River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-09-06
-----------.s-.saz<p-'--e,r 49,
AN AMERICAN HOME.
Opening of a Mansion that is Finer than any
Palace i'm Europe.
New York Letter.


This magnificent mansion, finer than any
palace in Europe, was opened on Tuesday,
the 18th of January, for the first time, to
the public. The famous Ghiberti doors,
copied by Barbedienne, of Paris, swing
open TO admit one to vestibule which holds
the great nalachite vase from San Donata.
This vestibule is of the red Numidean mar
bic lighted up with onyx. Other bronze
doors open into cloak and dressing-Iooms,
and suddenly there bursts upon the eve q
vast hall, reaching to the sky lights, with
galleries running round three stories show
ing the full height of the house. All the
deep red marble with capitals of bronze, sup
port the galleries. The balustrades are OF
bronze, richly decorated in figures of gold
relief. A great wood fire, holding logs
four feet long, burns in this baronial apart
ment. Bronze female figures hold up the
work about the fire place, which is orna-
mented with gold wreaths, on dark ground,
like the work at Versailles.
Out of this grand central ball opens the
picture gallery of vast proportions and
magnificent furnishing. 1t is forty eight
feet long, thirty-two feet wide and thirty
five feet high. 1t is not an exaggeration to
say that this superb gallery holds five hun
dred of the best modern pictures. Its fin
ishing is of Domingo mahogany, carved in
to caryatides and pilasters, against black
oak. The ceiling Is of opalescent and tint
ed glass. A splendid diyan OF Sentari vel
vet and gold, made at Sentari tone would
think for O sultan), is in the middle of the
room. The Yestibule, which offers a sepa-
rate entrance TO the public, whenever Mr..
Vanderbilt chooses to throw open his gal
lery), is mass Of Venetian mosaic. Tbs
dining room bears out the full character
of the magnificent hospitality of the rich
est man in the world. Ii is vast, spacious,
high -arched and imposing. The ceiling Is
a network of silver bralds, through which
gold grapes hang The walls are covered
with gilt stamped leather. The paintings
by Iaminias, of hunting the deer, the wild
duck, and the boar, ornament the walls
Rich cabinets, full of priceless porcelain
and china, silver, glass and gold services,
run round the room. Choice vases of
Seyres, Dresden, majolica and Worcester,
bits of reticulated Worcester, make this
spacious apartment beautiful. 1t is tri-
umphant. In the best style of Italian re-
naissance, it affects one like strain of mu-
sic. The Japanese room opens out of this
and is exquisitely harmonious. There is
intellect in every detail, from the lacquered
ceiling TO the bamboo pattern of the carpet.
The Mikado is not so handsome room.
Red lacquer. work beams support the cell
ing. Ancient velvet carpet, lin low tones,
parting the Japanese yellows and green's,
covers the furniture. Queer Japanese cab
lnets, of irregular shapes, run round the
room, holding vases, monsters, fans and
curioS. 1t is tho combination of all that
Japan has been doing for the ages. Such
bronzesl The grand salon is evidently i'm
ported fresh from Aladdins palace, for
it is all precious stones. Columns of porphy-
nv, enriched with emeralds, pearls. opals,
amethysts, rubies, In cut crystaD catch
and reflect the light. One must read Vath-
elk, and the Arabian Nights, and Southey's
poem of Kubla Kahn to realize this room.
The woodwork is heavily carved and
gilded, the walls covered with pale crimson
velvet embroidered with gold, and sequins,
and precious stones again, butterflies in
bold relief, and dropping garlands Of pearl.
Here too, onyx, malachite, and lapis laZull
take the place of wood, and the gas. lights
are tempered by having wells of jewels; the
tall figures which hold up the gas-lights ale
of solid silver; the cabinets leave LucreZia
Borgia and Pompadour "out in the cold; "
the stained glass windows are surrounded
by rich columns of onyx, and yet in this
beautiful oriental room there is not bit of
glare, or of bad taste. 1t is in perfect taste.
Here Mrs. Vanderbilt received with her
young bridal pair, Mr.. and Mrs. Webb.
This room is the eight wonder of the
world. 1t is more beautiful than any room
which remember in Europe. 1t is unique.
Out of this room of gold and jewels comes
a room of which the fire place is formed
of Limoges, enamels and ONYX, bronze and
mirror aud brass. The ceiling is made of
diamonds of mirror in field of dead gold.
This room is full of beautiful and rare
things Fans, snuff boxes and miniatures,
the collections Of princes, and cardinals
coins, jewels, and the most magnificent of
etageres, on which stands real gold and sill
yer candelabra. The staircase is magn1
ficent conception, broken into request
landings, on which stands statues, bronzes
vases and fiowe4 pots; the pictures are set
into the wall, and shine out everywhere.
Mrs. Vanderbilts apartment possesses a
ceiling of famous workmanship, the pictures
Of the Aurora, from n famous
French pencil. The rooms of Mr.. Webb
are fitted up with the most exquisite luxury
and taste. / know no more charitable, I'M
pretending. excellent people than the Van
derbilts. Luxury and money have not cor
rupted their simplicity. They welcome
every one most warmly and really Mr.. Van
derbilt has made an artistic gift of his mil
Mons III tnls lIne mouse W tne CITY VI III
measurable value. Every young artist and
architect, every person of taste, all who
enter those bronze doors, will be benefited
by the vision of so much loneliness and
beauty. There is not suggestion of bad
taste or of yulgarity in the house. Lite as
sumes a new value under such circnm-
stances as we recognize the great pleasure
of the eve. When all onr houses are in
good taste we shall become superior peo-
pie.