Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-06-17

AZ tho House OF George w. ohuds-
The Taste and ART DlaplaYed.

AZ tho House OF George w. ChtIdn- |
The Taste and ART Displayed.
In Go5d Housekeeping, Hester M. Poole
describes the dining room of Mr. George
W. Ohilds of Philadelphia, which has
been the scene of so many notable gather
ings, and is handsomely decorated apart
ment. 1t measures 80 feet by 15 and is
about 10 feet in hight. Occupying the
southwestern extremity of the mansion,
the sunshine streams in through win
dow in the western extremity and
another near it ON the south. II Ia entered
by broad doorway at the end of the
spacious hall, from which the visitor, as
he advances through the vestibule, looks
adown vista terminating in full length
mirror set in door frame at the extremity
of q smaller hall leading out of the din
ing-room and ON one side of the buffers
pantry.
On our left, separated from tho dining
room by one elegantly carved and gilded
pillar and one pilaster ON either side, is
the music room, in the centre of which
are two grand pianos. Heavy hangings
of tapestry having figures of rich, dark
colors in renaissance designs on black
ground and dados of wine-colored plush,
convert the rooms into two apartments
whenever desired. Generally, the so feet
or more which comprise the entire south
side of the mansion form one apartment,
giving sense of luxurious breadth sell
dom attained in private dwelling. At
the end of the MUSHROOM farthest from
the dining room is superb mirror
in massive frame beneath
which stand three large vases
from the Royal Berlin mandatory, which
kings have coveted in vain, so lovely they
are in form, color and finish. As the
music room in turn opens into the draw
ing room on the left or eastern side, with
no other separation than similar side pill
lars and pilasters, il will be readily seen
what magnificent sweep is obtained in
this elegant series of rooms. They are
apparently duplicated again, by mirrors
which produce an endless succession of
yistas and greatly increase the brilliance
of the scene. Under gaslight this effect is
heightened to remarkable degree.
The woody work of the room is highly
polished oak, trimmed with amaranth, the
rich ooloring of which contributes TO
highten by contrast, the tint of the native
wood. The heavy oak castings about the
doors and windows have each three
mouldings of the darker wood, and are
surmounted by projecting, low arched
cornices, all finished alike. AT either side
of the west window, the wall space is
filled with large arched mirror in mas
sive frame of oak inlaid with the darker
wood. These mirrors reach from the
carved shelves above the wainscoting-
which serve to hold the treasures over
flowing from cabinets and buffets-to
within three feet of the ceiling.
The wainscoting, about 30 inches in
hight, matches the rest of the woodwork;
il is paneled in oak with mouldings of
amarnnth, and broad and heavy sur
base. The walls are hung with Japanese
paper, having an embossed ground of
gold with birds of Paradise and grapes in
natural colors. The ceiling carries out
the prevailing tones of light color in
cream and gray. The arched cove unit
ing it with the walls, is richly decorated
and edged with gliding. Fifteen inches
within this cove another moulding crossed
horizontally with narrow gilt bands, sur
roundsa second, and within all is the large
central parallelogram.
Two large pieces Of furniture break tho
north and south walls, and Immediately
attract the eye. On the north side the
| cabinet, built like the rest of the room
out of contrasting wood, is supported by
carved and gilded pillars of the hight of
the wainsooting and thanked by carved
| grifiins. On its shelves IRE stored porce-
lain which once belonged to the ex- Queen
Caroline of Naples, and were made for
the Royal Household in its days of un-
clouded grandeur. Having been lost to
the Queen by one of those mischances
which are apt to befall monnrchs, they
have found fitting resting place as the
nucleus of that immense collection Of
porcelain which is used from time to time
in the room under consideration.
The dining-room doors of oak inlaid
with amaranth, are set in frames of the
two woods. In the hall the frames are Of
marble, which replace wood entirely, il
both hall and vestibule. The dining table
long enough to seat "a persons, is of sole
oak. So are the chairs with dark greer
leather seat and back coverings. The cur
tains of tapestry with dados of crimson
plush matching the portieres, are oyel
lace curtains, finished ut the top will
heavy arched mouldings of wood. The
Aubusson carpeting made for the
floor, corresponds exactly with that
upon the music and drawing rooms
in its tints of crimson, ivory, dull green
and old gold. The other rooms are bril-.
liant with crimson, ebony and gliding
this is the elimination of cheerfulnest
and brightness and yet equally rich. II
is lighted by large central chandelier in
porcelain and gilt, with ~ burners two
side candelabra with mirror backs, and
two drop candelabra before the end mir.
rors. Among the wall ornaments is q
large Swiss wood-carving in high relief
q NEUROLOGICAL scene containing groupt
of figures, n seaport and an embarkation
on the north wall On the other side OF
the cabinet is curious clock and baron
eter, united in a large circular disk Of
silver and steel. II is after Torricelli
and the fac-simile of one owned by the
, | Dnke diAumnle