Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-01-28


L0nis Gl0bc- Democrat writes: The pala-
fial residence Of Mr. Robert Garrett.
president Of the Baltimore a Ohio rail.
road, on Mount Vernon place in this
city, which has been i'm course of con-
str7iction since the early part Of 1884,
will Be ready for occupancy some time
next February. II = undoubtedly the
most expensive dwelling ever erected
here. as its entire cost, including fur
nishings. win amount to over 81 .O00. 600.
Like Mr.. Vanderbilt's Fifth avenue man
sion in New York. it is built in the most
aristocratic section of the city. With the
/ further advantage Of a magniiicently ar
ranged square before IL, in which are
the celebrated Bayre statues, donated to
the city by Mr.. William II. Walters.
Not very far to the right of the building
are the Washington monument. with its
shaft of 1S2 feet stretching into the air.
and the Peabody institute, one of the
architectural beauties of the city. Across
the square to the northwest and north
are the residences of some of Baltimore's
richest bankers, lawyers, and mer-
chants. During Mr.. Garrett late visit to
Europe he purchased in Paris and Lon
don unique designs of bric-a-brac and
other decorative goods, such as are rare
ly seen on this side of the water. II is
said he paid 81 800 a pair for curtains
for the parlor and library, and for car
pets almost phenomenal prices. The
furniture and decorations for the parl0r
and bedrooms is to be of the most 0rigi-
nal pattern, luxuriously upholstered and
handsomely gilded and bronzed. In
the chambers modern art predominates,
as we'll as in the lobby, the thing of
which resembles some fairy checker
board. The walls are white-coated in
imitation of basket-work, with here and
there rosette of some simple design in
tended to relieve the monot0nous inter-
lacing of straws. The ceiling of the
main hallway il made i'm cherry panels
of octagonal shape, extending back to
the grand special stairway, also finished
in cherry with ebony trimmings. Over
looking the area is an atlas-shapcd sky
light made Of cathedral stained glass in
delicate tints blended together in the
most perfect harmony. The most cx-
trayagantly finished apartment is the
ballroom adjoining tic parlor. In it
are little inches for statuary, and mt reg
ular intervals massive columns support
ceiling deliberately worked in plaster
and then bronzcd The flooring is of
solid polished mahogany, while the
walls. except the lower portion, which is
wainsc0ted in Italian marble, are snow
white. Tho conservatory, Immediately
in the rear. is already filed with plants
and shrubbery, land spaces have been re-
served for Mr.. CARROTS fine. collection
of orchids. Majestic chandeliers and
electric Jets in tinted globes, by special
contrivancc made to she'd soft, luminous
rays. are plentifully scattered through
out the house, and will serve to make
time one continuous day. The most
striking adOrnment of all the apartments
are the antique mantels. selected by Mr..
Garrett himself while abroad. They are
mostly made of mahogany, upon which
are carved characters Of the medieval
age. The one in the library is perhaps
the oldest. Its shelf is supported on
either side BY girl child scantily clad
and frowning under her heavy load.
Above the shelf the space is occupied by
large panel bearing the inscriptions:
a little place called Paradise over
which is brass network, with spears
for finish. Bath-pools are convenient
" placed on the upper floors. with sides
Of Tennessee marble and nickelplated
lining. and furnished with water
through solid brass pipes and gold
plated fixtures Down on the basement
floor are Mr.. CARROTS private Office,
laundry, tlrying-rooms, servants dining
hall, kitchen with nickel-plated boiler
and water fixtures. pantries, coal and
wood cellars. and other necessary apart
ments. The top floor with its large and
airy rooms and bath, will bc occupied
by chef and corps of assistants. as,
we'll rs the other domestics. Many Of
the ideas used in the construction Of the
building were those Of Mrs. Garrett,
whose good taste in such matters is web