Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-09-22


the proposed exploration of the hal
began with the large double par.
lor. The floors. covered with the fl.
nest Moquet carpet, are studded with
splendid specimens of furniture. con
Structed of the coStlieSt woods and fin
lshed in the finest plushes. Every
thing III the realm of art applicable Ia
parlor decoration is represented
Here and there a scarf cover, or other
table ornament. the result of Mrs.
Conrad's genius and the work of her
hands. furnishes the visitor unique
object for study and admiration. In
this range of articles no two are alike.
and those of no other parlor are like
them. Rich curtains hang from the
high. broad windows. and bright.
beautiful family pictures adorn the
walls. Very large pastel portraits Of
Mr.. and Mrs Conrad are notable for
their fidelity to life and richness of
finish. These are by Brand, an ac-
knowledged master. The hand of the
same artist is detected in five crayon
pictures of the chIldren-.Josephine.
Minnie. Harfield and Arthur Francis
AT this point our attention is called to
the piano-Decker's finest. At th,
JOURNALS request little Miss Joseph
inc plays waltz-"My Queen" with
great accuracy and spirit. Taking
things somewhat as they come. and
omltting far more than we can name.
we pass round the room and stop be-
fore an easel holding another of
Brands triumphs-a full length por-
trait Of the beautiful hostess. Moth
ing In the way of pictorial reproduc
ton could be more life-like and splen.
did. The artist evidently did his best
in all his pOrtraitures of Mrs. Conrad.
and he never had a queenlier subject.
Outside of domestic paintings the par
lor is garnished with several very fine
productions of Mrs. C.'s own talent as
an artist, all of which she exhibits
with becoming pride.
The march through the hall is inter
rupted by the sound of the dinner
bell. and now host and hostess lend
themselves fully to the pleasure of
making their bountiful board scene
of solid enjoyment for their guests. 1t
would not be in accord with good
taste, perhaps, to state in detail how
royalty we were served. or richly we
Jared, but we enjoyed it all the same.
While in the dining room, it was on,
privilege to observe :hat in style of
table appointments, furniture and
decorations, everything was in keep
ing with the spleudor of the house
AS we proceed we see that in the
study of the architect to secure the
a, 81
matter of convenience was not omitted
He placed the culinary department
just where it would in no respect
trench upon other portions of the es-
tablishment, yet communication there
with is easy and free.
Out in the hall again. we pass ovel
the tiled floor into the library, mag
nifcent apartment. Here an Axmin-
Ster carpet greets the eve and another
grand piano invites Miss Josephine'>
tender touch. This room is a gem,
but, positively, we cannot stop long
enough to describe 1t. Home is II
miles away, with two rising rivers tC
cross, and we must hurry.
We are ushered thence into Mrs
Conrad's chamber, carpeted in velvet
and otherwise a bower of beauty. fur
nished with all that Il wife's taste can
devise. The nursery adjoining is akin
to it, and filed with objects suggested
by mothers affection
Beyond is the spacious pantry and
other vestibule apartments leading tC
the cooking section.
We respond now to the suggestion
-''let us go upstairs.' In the hail,
however, II pause is made to examine
one of the massive mantels of marble
lied slate, and Mr.. Conrad explains
tnat besides the two observed in the
parlor. there is one in every chamber
of the house, each weighing over >, ,00C
pounds. Passing under the archway
of the hall we step between two tall
newels OF shining cherry to the lower
landing of the stairway. Up on the
next floor we find arched Railways
again, curtained with raw silk hang
ing in broad plicatures from ceiling tc
base of walls. On the right and left
doors open into chambers furnished
with every luxury and embellished
with "A taste which only opuleuct
can crafty. Each apartment has
NDIllt iNtNtIt
have silk window curtains with bed
spreads to match. In one is II mirror,
ed wardrobe from which Mrs. Conrad
took dress which she wore at Il re-
ception rendered at her Fort Benton
residence to Sir John Mcdonald.
governor general of Canada, and
another worn on a similar occasion in
honor of governor Houser. In anoth-
er chamber Is IL bureau tabled with
onyx, the stones alone being worth
fifty ordinary bureaus.
The house is amply equipped
throughout with baths of hot and cold
water, electric bells and gas. All the
chandeliers are marvels of beauty.
Another flight of stairs leads to the
Mansard roof story, now used as an
indoor playground for the children.
Still another flight and we stand upon
the summit ard look. out on vast
plateau of undulating fal INLAND. The
North and MasSanuttin mountains are
in full view, and, still nearer. the clear
cut outlines of the Blue Ridge linn Il
rugged prospect growing into a deep
depression at its western base, where
rolls the Shenandoah. From this out
look Mr.. Conrad can see nearly the
whole of the 400 acres of his home
farm, and II portion of the 545 acres of
another which lies on both sides of the
river. These two bodies, too. are
largely representative of the best soil
in the Valley of Virginia.
We have now descended and find
IN rSalyaS in Mr. Conrod'S privota of