Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-04
RICH w0xAws H0xE.
rn,uss to se Seen 10 the Residence Of 20
mess Msrchans Priscs's widow.
ffbicago MALL


mevs Msrehans PvIsce's widow.
lchicsgo MALL
II is definitely understood that Mrs.
A. T. Stewart will lay aside her widows
mourning and appear in society sne
coming winter. Worth, who has always
made all her dresses, is now preparing
for her number Of evening toilets, IS
we'll as several for church, carriage,
dinner, and afternoon-wear. In colofss
black, purple. and lavender prevait on
grounds Of pearl-white. gray. or vic-
let, in such textures as only
Worth is able TO secure. 1t ~ the
opinion that after her first reception
Mrs. Stewart will inaugurate the Sunday
dinner entertainments which her late
husband made so popular during tho
latter years Of his life. At these DIM
ners the most cosmopolitan people met.
and il was not unusual for the favored
New York guest to dine rts-d-ris with
a Californian, while a Russian sat on
his right and a Brazilian on his LETT.
Each guest was the care Of a special
attendant, who served IN evening dress
and kid gloves; and no untrequentiy
these walters were brought up from
the store, and received S5 for their ser
vices, besides a royal good dinner. The
menu consisted Of twenty-five courses,
and whenever il was possible each
dish was served la ,adiridadts. Tho
dinners, while magnificent in appoint
ments, never had the reputation OF
being social successes, as the host
made up his parties without reference
to copgeniality. The guests were not
only foreign in nationality, but very
often in tastes and ideas, and the result
was a formal aud most impressive
gathering, which. in spite OF the nine
wines. remained so throughout the
after.dinner smoke. These teasts were
always spread in the guests dining
room, a dark parlor at the LEFT OF tho
main hall, almost fabulous in the
wealth of bronzes. marbles, mahogany,
and tapestries. Only once since the
death of the millionaire has this room
been used, and then bridal lunch was
spread at the nuptials Of Mr.. Stewart's
niece and DR.. q. l.. Wetherall. All
gatherings since have been informal,
the nieces and grandnieces and nephews
being the honored guests. Then the
table in the family dining-room is
spread, and there also Mrs. Stewart
partakes Of her simple meals, always
alone, attended by Smith, who has been
in the family as butler for almost half
a century.
Preparatory to opening her house
| Mrs. Stewart has ordered something OF
a rearraugement. The gallery is closed
to visitors, pictures are being reyar-
nished and statuary cleaned, but no
changes are being made in the hanging,
and everything is just as 1t was when
the owner last walked among his trea-
sures. In the reception and drawing
rooms linen covers are being removed,
displaying the beautiful chairs and di-
vans Of precious woods aud metals,
with upholsterng that was paid for by
the inch. There are rolelin tapestries
and more modern hsnd-loom, worth $500
each, and several Of hand-painted satin,
for which slo0 apiece was paid. The
curtains. that will be hung on the win
dows this week, would, il converted
into cash, be a fortune to plenty OF
Murray-H Killers. Besides these delicate
web-like hangings, there are lambre-
quins and portieres, priceless in value
and Incompatible in pattern and design.
About each door on the main iioor IL .
casing of blue velvet, stamped with .
Venetian pattern of gold, the work OF
some Italian decorator. Almost
the only improvement to bo no.
ticed is the rope Of red velvet that
runs along the left OF inside OF
the staircase to the top floor.
Two years ago Mrs. Stewart fell
descending from the library. and broke
her arm. Immediately after Judge
Billion bad a medium-sized rope covered
with casing OF ruby velvet aud hung
for a hand-rail. The rich, red-silky
band stretched along the polished mar
BILE surface is delightful to the eye, but
has proved to be wholly ornamental,
Mrs. Stewart fatly refusing any aid
whatever either in going up or down
stairs. Though sirty-three years Of age
she is as agile and graceful as school
girl, and superntends personally every
department Of her house-and il would
be difficult to find one better regu-
lated. Unlike most Of her sex, she is
not zealot in the matter Of sweeping.
Her home is swept just once a year.
The windows are kept closed con-
stantly, so that dust is not prevalent.
Servants are taught to pick up things,
but are forbidden to handle broom.
People residing in the very neighbor-
; hood of the marble mansion get the
idea that because tie curtains are never
, up the house is not cheerful, while the
fact is that the light reflected by the
marble walls and floors is so intense
that it would be blindingif the curtains
= were not used to temper it.
In the matter Of house-cleaning Mrs.
, Stewart does a great deal Of charity In
! a small way. The work is so arranged
that some part of 1t is done every day,
for which scrubbing-women are hired
, and paid from s2 to % for few hours
work. Silver is cleaned three days IN
the week at the rate Of % day, and
the poor artists who clean the marble
( statuary and bronzes are paid >i0
day. At home the mistress dresses Ia
, purple or white, and lives almost
wholly in her private sitting.room,
T which is an immense salon.parlol
fronting on Thirty-third street, and I'd.
joining the library with its mirrorsd
cases Of books and piles and piles ol
: folios and rare manuscripts and prints.
, She usually walks in the art gallery b
( fore breakfast, and any day she may b
seen out shopping between ii and IL
r or driving through the park after 8
: Though childless she has no less thai
sixteen nieces and grandnieces, and bel
, purchases for them are almost cssseless
Brilliant Receptiou.
: The reception of Mr.. and Mrs. Mead,