Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-18
FREEHAND NOTES
OF SCENES AND DoINGs AT THE BAY
AND VICINITY.
Display of Beauty and Taste at Menlo
Park-The Triennial Conelave
"a Pine Portrait
SAN Francisco. August Is. 1853,

run a year, and then die away, hopelessly
in debt because too much money is spent
on them before Glow, conservative public
has discovered what a good thing is being
issued to them, was one in which the en-
cravings were particularly satisfactory.
partly because of fine artistic work, but
more because the subjects of the plates
brought before the eyes of people who, haply,
might never see the originals, the existing
glory and grandeur of the distant, civilized
parts of the world. Among other things
was series called the Stately Homes of
England" each plate representing the
castle, manor or hall which forms the
principal country-seat of every distinguish.
ed English family. A brief explanatory
note accompanied each, telling the extent
and characteristics Of the estate. Such a
series might be made of the
COUNTRY HOMES IN CALIFORNIA,
Which could well afford comparison with
the better-known dwellings of the older
country. But recently gentleman who
has travelled much, and is not altogether
beyond the charge of Anglo-mania, so far
forgot himself as to say Of California
house, Il have been in many palaces and
have never seen such magnifcence. Some
of the finest as well as Oldest of these homes
are at Menlo Park, notably one magnificent
white palace whose many columns give it
an air of lightness almost as if it sprung
of It's own will or under the wand of ma
gician, and held itself poised and glittering
in all its beautiful resemblance TO the sum-
mer palace of the Sultan on the Bosphorus.
AS the outside is purely white and elabo.
rate to suit the lawns and the sunshine, the
inside is richly dark and somber. Rich
woods, bronzss and hangings are every
where, and curious tables and stands bear
portfolios of well.selected engravings, quaint
lamps and rare books. Two drawing.
rooms only are finished in pale tints.
These, designed for evening reception.
rooms, are seen TO best advantage by gas
light. The doors and panels are of SATIN
wood-the upholstery almost too delicate
of hue TO be used. The mantel. pieces and
cabinets are Of onyx. one of the center
tables of Roman alabaster, and upon it a
specimen of
NEARLY EVERY COSTLY WARE
The worlds factories produce, among
Others vase of the wonderful cameo glass,
celebrated in England, but yet hardly
known in this country. A white, Opaque
stratum of glass is molded upon colored,
translucent glass the two are fired 10.
gether, and the article comes to the hands
of the cutter, white, to all appearance.
The pattern of a vine, fruit or flowers is
then cut in relief, by hand, when the
colored glass appears in the interstices of
the pattern, as the background appears in
a stone cameo. The vases / saw were one
red and one amber colored. the latter being
the finer. The ware is very heavy, vase
not more than eighteen inches high weigh
ing several pounds. The view from the
tower is magnificent, the bay, the semi
circle of hills ON the horizon, the pinnacles
on the roofs of neighboring estates, and not
least the fanciful patterns of the carpet
gardening which spreads over some of the
lawns, and is only seen with the finest
eHeCI buCu ClOF1eiOns OA Mndb IL
called the lower ranch
AN ARTIFICIAL LAKE
Is TO be made; that is, the one already
among the reed beds is to be en-
larged and fed by srtesian wells. Space
would fail to tell OF the firm, elastic, we'll
kept roads, the stables and their satin
coated, highly bred inmates, the seemingly
endless avenues, the bountiful orchards
and luxuriant greenhouses, the miles of
level lawn, the hundreds of young ever
greens planted everywhere that trees are
lacking, the splendid oaks, the fountains,
the finely graveled paths, the choice ap.
pointments of tho dwelling, that combine
TO make j. C. Floods Menlo Park estate a
substantial monument of wealth directed
by taste.
Such are the surroundings of dignihed
ease in the country. In the city all is
" conclsvity." The strings of diminutive
flags which crossed certain streets, vaguely
of the family washing, and
threatened at one moment to be the only
civic demonstration to the
high official recognition
THE TWENTY SECOND coNcLAvE
Has received, have been succeeded by
more elaborate decorations. Several arches
have been completed, and almost every
Iarge shop has hung out banners on its out
ward wall, with evergreen wreaths and
ife.size colored pasteboard figures of
Knights galore. One reckless dealer in
precious metals had a whole arbor of smi-
lax before his doorway, and the candy
men arrange Maltese crosses of chocolate
creams on burnt almond backgrounds. 1t
is all very pretty and gay it is for tri-
umphal procession, but peaceful one.
citation is bought at the price of
other bodies misery, and the many swords
are bloodless-comfortab reflection SO
many marches are for death and burial.
Y yesterday Grand Master Dean arrived
from San Rafael with l25 Knights and 65
ladies' of the Boston Commandery. His
rooms az the Palace were taken possession
Of early in the morning by the ladies of
the Triennial Union, an organization which
has existed since the Chicago Conclsve In
1850, its members being the wives of Cali
fornia 'Templars, for purposes Of decora-
ton. There were banks OF flowers
and fragrant green upon the mantels
and cabinets. A large "Welcome in
red blossoms swung over the curtains Of
the bow-window, and elaborate flower
pieces were in every available spot /; the
handsomest OF these was parsllelogram
thirty inches square, of fine flowers, the
TRIPLE PURPLE CROSS OF THE GRAND
MASTER,
And the dates "lS24" and "lSS3"-for
yesterday CHANGED to be the birthday of
Mr.. Demand his initials, "B. d." out
lined in red, were brought ont upon white
There was also white and
pink Japanese lily in the piece, from among
whose petals little blonde. headed bisque
! gurine peeped out upon the proceedings.
Busiest OF the busy ladies was Mrs. J. w.
and gentle, helpful hands are always found
where there is tasteful work to be done.
She was chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Ladies' Triennial Union
until the meeting became so largely at
ended that it became necessary for George
Bromley to assume the position. OF the
I60 ladies of the Union. p will be on duty
IS Reception Committee every evening at
The Pavilion, and a committee of 81 young
aides, called the Boutonniere Committee,
composed of the daughters of California
K nights, will be in attendance to bestow a
putton-hole bouquet upon each stranger
Knight. Preparations for Thursday nights
oall at the Pavilion are going busily for
ward.
IN THE ART GALLERY,
Where Wores' " Chinese Actor" of which