The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-08-14

of few years could cover 20 square yards
with such marvellous work? The centre
of the background is occupied by sun
embroidered in diamonds and pearls and
when I heard that the King never once
used his bedroom, | was led to believe
that he expected visit from the Roi So
liel himself, and hoped to astonish even
his magnificent majesty. The walls of
this room are entirely hung with red vel
vet embroidered with gold the children
holding garlands of flowers being so solid
that real baby held to the wall cannot
stand out from it more boldly than do
these works of the needle. On one side
of the bed, within the space confined by
the golden balustrade, is the washing
stand, tall mirror in gold arabesque, the
table of marble supported by gilt bronze
6gures-the basin, ever and ten vases in
gilt bronze of a size that would astonish
even giant, and of beauty that it is i'm
possible to describe. The other side of
the bed is taken up by prayer stool in
ruby gold embroidered velvet, the back
ground filled by St. Michael in colors, of
such splendid workmanship that the origi-
nal by the miniature painter, upon which
the stitches were worked, must be less
beautiful. Above the prayer stool there
is tiny altar with a copy of Rafaelos
Annunziata, which, with the prayer book
it adorned, was sold by the Perugian fam
lily that had owned it since Raphaels time
to the Empress of Russia, who in turn
lent it to King Louis, one of her great fa-
vorites in the years that preceded her i'll
ness. On the right and on the left side
there are armchairs of gilt carved wood,
the arms supported by erect children, seat
and back covered with gold-cloth, on which
a frame of gold embroidery surrounds a
group of children embroidered in colors,
works of art that should be kept in mu-
scum. The room contains beside six stools
of similar workmanship, two white marble
chimneys, with Sevres vases of red porce-
lain, and quaint old clocks. two mirrors,
filling the space between the three win
dows, where tables of dark red marble
support Seyres candlesticks formed of
hundred flowers and fruits, placed at eth
er side of alabaster groups of graceful girls
The velvet hangings on the walls are part
ed in several places to admit paintings
framed by arabesques, which form a splen-
did mass of beautiful forms and beautiful
colors. Helios driving the sun, and the
hours dancing round him. The Kings
attendant told me Helios some time ago
was splendid likeness of the young King
himself, but that one day he gave orders to
have his features erased and Helios is
none else than the perpetual Louis XVI.
himself.
The dining room is the best proof of his
love of solitude In the centre of the
room high armchair stands at round
table, which, upon the least sign from the
King, descends to the ground floor of the
castle, and reappears with the next course,
enabling the King to dine without having
seen human form or having heard q
mortal voice. Before concluding, must
mention two small rooms, the jewels of the
whole place, one being the ladies boudoir,
the other smoking room for the King.
The former is small apartment with two
windows, the walls covered entirely with
mirrors separated from each other and
from the ceiling by hundred thousand
roses of gilt china, which hang in garlands
from the ceiling, fill all the corners, form
the chimney place, and frame a niche con-
tanning the only seat in the room, sofa
of pale blue satin, with soft cushions but
no back The candelabras are of roses !;
the ceiling of white china has exquisite
miniature paintings from which men are
excluded There is Atalanta without Me
leagar, Diana without Apollo. To imag-
inc anything more exquisite than this
room is simply impossible.
The smoking room has one window
only, the embrasure flied by a sofa of
white satin, upon which are worked sylvan
scenes of exquisite beauty, the woods be-
loved by the King, the lake which had
such fatal attraction for him. The writ
ing table is pale blue velvet in the middle,
and porcelain painting on either side. Two
Seyres candlesticks and several small por-
celain groups of priceless value give it an
air as if it had been used but yesterday.
In this room the tables, the chimney piece,
the frames of mirrors and tapestries, are
all of painted and scul ptured china; the
folding doors have four china panels, each
framed by blue china, surrounded by gol-
den arabesques. Into each panel is paint
ed delicate figure, representing one of
the seasons on one door, and one of the
elements on the other. | firmly believe
such doors have never opened upon such a
room before. The floor is of bois de vio-
lettes and gives delicate perfume to this
and the adjacent room. Another long gal
lery completes the suite.