The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-31
CENTRE OF LUXURY.
Our Country the Emporium of the
Oddities of the Universe.
The Costly and Dazzling Novelties OF
the MetrOpOlis---The ENtrav-
agances Which Amaze
and VI stify.

new DIX OF CT. LOUIS
In point of novelties in decoration the
Americans are adding such inventive talent
to the ingenuity of the old world that the
country will soon be the emporium of all the
oddities of the universe. just look at the
inkstands made in the shape of 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 lichens, with
an orioles nest suspended by a braided loop of
seneca grass; at the dainty mufinieres 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 a run on stained glass. This year there
is a demand for the exquisitely tinted plate
| glass, such as one encounters in the doors of
the Greek chapel at Weisbaden, Prussia;
that lovely spot where the late George
Knapp rested before he took up his fatal
homeward journey. 1t is a wonder that this
has not been introduced before.
A palatial cottage at Mt. Desert contains a
reception room with windows on the four
sides. They are furnished by a Venetian
firm, the glass; being of different colors, ad-
mits the most delicate hues, blending
perfectly with 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 will 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 admires, 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 swinging glass, and the
tables like unto those before which Pompa-
dour used to love to make her toilet for Louis
! Nv. 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 colo,s to choose from as in bouquet of
| flowers. Then gas-lights are put in the
Moorish designs OF hanging lamps or lanterns
| of jeweled glass suspended from delicate
scroll-like brackets; and your cigar stand in
plush rests upon little spider table, with
the quantity bowed legs, with the heart
shaped top of the Vernis Martin furniture.
| Even the government seems to be going
into the Oddly business. The Detroit $500
! clock, which is shortly 10 be placed i'll the
capitol at Washington, whether purchase
or a gift | cannot say, is now on exhibition at
a curio shop on Broadway. 1t is massive
affair, and is eighteen feet high and eight
/ feet deep weighs 5000 pounds The case is
of black walnut, engraved in designs appro-
pirate and symbolic of the republic; above
the main body is dome upon which Wash
ington sits in his chair of state and reviews at
each hour all the presidents as they pass along
in order up to the time of President Hayes
In the four sides are carved inches in which
I 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 bis hand, the tone being delicate and
sweet; at the half hour the youth strikes
upon his bell which is trihe 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 a Pompeiian palace
than Yankee hosiery. 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 astonishment 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 il, 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 p'dizett 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 Alice
Atherton would say, "Hevings, oh Hev-
ings!" The central panel, painted by
Virgilio Tojetti. contains seventeen an
gelic 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 in
gold, silver aud copper. A wide outer bor-
der is painted on gold with soft, harmonious
tones, and with circular flower 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