The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-17
BLAINE'S PALACE.
A Magnificent Home Which Cost Over
100000,
FILLED with Luxurious Furniture Valued at
S5O.O0O-A Comparison for Labor
ing Men to Consider.

ing more than $o,OuO per year as salary, ex-
cepting that short period when he was Secre-
tary Of State, during which time his salary
was at the rate of s, 600 per annum, has
cumuIated great wealth in vast coal mining
interests. Here is pen picture of the palace
which Mr.. Blaine erected, says a Washington
special. 1t is given for the benefit OF the poor
coal miners who are now struggling for sus
tenance in the Ohio and other coal mining
regions. Ii will serve to show the struggling
laborer how the men who, it Is alleged, are
their employers are enabled to live. No man
- worth less than 100000 could afford
4 70 build such a mansion, nor could
any other than a millionaire afford
10 live IN such house, IS it is said that the
running expenses.of the mansion which Mr..
Blaine built for his Washington home can
not be less than g 600 per month, or more
zhan $50 per day-more in one day than a
coal miner makes in a month. The Blaine
mansion is DIV far the largest private house
ever erected in Washington City, and has
more rooms than the British Legation,
though not so much ground is covered as by
fhe latter. The Blaine mansion goes up q
good deal higher in the air. The same ar
chiteot built both of them. The ground
plan measures about seventy by seventy
1ive feet and the house stands on tongue
OF land bounded by Twentieth street, Z.
street and Massachusetts avenue, and faces
east. There are two main entrances one for
carriages on Massachusetts avenue, where
. there is 8 circular drive on the lot leading
Through a porte cOchere to the fine stone
staircase and one which gives the most pleas
ing interior view on Twentieth street. This
IS approached by fine stone staircase lead
ing up to a broad platform of stone, from
which the entrance door opens. Then one
sees hall fifteen feet wide and forty-five
deet in length, terminating in a handsome
fireplace and mantel, above which is plate
glass mirror. The
EXTERIOR OF TIE MANSION
is in striking constrast with all the neigh
boring houses. Built of plain pressed brick,
the only OrnamentatiOn attempted is in
variations of the same material in the form
of black lines and terra Gotta. The latter is
displayed in original design about then en-
trance on Twentieth street. at the Msssa-
chusetts avenue entrance there is erected the
elegant porte cOchere mentioned above, of
artistically wrought iron work. The house
is Of three full stories, with basement and
attic floors. Entering by a substantial
looking flight OF brown stone steps, one
reaches a solid oak double door, carved elab-
frately, yeS with no supertluous or snowy
characterization. The entrance hall is in
keeping with the promise of the portals.
a floor Of variegated wood-cherry, walnut
and Georgia pine-suppOrts magnificently
proportional oak pillars Of Corinthian
model, which in turn support a ceiling
panelled in the same substantial material.
The walls are also wainscOted in oak. To
the right is the reception room, finished in
black walnut, with deliberately carved
mantel framing. an old-fashioned looking
fireplace, furnished with andirons and artis-
fically nodded hearth. On the left is a COM
paniOR room. the parlor, leading to the draw
ing room and Hbrary-all en- suite-fnished
IN Honduras mahogany, the latter lined
breast high with bookcases covered with
carved work. buffers pantry beyond the
library opens TO the dining room, with an
intervening dumb waiter Of the proportions
of moderate sized elevator, and running
clear 10 the roof. The dining room, with
capacity to seat but a select gathering, and
obviously intended for no state occasion, is
also finished IN mahogany. Along the rear
OF the house, overlooked by the windows of
the three last named rooms is q capacious
Veranda.
al the floors on this level are formed of
the same woods as the hall. The doors are
made to slide into recesses in the wall, and
respond to the touch OF child. so well bal
anced and adjusted are they. Wrapping and
binding are guarded against in their con-
struction; each "stile" of the frame is
formed of four strips of pine, each alternate
strip reversed so as 10 react and absorb
within themselves any variation from the
true line caused by further drying of the
already weLl-seasoned timber. Outside of
all is thick veneering OF the wood cores
ponding with the finish of the respective
rooms. The windows are
GLAZED WITH PLATE GLASS;
chains. Every door and window in the
house is connected with an electric indicator
ia Mr.. Blaine's room, forming a complete
burglaral alarm. Electric bells and speaking
tubes traverse the house in all directions.
A magnificent oak-carved stairway leads by
an easy ascent of seventeen steps, eight feet
wide to landing with divided short re-
turn of six steps. The upper hall is graced
with oak pillars OF as elegant,
LII -, 81 aaO ,1
Mr.. Blaine's chamber. From the windows
view of Arlington, Fort Myer and George
town College is obtained. Here, as men
toned before, center the electric wires which
viii give unerring Information of any i'm
proper attempt to enter. Leading from this
chamber which, as are all on the floor, is
finished in poplar wood, is bathroom,
which, If 1t does not excel in elegance those
OF the Romans, certainly equals anything OF
modern model Besides the most complete
Sppurtenances Of sanitary science, made
safe from any possibility OF sewer contagion,
there is hotair or Turkish bath-chamber.
Here are also the ubiquitous electric but
tons to insure the solitary bather the safety
of a prompt call in case Of sudden illness or
other necessity for assistance Other rooms
on this floor are in more or less exclusive
connection with bathrooms, but no drain
attachments lead directly into any sleeping
chamber.
Five fine large rooms comprise the family
and guest chambers on this floor. Ia the
rear are other rooms, separated by shut-of
door, and rachel by smaller stairway. in
tended for the use OF servants. On the floor
above are a number of well appointed bed
rooms, together with a large cedar closet for
furs, ETC., and in the attic tier is still another
set OF rooms, less in number than on either
of the other floors bat all finely fitted up.
In the basement reached by broad stair
way under
THE GRAND OAK STRUCTURE
nsed for reaching the upper chamber is
found fine, large billiard room under the
library, and Of the same siZe-about 20 by %
feet. Near to this under the parlor, is the
smoking room. Across the spacious hall are
the kitchen, laundry and other domestic
Offices, all fitted up with the latest modern
appliances. The heating arrangements of the
house, apart from the open ire-places whish
Ventilate and cheer nearly every room. are
worthy of particular notice. The furnace OF
boiler chamber is between the billiard and
smoking rooms 1t is furnished with an i'm
mense boiler, which does double duty, sup
plying both radiated heat and clean, hot air.
I'M l. I'll asa ~