The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-26
rHE HOME OF GEN. GRANT.
AVeritable Museum of Valuable His
torical Relics and Works of Art.
Tributes to the Old Hero from Many Chimes
and Many Lands-How the General
Prepares His Manuscripts.

Leandor Richardson, in Boston Herald.
Gen. Grants residence stands on the north
side Of Sixty sixth street, only few doors from
Fifth avenue, and directly in the center of the
best residential quarter of New York city 1t is
double mansion. built Of brick, with brown
stone trimmings and an exceedingly massive
and solid looking structure it is. The house
faces toward the south, thus getting the ad-
vantage of the warm sun during the winter
months, and the cooling southern breezes of the
summer In this quarter of New York very
many of the wealthiest people now reside, though
only few years ago the whole surrounding
country was an unbroken and chaotic neighbor-
hood. occupied by Irish squatters, billy goats
and other hardy but inelegant creatures. The
mansion in which Gen. Grant lives is a very
plain building as to its exterior, but it looks
like structure which ought to have cost at
beast $3.50. 900, unfurnished The Grants
however came into possession OF
it under exceedingly advantageous cir
cumstances. The contract price for building
the mansion was $4,000, but General Grant
bought the establishment for $4,000. The
house was subsequently furnished at an outlay
of $25 000 although, of course. that amount does
mot begin to represent the contents of this build
ing, which houses the large quantity of very
costly gifts received by General Grant during
his tour of the world, and great number of
other presents bestowed upon him by admiring
American citizens
When the heavy front doors Of the mansion
swing open, one finds himself in lofty and
broad hallway, tiled and inlaid with mosaic
The tints of the walls and ceiling are gray, and
all of the coloring in the hall is of subdued and
quiet character. In the center OF the floor.
facing tho entrance of the drawing room, is an
inlaid monogram of the Generals initials. The
hall is lighted at night by mellow rays falling
through the sides of large Moorish lantern, the
Brazen small arms extend from the sides of this
lantern. studded with opalescent glass in a mum
Der of colors. These arms are terminated ID
cups of tulip-like shape, which contain the
stairway 10 oak, carved in antique. fig
ures, aud very massive and handsome
in it's effect. A huge sofa stands against
the wall. covered with heavy Portuguese leath
or, and is exceedingly inviting in its aspect. At
another place in the hall stands heavy chair
framed in four immense elephant tusks, which
were presented to General Grant by the Maha-
lrajah of Decca. When the General was visiting
this dignitary, during his tour of the earth, he
expressed his admiration for the fine collection
Of ivory which was lying loosely about in the
principal apartment of the palace. General
Grant had not yet emerged from the dominions
OF the naharajah when he received this magnif-
cent chair, made of the most conspicuous of the
ornaments he had spoken of. Against the walls
of the great hallway there are some handsome
engravings heavily framed, and a few trophies
also hang here. The principal one of these is
heavy bronze, containing medallion relief por
traits Of Washington, Lincoln and Grant. 1t
was presented to the General several years ago,
and is fine work, copies of which will undoubt-
Co.
of the greatest warrior Of the present time
The first floor of the Grant residence contains
four apartments; the drawing room lies to the
LETT as one enters through the hall door; the
library opens out Of the drawing ROOM and also
has an entrance from the hall; the dining room
is straight in the rear of the big hallway, and on
the right is snug and elegant reception room
The drawing room, being the most conspicuous
of any, may be described first 1t is lofty, broad
and it impresses one with its size the bay win
dow throws a food of light across the apartment
and also furnishes fine, cozy sitting place in
these days. The walls and ceilings of this apart
ment are decorated in the dark tints which are
called Moorish, and the general indications of
the room are of an oriental description A
heavy Administer carpet, of a light shade, lies
on the floor, and over it an immense rug espe
cially imported from India for this purpose
The wood work around the sides of the room is
of handsomely carved rosewood and the best
part of the furniture is framed in the same
material go carved as to match the trimmings
of the apartment. Some of the articles of fur
niture are richly gilded, and many of them are
covered with fine specimens of heavy embossed
silk of various colors, thickly laid in with
Japanese gold embroidery. Pale yellow silk,
embroidered in gold forms, handsome portieres
and window curtains suspended upon polished
brazen rods, and relieved by deep folds of ruby
velvet. One Of the most magnificent ornaments
in the room is cabinet made of agate and
grotesquey carved On the front of this cab
met is engraved General Grants monogram, en-
,o;a Iad f,xra law mt
was travelling through Mexico native noble
man pressed upon him the gift of two massive
slabs of onyx, which were. however declined by
reason of the fact that their value was considera-
bly, greater the are General cared to accept. The
Mexican noblemans generosity was, however,
not to be baked in any such manner, and he
afterward sent his gift to Mrs. Grant, in New
York As very considerable duty was imposed
upon them, they were allowed to remain for a
long time in The custom house, pending the con-
test which General Grant proposed to make
upon them. While they awaiting this
event, they were seen by Mr.. Charles T. Parks,
gentleman who formerly lived in Boston, but
who Is now junior partner of a large New York
firm. Bfr Parks, much struck by their beauty
was taken with the idea of making them into
this cabinet, and he accordingly had them taken
out of the custom house and properly set in.
They said to be the finest specimens of
onyx in the world. Among the other ornaments
in the great parlor is superb folding screen,
presented TO General Grant by the citizens of
TOXIC. THIS 10 covered Dy superb embroidery,
representing most marvellous specimens Of ia
panese poultry. There are other cabinets in
different parts of the ROOM two of them being
made of teak, very handsomely carved, and hold
ing upon their shelves a great number of speci-
mems of porcelain and other bric-a-brac of the
kind over which fashionable women rave; silver
pedestals. onyx pedestals, saddle handsomely
ornamented in lacquer work. and handsome
3acquer cabinet All these, presented to Gen
oral Grant by the Mikado of Japan, are in the
Dacca
General the massive chair, framed in ivory
tusks. already mentioned, likewise presented
aim with silver fagree cabinet made in the
Iorm of an Eastern temple. This is particu-
counterpart in Europe America. There is a
line marble bust OF General Grant standing in
the bay window recess, and there are number of
paintings on the wall One of theseis Buchanan