The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-07-15

So many and so various are the possessions
gathered here that any coherent enumera-
ton of them belongs to the commercial
rather than the literary head. There are
queer old cabinets filled to chaotic disorder
with every conceivable thing in the nature
of the beautiful or the curious. Masks of
bronze and plaster look solemnly down
ward from walls and shelves. Hideous old
pagan gods grin from many a point of
vantage. Heads of philosophers, pre- Soc
ratio and modern, nod from heights as
eminent as their names. A slim plaster of
Paris hand peers from bunch of tall grasses
and ferns, dust-laden and old as the earth
apparently. A certain amount Of dust, ar
tistically disposed, seems to be part of Mr..
Chase's plan of furnishing. In one corner
huge piece of tent cloth is flung over sup
ports and has the effect of a tent in a chronic
state of dilapidation. Its purpose is to
break the extreme squareness of the corner.
Mr.. Chase is the mortal enemy of square
corners The dust of the ages is upon it,
but this also has its picturesque uses and is
too high up to concern oneself about, any
way. Then there is no active air straying
around likely to dislodge it. The only win
dow in this first room is nearly as high as
ths ceiling and fully as deep as a barn door,
but it is covered to the height of about ten
feet, filed in with traps Of all kinds, and
as the schoolmaster says, presents the APP
pearance" of never having been opened The
upper part let's in enough of the artists
beloved north light TO work by.
Vases tf every pattern and age are there
Some as diminutive as thimbles and some
large enough to hide a 2OO-pound man in.
Straw hts and satin slippers are slung
around carelessy Used as models, perhapsl
| No; they are there because the master of the
studio sees a disorderly beauty in them.
They fit in harmoniously among his unique
| surroundings Screens and stuffed birds are
numerous, and there too, are implements of
| warfare Ct many nations, dozens Of i'm
mense muskets. guam tiles of revolvers, white
ions in a state Of "innocous desuetude,n
Turkish divans, and many a quaint lit
of artistic handiwork as old as Abraham.
Tire floors are painted and polished, and
softened here and there with costly rugs
Green plush draperies make background
for the artists sitters Lions heads and
Turtles with shining backs look over the
edge Of the drapery. Fish nets from the
shores of The Red sea are there; scalp locks
from our vanishing noble red men hang I'M
der swinging censers from holy places and
| beside dried flowers from far Cathay.
And studies and pictures in quite as
strong contrast are on the walls. Sirens
loll in the faces of worthy bishops, goddesses
and saints live near neighbors to the most
tricksome fairies and Wicled-eyed dan
seuses. An ivy v.ne, brown and olden, has
here and there green leaf struggling to-
ward the light Peacock feathers, so faded
| and moth eaten thew would put any selt-re-
specting peacock to the blush, sprangle
themselves over famous bric-a-brac. Hell
NETS, lanterns. plumes, fair white statues
plaques and frames deliciously old, swords
so rusty they could not pierce soft April