St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-01

SN|sslsY 1 value % of tH wealth attn
She had refused three or four very wealthy
young men, just because she did not like
them, and most of her friends predicted
she would be an old maid if she was not
more gracious to her suitors."
At this time. although William K. Van
derbilt was. comparatively speaking, rich
man, he had no expectations of ever being
rich as he is to-day.
Miss Smith was one of three sisters, all
of whom were noted for their personal
.charms. and as they were in society at the
same time they attracted much attention
and were always known as the Three
Beauties" One of them married w. K.
Vanderbilt, the second is Mrs. Fernando
YZnaga, and the youngest is still unmar-
ried and lives with her older sister.
The lOve-making was conducted very
quietly and no one knew of the engagement
until few months before the wedding.
and then the engagement ring. a single
burning white diamond set on narrow loop
of gold. told the secret" said one Of the
bridesmaids.
Miss Smith looked lovely in her wedding
dress of white satin. with old family lace
flounces and diamond ornaments. for hel
father was a wealthy merchant. After the
wedding there was wedding tour abroad.
and then the young couple settled down in
New York.
THEIR FIFTH AVENUE PALACE.
One evening about five years ago they
were dining at the home of their father, w.
H Vanderbilt.
''Willie, my boy" he said, <'why don't
you build a house and settle down into a
permanent home of your own? You can
buy that bit of ground on the northwest
corner of Fifty second street and the ave-
nue.. and I'll build on the block below"
Willie K. thought moment. Il would
like to very much, if [ could have the finest
house in New York."
His wife who was charmed with the idea
said: why shouldn't we have the mos
handsome house?" and 50 the matter Was
settled.
The corner lot was purchased for 6
quarter of a million of money. and the
young millionaire and his wife settled
down to build their future home.
The first thing to be secured was al
architect, and Mr.. Richard NJ. Hunt was
recommended and accepted. The beautiful
palace of white marble that rearS its tur
rets and towers opposite the cathedral wa
the result of his art, aided by suggestions
from MI, and Mrs. Vanderbilt and skilled
builders.
There are so many brown stone man
sons on Fifth avenue; let ours be o.
marble" said Mrs. Vanderbilt.
The white blocks came from Vermont
and skilled men spent months and month
carving them in antique heads, flowers
birds. chains representations of soft whit
drapery and hundreds of other designs
Tall lily columns of white stone wer
wrought, baluStradeS carved i'll wonderful
nd hIIiI
The exterior carvings are said to repre-
sent fifty years constant work of five men
although several dozen were employed il
making them.
The marble columns that support til
grand stairway are crowned by two lion
white that have their mouths open and al
most fer0cious looking. But the pane
over the doorway. with its Cupids an
flowers. is a pleasant contrast. The gree
yestibule fully twenty feet wide, has wal
of white marble carved to represent soft
fringed drapery Of white.
Bay windows, carved in every trio
known To the chisel, tiny marble balconie
that took like a bit of Venice. beautifu
mullioned windows glittering with Staine
glass, cathedral-looking windows in oya
and squares, numberleSS Gothic towers an
turrets are few of the features of the e,
"
white duchess lace that drape every viii
dow. and are held back by loops and bow
of white satin ribbon, add to the effect.
1t is said that the lace curtains only
each window cost from 500 TO $50 pal
and as there are about fifty windows i'll tt
house. this was no small item.
THE INTERIOR OF THE PALACE.
Sir Henry Massey Thompson. an Englis
nobleman, who was present at the ball gi
en- bv Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt. and wi
has been through most OF the first houS
5n England, said the evening after the bal
'.Tnere are many houses in England TIL
are richer in old family portraits and silv
nlate. but there is not che that | have BET
in that has such beautiful carvi- gS and SUI
exouisite frescoing: and in time it will ha
the family portraits and silverware too"
The wood carving and the frescoing a
Shu ,Wo prominent features OF the inter-
of this palace, which, when completed, ca
in the lSighborhOod of $4,000, 0D9, Whlc
If divided. would give 800 men heat LII
fortune.
The grand hallway is baronial in size, b
ing about 100 feet long by 30 VIDE, ana l
floor of pink tinted marble, with rugs
deep crimson, is set off by ceiling carV
i'm panels of old English oak. Birds a.
over these panels and look down on a
tique-winged creatures of tapestry til
cover the walls in tnts of gold, crimso
olive and other tints, all subdued by age.
The tapestry painting of this hal.w
cost some $50, 600, and gives the touch
color to relieve the doofWays and staircase
(which are of wine enamel wood, carved
tninute scrolls and flowers.
The furnishing of the hall consists of t.
antique, high-backed chairs brought FRI
Holland. center King Arthur table of
English oak, OH which is a bronze card
ceiver and a great Egyptian vase Of bla
marble. worth its weight in gold
The spacious effect is not marfed by fl
miarre and the costly Mexican portieres
gold apla pink, yellow, mauye. peach-blo
and every other tint mixed in a harmonic
whole. which drape the wide doorwa,
add 10 the graceful effect.
To the right is the staircase, $50 brC
that ten men could walk up abreast :