Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-04
CENTRE OF LUXURY,
Our Country the Emporium of the
Oddities of the Universe.
The Costly and Dazzling Novelties of
the GzetroaOlis---The Extrav-
agances which Amaze
and N.Y. stify.

NEW York Cor. st. Louis Republican,
In point OF novelties in decoration the
Americans are adding such inventive talent
10 the ingenuity of the old world that the
country Will soon be the emporium Of all the
oodltleS OF the universe. Just look at the
hlkSCands made i'll the shape of a lotus flower;
The vases of the style of a nautilus SHELL in
olive green and gold with the pink cactus
bud and flowers gracefully falling over the
top and side; at the wall pockets of birch
bark in the natural state with hchens, with
an orioles nest suspended by braided loop of
seneca grass: at the dainty muffiniereS in red,
blue and yellow cracked glass for sugar; at
the black rattan rockers trimmed with
orange satin ribbon, and the head rest of
crushed strawberry plush with Japanese
lettering in strawberry satin couched with
floSelle OF corresponding color, and at
world of other things that it would take
small fortune to purchase. Last winter there
was run on stained glass. This year there
lsa demand for the exquisitely tinted plate
glass, such as one encounters in the doors of
the creek chapel at Wesbaden, Prussia:
that lovely spot where the late George
Knapp rested before he took up his fatal
homeward quincy. 1t is q wonder that this
has not be introduced before
A palatial 'ttage at Mt. Desert contains a
reception ro4-l with windows on the four
sides. They aaa furnished by Venetian
firm, the glass, being of different colors, adj
mlts the most delicate hues, blending
perfcctty nth the furniture made by the
same artists; the glass is so constructed that,
IN looking through the different windows, the
mountains and water may be seen as they
appear at the several seasons, SO that winter,
spring and autumn scenery can be looked
upon in all its glory by the summer cottager.
Soon the fashion viii be on Fifth avenue, and
guests may have the fun of seeing orange,
olive, green, purple, red and blue-tinted
women pass by 1t is lovely thing to be
able to look at friend one admres and see
him or her in all the colors of the rainbow
But for This are we millionaires
There seems to be no end of costly oddities.
You now take seats in fashionable dining
rooms on alligator skins, used in upholstery;
in fashionable boudoirs you encounter the
small dressers, with a swinging glass, and the
tables ike unto those before which Pompa-
dour used TO love to make her toilet for Louis
XIV. You eat salad off of dishes in the
form of Holsters and other crustacea, and as
for after-dinner coffee cups there are as
many colors to choose from as in a bouquet of
flowers. Then gas-ights are put in the
Moorish designs Of hanging lamps OF lanterns
of jeweied glass suspended from delicate
scroll-!ike brackets; and your cigar stand in
plush rests upon little spider table, with
the quantity bowed legs, with the heart
shaped top OF the Fernis Martin furniture.
Even the government seems to be going
into the Od'tity business The Detroit $50, COO
clock, which is shortly to be placed in the
capitol at Washington, whether as purchase
ora gift l cannot say, is now on exhibition at
curio shop on Broadway. 1t is a massive
affair, and IS eighteen feet high and eight
feet deep, weighs 5000 pounds. The case is
of black walnut, engraved i'll designs appro-
pirate and symbolic of the republic; above
the main body is dome upon which Wash
lngtOn sits in his chair of state and reviews at
each hour all the presidents as they pass along
i'll order up to the time of President HAYES
In the four sides are carved inches in which
figures are placed representing infancy,
youth, manhood and old age; at the end OF
every quarter hour the infant strikes upon
the bell with a tiny hammer which he holds
in his hand, the tone being delicate and
sweet; at the half hour the youth strikes
upon his bell which is a triae harsh; at the
three-quarterS is heard the strong and reson-
ant stroke OF manhood, then follows at the
hour the bell of old age which is deep and
sad.
The decorations in the Fifth Avenue hotel
have taken an oriental turn. Some say it
now seems to be more of Pompeiian palace
than a Yankee hostelry. What with the ivory
tints, lines of gold, dull hued green plush
panels, with gold work in scrolled floral pat
tern and red friezes and gold and silver tap
eStry, there is enough to amaze and mystify,
but you can imagine the establishment of the
Britisher accustomed to demure and poorly
decorated hotels on looking at the clock in a
panel framing Of Mexican onyx, with nodding
peoples painted all around it, and at the
cherubs swinging on garlandS of green leaves
on the panels over the mirrors leading into
the parlors.
To save me cannot tell what pisizett sill
yer IS. but that IS the metal in which the
small work of the gas fixtures is worked.
Then peep at the parlor ceiling, As Ale,
AtharjOu would say, ''Hevings, oh Hev-
ings." The central panel, painted by
Nirgiio Toietti, contains seventeen an
gciie figures, which are pleaSingly
grouped and painted, with sky background,
with traces of cloud and light branches sway
ing across. Some Of the figures are very ten
derby and beautifully painted. The panel is
framed in metal work with massed flowers i'll
gold, silver and copper. A wide outer Dor
Ger is painted ON gold with soft, harmonious
tones, and with circular hower-panel mark
ing the centre at each side, which represents
the artist OF the clock panel painting already
mentioned. This room is curtained with
plush of darkest red, with embossed border,
and with straight fringed lambrequin dra
perry decorated with gold and silver embroid
cry. The settees against the wall are also
upholstered in red plush, but with some idea
of change, The carpet is in blue and yellow
olive, with border turning to deep red at
the line of the wall. just the place for a re-,
ception of the next embassy from some other
far oil nation than Corea
l-unch's CartOonist.
London Truth.
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