new one
was rebuilt from the foundation, Sc as 10
secure suitable rooms for ne library a a
casual observer would say that the Gothic style
OF architecture had been foil owed Ill the c0nStIuc-
ton Of the house, because Of gables that suiIhomht
both the cas- and the west of the roof But
n closer inspection shows that no cOnvcnilonal rules
have been carried out. The body OF the building IS
made of the brow stone quarned ri BeHcyllIc. y.
j.. the openings being trimmed with red Carlisle
stone imported from Scotland. This Carlisle stone
has been freely used elsewhere, so that there Is
general emphasis of reddish color. AS the lonsc
faces the north, il required decided contrasts IN
color TO oct 20 tive effect. This is obtained by the
introducton of decorative bands and arch stones OF
black and gray. These colors. which are
generally obtained by the use of black bricks,
are secured in this ease Nv the use of Maine
granite highly polished. The decorative effect -
obtained by chipping away he polish Tor the relief
0t the ornament, winch IS in the form OF an Ivy
leaf. This effect Of red and blacl, blcl, with the
usc Of stone only has not before been attempted III
New-lork.
There arc two entrances one on each side The
one leading into the Old part is tde main entrance
which will he very noticeable when finished.
Polished red granite columns support
corbcls OF which are carved, in hoid
relief in Carlisle stone, the heads oil
the feminine types, representing the four seasons,
each being framed IN carved decorative 1ollage
suitable to the particular season Above the other
trance. il is intended that a carved bead OF
MiclaelangclO shall he used n keystone. Between
the two doors are two bay-wndowS. running up to
the third noor-ore round aud the other square.
Between trSn is that part Of the external dcCora-
lion that will probably be the most interesting TO
the passcr-by. 1t is a panel cf brown stone framed
in red, and divided into three parts by
black decorative granite bands. In the upper
part will he the heads of Shakespeare
and Milton carved in bold relief in the Carlisle
stone: in the central part the head of Franklin and
In the lower the heads o. Goethe and DAME. ms
panel represents the literary idea which Is the foul-
dation of the whoic structure. The new house
is binding. or rather the two are being joined, ne
cause Mr rildcn's library wGs growing 80 rapidly
that there had To be some place to h0ld II. Inc
heads represent his favOries IN the literary word;
while that of Franklin vas put alone on the central
rart because he j. Mr. Tildens idea of representa-
tive American The heads are being carved by Sam
mel Kitsun, while the architect Is Calvert NauX, one
of the successful competitors IN designs lor the
buildings used at the Cen ,cnnlal Exhibition
Inside the house the only new ceiling 10 be seen,
and that is not finished, is the one in the dining
room. his room. which is in the old part. over
looks NncteCHth-St Is thirty feet square and was
formerly part of Mr. Iildcns library. HE cclilng Is
panced in NatinwoOd. The whole OF tie hTsl loor
of the new house is appropriated 10 the library,
While the second floor will be Mr. Illdcns private
apartmcnt 1t is thought the new part will be
finished III oak. although il is not decided.