The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-17
ALEXANDER M1TCHELLs HOME.
Ia Visit to the Residence of the Wisconsin
Railroad King.
Letter in Chicago Inter Ocean.

Letter IN OnlcaSo iHlsi OOoah'
MILWAUKEE, Nov. BIN the center of three
acres of ornamented ground, which occupies one
block in the interior of the city OF Milwaukee,
stands the palatial residence Of the Hon. Alex
ander Mitchell, the millionaire railroad KING OF
the West The house is constructed of Milwau-
kee brick, embellished with gray stone, while
square dome towers above the marble piared
portico Massive doors, skillfully carved, lead
unto the broad vestibule which opens into the
main hail. parlors, and conservatory a lteslze
figure of the Circassian slave Is chained TO
granite padestal, which stands IN meme
of the entrance. The parlors on the
right are finished and furnished in Per
sian style, and wanscoted in red mahogany
carved in pansy design. The walls painted
in colors of blue aud gilt, while the ceiling is
formed in patterns of the same wood and inlaid
with pansies painted in the varied colors o. the
beautiful flower, which is the embematic flower
of Persia. Alcoves, whose outer sides are OF
kglass, filled with exquisite cabinets, are sepa-
grated by rich tapestry from those parlors ana
make the shadiest of hooks. The chairs and
,couches are of carved mahogany and covered
with blue velvet embroidered with pansy bios
SONS. The carved mahogany mantel, reaching
to the ceiling and irlaid with porcelain paintings
of Oriental figures, Is lined with plate glass
while Persian lamp of gold flagree and Bohe-
milan glass is pendent by gold chain from the
canopied top.
ANTIQUE vases and costly brie-a- brac stand in
the inches of this mantel, and are multiplied by
their crystal background. The cabinet piano
which is constructed after the same STYLE
fleets its coored lamp in the mirror, while porce
lain paintings decorate this musical instrument
Many of these exquisite lamps are chained to
the ceiling and might be called magic lanterns
for a wire is touched in the wall, and as quick as
thought light appears. Paintings OF figures and
scenes of Oriental life adorn the walls, While
flower girls in Paran marble are the work of
Padoline Gorgeous Persian rugs cover the in
laid floor and tapestry from the Eastern lands
hangs from the wide arched openings. These
parlors lead into the eastern hall, which is lined
4 odd ryl.A hftvh NADIA
stand hammered brass vases. Doors of colored
glass in mosaic patterns open into the suberb
Alhambra room. with its grand paintings its
velvet tufted walls its circular divans, its soft
Turkish carpets. and Saracenic architecture 1t
is a charming illusion to fancy that you are in
the Moorish palace of the King.
The immense library, furnished in green and
bronze, with its several thousand volumes. is an
attractive place On these walls hangs a crayon
picture of the mistress of this mansion, also a
crayon likeness of Mrs. DR.. Mackie, daughter
of Mr.. George Mitchell, Of Scotland, Egyptian
vases ornament tine mantel and the bronze
figures of Night and Morning lean against the
antique clock. Expensive engravings deck the
walls of the stately halls and the portrait of the
lamented Longfellow occupies prominent posi-
tion. The massive ballustrade either side Of the
broad stairs leading to the hall above is carved
in lions heads and Scottish designs.
A tall Dutch clock, seven centuries old whose
musical notes sound each hour, stands at the
head of the stairs From this hall open richly
furnished rooms in exquisite and varied fashion,
the most enchanting of which is the Marie An
toinette apartment whose architecture and fur
nishing is in the fashion of the time of Louis
XVI. Porcelain pictures of court balls
painted on the aabaster mantel. Cabinets of
beautiful shape occupy the corners of the room,
while medallion figures porcelain are inserted
in the wood of cabinets and dresser. Rare
vases and foreign curioS I'LL every available
space The retiring couch is patterned from "a
photograph of the one Oh which used to rest the
beautiful but unfortunate Queen. 1t is covered
with embossed velvet, and hangings of embroid-
cred velvet droop from the bell-shaped canopy.
The gray and gilt freSeoed walls form a ground
work for the handsome French water coiors in
white holly and gilt frames The finest of lace
curtains are draped at the windows, over which
gracefully fall embroidered velvet corresponding
in color to the other draperies. Two immense
mirrors fill either end of the room, and hanging
from the center of the ceiling is a chandelier
with innumerable crystal pendants, rejecting
iridescent hues on the opposite mirrors.
The art gallery the loftiest floor admits a
flood of light from above the rare paintings
of both American and foreign masters The
walls OH which the paintings hang are of dark
wood. The breast Of the west wall is covered
with crimson plush, against which is placed, in
curious designs, many pieces of ancient armor
1nnumerabe engravings lie assorted on the i'm
mense table, and cabinets filed with bric-a-brac
brought from all countries are attractive to
lovers of curious devices. With all of the com
bination of elegance and grandeur in this beaut-
full mansion there is nothing oppressive
STRAINED. III Is SIMPLY In6 luxury OF comfort
enjoyed by the occupants and their guests
The conservatory, opening from the hall, and
grand dining room, with its oaken walls, is 100
feet in length by 81 in width, covered with a
semi circular roof and filled with the choicest of
tropical and semi-tropical plants some of which
valued at 81 coo. There are sixty five varieties
of palms, among them date palm II years
old. Also an india rubber tree, the largest in
America. The walls are ornamented, at height
of ten feet, with representations or Melrose Alb
hey the place of the Duke of Devonshire, and
Dumbarton- on the-Clyde The center fountain
twenty feet high, is marvellous in design and fan
tastic in shape and like the castles, is composed
of petrifed wood gathered in Wisconsin and Da-
kota by Mr. Joseph Pollard, the cutivator and
keeper of these beautiful plants who originated
and manufactured these palaces, grottoes and
fountains. From the conservatory opens the
green house. which is 500 feet in length, and di-
vided into apartments where plants are classified
Hanging rocks covered with sparkling goods
with miniature fishermen leaning over the waters
are curiosities. In the Penthouse there is cave
covered with tiny plants. the edge of which
hangs petrihed birds nest.
A few years ago Minnesota scientist visited
this place and Clipped n piece from the nest,
over which Mr. Pollard is still aggrieved. Under
these glass roofs there are plants from all coun-
tries under the sun. One hundred and fifty va
rietles of azalias that bloom at Easter time and
japonicas that will blossom for the Easter
bridals When this crystal palace is lighted it
reminds one of fairy tale chapter of the
arabian Nights While showing us through
these blooming gardens Mr.. POLAND remarked:
'All this you may attribute to Mrs. Mitchelrs
energy She is he continued "a wonderful
woman In the chapel of the Paesavant
Hospital Mrs. Mitchell has placed stained
glass window, twenty five feet in length, which
is illustrative of the Scriptural definition of
charity with the figures OF Faith aud Hope
above. In this hospital is room which she
furnishes and supports, and which is intended
for clergymen and their families who need
surgical care. This room is called the martha
room" after this excellent woman. and she is
rightly named. being anxious about many
things.
Russian Explorati ons in Thbet.
st. Petersburg Dispatch to the London Times.