Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-01-23
vANDERBILTs PALACE.
Interesting Description OF the CostIiest
Residences Fn America.

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The building Of house commensu-
rate with his wealth was, says the New
York World. one Of the projects of Mr..
Vanderbilt's later life. The block on
the west side of Fifth avenue, between
Fiffy-first and Fifty-second streets. was
secured. and there for nearly three years
hundreds of artisans were busy putting
up n double mansion. Tine portion of
the great, box-likc structure was intend
ed as his own residence, while the north
crn part was given 10 his two daughters,
Mrs Sloan and Mrs. Shepard. as 4 resi-
dcnce. Tho house is n sample OF the
Greek renaissance, in brown stone.
The south section, occupied by Mr..
Vanderbilt. is "a by l15 feet and four
stories in height There is q wealth Of
carving at various points. The house
is entered through central corridor,
with floor of mosaic and walls of mar
BILE. The doors to the right and left are
bronze copies of the Ghiberti gates at
Florence, and cost $50, 900. Three bronze
doors open from the vestibule of the
Vanderbilt house proper two into re-
ception-rooms. one into the main hall.
The hall extends the full height of the
j house. Eight red marble pillars with
bronze capitals support galleries on each
floor, which lead TO the living-rooms 1t
is lighted by nine large windows. The
walls are wainscoted with carved Eng
lish oak, twelve feet high, and opposite
the entrance is a mantelpiece Of red
marble and bronze. 1t reaches to the
first gallery, and has on each side two
] life-size female figures in high relief
The door to the east OF the hall opens
on the drawing-room. The walls are
covered with carved woodwork inlaid
with mother-of-pearl, and the panels
are hung with pale-red velvet, on which
are embroiderics Of flowers and foliage.
AT the side of each door are columns Of
onyx with bronze capitals, bearing va
ses Of stained glass and clusters of lights.
In the corners are other clusters, upheld
5 by female figures of solid silver. The
ceiling is of blue and gold. but will
eventually be covered by paintings by
Galland. The dimensions of the room
are 25x31. Gilded and carved sliding.
doors draped with rich curtains give
access on the north to the library, and
on the south to tie japanese parlor In
the library the bookcases, mantels, and
doors are of rosewood. inlaid with
mother-of-pearl and brass. The ceiling
is sat with panels containing small
mirrors. The dimensions 0f the library
are 17N26 feet. A ,IooG on the west
opens on Mr.. Vanderbilt's private re.
ccption-room: where the walls are
wainscotcd with mahogany, and above
that covered with stamped leather.
In the Japanese parlor the ceiling is
of bamboo. pricked out with red, green,
and yellow lacqaerwork A low-toned
tapestry of Japanese uncut velvet in cu-
rious designs covers the walls and the
furniture. The lower part Of the walls
are hidden by fantastic cabinet, with
innumerable pigcon-holcs. shelves, and
cupboards. Atvarious points are bronze
panels, picked out in gold and silver.
The dimensions are the same as the IL
brary.
To the west Is the dinim9-rooln. 2S
feet wide BY 80 long. II i wainscoted
III English oak. and above. supported
on brackets, are glass faced eases hold
ing the silver, porcelain, and glass.
The gilded panels of the arched ceilings
are filed with carvings Of fruit and fO-
liage. and the spaces with paintings Of
hunting scenes by Luninais, of Paris
The furniture Is Of English oak with
brass ornaments, and covered with
stamped leather.
The great picture gallery Is to the
west Of the main hall and occupies the
entire rear of the building. The dimen-
sions are 81 feet by As. Tile ceiling il
So feet high and i chiefly formed Of q
skylight in opalesccnt and tinted glass.
loaded in quaint designs. A monument
tal mantelpiece Of red African marble,
with cone Of glass mosaic work, ocen-
pies the western wall. Tie woodwork
Of the room Is black oak. with San Do
ming0 mahogany for the earyatides and
pilasters. The floor il inlaid with the
same mahogany and b0rlered with q
MOSAIC 0f Sienna and black marble ii
the P0mpeian style. The walls above
the wainscofing are covered with d dark
red tapestry. t0 st or the pictures.
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