Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-03-23
SAMUEL ]. TILDEN's PALACE.

SAMUEL ]. TILDEN'S PALACE.
The Richest and msse Ornate Man
stOns or the Architectural Decora-
lions, Carvings. fine Busts and
1Esthetfc ERects.
What was simply the day dream of
Oscar Wilde, the impalpable abstrac-
ton, 80 to speak, of q vivid fancy,
struggling to grasp the apotheosis of
decorative art, has been transformed,
materialized and bodied forth into the
shapes and hues of one of the most
sublime pieces of realistic architecture
al beauty that has yet appeared on the
continent, in Gramercy Park. 1t re-
NAMED for Hon. Samuel J. Tilden to
crown the efforts of his busy and use
full life by more than realizing the most
enthusiastic dreams of 4stheticism in
his new house, which is alike the won
der, the admiration ard the envy of
the New York millienaires, who have
recently been attempting to.erect pal
aces on European and Oriental plans.
The first thing that strikes the observer
is the imposing appearance which Mr..
Tilden's palace presents from every
approach to the square. 1t seems to
catch the eye as readily as if it occu-
pied the very center of the square, and
casts all its neighbors in the shade.
The cause of this, though the effect is
manifest to the eye, is not by any
means apparent at first sight, and can
only be understood through some at
tention TO the details and the secrets
of the architects art. The house is q
double one, occupying fifty feet front,
and having depth of nearly the entire
length of the block between Twentieth
and Nineteeth streets.
There were two spacious entrances
, with immense bay-windows between,
extending from the basement to the
summit. The general architecture is
of the pointed, converging character,
combining a variety of styles, with the
| Gothic predominating, and carefully
contrived to produce the highest effect
on the artistic eye. To 60 slightly into
detail. 30 that one may be able to form
an idea of the various parts that con-
stitute this magnificent whole of ORR
entail splendor, it may be stated that
| the exterior has been treated in q free
manner, somewhat Gothic, with con-
siderable amount of carving, both con-
yentional and realistic. The busts OF
poets and painters, finely chiseled,
adorn the front. Among these are the
husts of Milton, Goethe, Dante and
Sh * espeare Over The eastern entrance
there is q beautiful representation OF
the four seasons, and over the western
a has relief of Michael Angelo. The
stones used for the front are Bellville
and Carlisle, one being beautiful
grayish brown and the other red color,
with dividing bands and with black
granite in patterns.
A novelty is introduced in the treat
ment of the cornice line. which has
been broken up into pediments, so as
to give picturesque appearance to
what architects call the sky line. The
has relief of the flagstaff at the north
east angle of the building has been
treated in novel manner. This is q
square metal base, surmounted ty a
pediment, from which the flagstaff
starts. The main chimney has alse
been made q feature of the general
composition of the building, dominating
the mass and forming the apex of the
sky line. This is done with view OF
securing the grand effect produced by
the pyramidal form, or of eliminating
or drawing up the sky line to an apex.
The result arrived at in this is the
essence of true architectural compost.
ton and beauty the very aesthetic point
of the perfection of art. ----...-
This feature in architecture is q great
novelty in New York houses, and is de.
fcient or entirely wanting in some Of
the most costly structures of the great
millionaires. The bay-windows con.
stitute another feature of the grand ex.
terror OF Mr.. Tilden's mansion. The
approach is exceedingly striking, and
there is something inexpressible in the
tout ensemble, which constitutes an q
mszng contrast with the buildings il
the same vicinity. The best of then
in the vicinity only seem like tinse
beside the real gold, or wretched past,
imitation placed in contact with dia
! monds OF the purest water. 1t consti
tutes one of those sights which make
| Freuchman lose all his VOCABULARY
in an ecstacy of profound admiration
with the single exception of the phrase
"Cest magnefique"
The eastern entrance is highly carv
ed and decorated. The consoles O
brackets are somewhat different from
what are usually seen in city houses
The bronze railing is also of q peculia
| character.
Another handsome and unique fea
| ture is the treatment of the front area
with its open balustrade of real bronz'
compared with the ordinary Tagged
area in common use.
The guards of the basement win
dows and the gates of the basemen
| entrance are of solid bronze aud ebony
The end ratings of the bay-window
are also of bronze, running from tn,
basement to the third door. This, il
general terms and in semiarchitec,urs
| dialect, is representaIion.o of the sever
al features of the facade. It present
| quite picturesque and imposing ap
| pearance viewed from any stand poip
IN Gramercy Park, and imparts to tai
| finest s'one-fronts there beggarly as
| pect. The wrath of Jim Bennett wheT
the new Post Office was built was o.
childish caprice compared with the
rage that some millionaires in the
Ozark must feel, deepseated in their in
jured breasts, when gazing at Tilden't
mansion from the front windows o
their own comparatively wretcheJ
structures. -,.... ...r-
The eve never wearies gazing upon it
as the more infinitely il il viewed, like
certain Oriental designs in tapestry, the
greater number of new beauties are
discoverable. There is nothing Of the
bric-a- brac style about it. Like Mr.
rlden's "bar'ls," it is all thoroughly
substantial. After vain attempt to
grasp all the exterior beauties, new
and overwhelming surprise is in store
for the victor to this mansion when he
is admitted to the interior of its e'-
thetic precincts. The dining room. in
No. Is, is the first object that strikes
his bewildered imagination. 1t is an
area of thirty feet square, and will,
when thoroughly finished, present a
picture of Oriental magni6cence, with
its beautiful panel ceiling, composed
of satinwood ribs, carved and decorat-
ed, the panels being filled in with tiles
If blue tint, with every possible con
trast of color and figure to heighfen
the effect. ~.
The walls above the level OF the dado
or wainscoting OF the ceiling are COW
cred with satinwood panels. carved
-. "a -