Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-17
HOW CHAS. A. DANA LIVES
THE CULTURED AND ECCENTRIC
EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK SUN.
Description of the House He Lives In.
His Manner OF Entertaining and His
Lavish Expenditure-An Epicurean.
Scholar and Distinguished Editor.
Especial Correspondence

Lavish Expenditure-An Epicurean, a
Scholar and Distinguished Editor.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK. Aug. 16.-If a New Yorker
wants to surprise visitor with one of
the sights Of the city. let him point out
Mr.. Charles A. Dana upon the street.
"Is that Danal" the stranger will ex-
claim why, l thought he was a little
bit of man."
The mistake is natural, for the carl
catures that crowd the comic papers por-
tray tho distinguished editor OF The Sum
as grotesquely understood, while in real
ity he is above medium height and of al
most commanding presence. The pictures
wrong him also by pinching his face into
burrows, which it never wears. Mr..
Danas countenance is dignifed. though
genial. and to physiognomist readily be-
trays his great intelligence. At 6S Mr..
Dana is a hearty old man whom it is
pleasure to meet.
He lives in the winter in a handsome
house on the corner of Madison avenue
and Sixtieth street. He and his wife,
who has been for many years an invalid,
constitute the permanent household. The
residence is a new one, and was built ac-
cording to the ideas of the present owner.
The visitor ascends few steps from Six
tieth street and is ushered into an I'M
usually large hall A broad and hand
some staircase, with balustrades literally
ornamented. rises at the back and makes
three right angles to the left in its pro-
gress upward to the next floor. On the left
of the hall is the reception room on the
right are two rooms the elegance of which
srffu fan fttl rd,rn
about the tastes Of the owner. At the
front is an uncommonly well appointed
billiard room, showing that the game is
ono of Mr. Danas chief recreations; in
the rear is the dining room, long, broad
and cheerful, from which one would
rightly guess that Mr.. Dana likes good
dinner. and will not eat it alone when he
can secure agreeable company.
Above the billiard room is the parlor,
md on the other side of the house is the
library. In this latter apartment one will
be impressed less by the number of the
books than by the elegance of the bind
ing. Mr.. Dana is an expert in bindings,
and has spent great deal Of money on
rare and handsome editions. The music
room, corresponding in it's position with
the dining room below, is entered from
the parlor. Here the visitor will find his
hosts most cherished ossessions-china
and bric-a- brac, costly and unique
He is at once confronted by great
piece of Gobelin tapestry, representing
battle scene. The room is finished in
white and gold To the right Of the en-
trance is a beautiful white mantelpiece,
upon which some rare white china is dis
played. The greater part of the bric-a-
brac is in the southwest corner of the
room. Among the most valuable of the
treasures is a peachblow vase, which Mr..
Dana SAYS is almost as fine as the peach
blow vase about which everybody heard
so much a couple Of years ago. What Mr.
Dana says about his vase is probably cor
rect, for he is an authority on such sub
jects. So is his publisher, Mr. William
M. Laffan, and the two viii spend much
time ascertaining the true inwardness of
piece of china half an inch long There
are many beautiful paintings in the
house, some of the finest being by Corot.
When Mr. Dana receives his friends in
this magnificent home he never fails to
display his art treasures, nor the produc-
tions of his French chef. This talented
person receives a high salary, and earns
it. Mr.. Dana is fond of curious dishes,
and the chef always gets up several when
there is a dinner party at the house. Mr..
Dana seldom appears to better advantage
than when he is at his own table. He
never leads the conversation, but he will
invest every subject with interest. He is
one of the most cultivated men in New
York; he can draw upon a vast store of
general information. There are hundred
interesting and novel things which he
can say about a salad or a fish. particu-
larly the latter, for Mr.. Dana knows all
about fish, and has caught great many
In his day. He always has French walters
at his table, and the dinner is served in
Delmonico STYLE. 1t is intellectually and
gastronomically treat, but it is not a
social event, for Mr.. Dana is not in so.
ciety. Not a single member Of 1.-THE first
circle" would admit that Mr. Dana
has such a thing as a social position.
Not one unacquainted with the form
of social government in New York will
be able fully to understand how Mr.. Dana
is placed. It is useless TO rake up the
causes; suffice it to say that although the
mans learning and ability are admired by
such Of the high society leaders as have
sense enough to appreciate them. they
still draw a certain line which passes be-
tween him and themselves. OF course he
will have nothing to do with "sassiety."
MIR. Dana is not a member of any club,
and it is doubtful If he could be elected TO
any Of the best, for he has stirred up
strong prejudices which would result in
the movement Of heaven and earth and
the other place TO blackball him. While
Mr.. Dana is too strong Of mind to esti-
mate a social position very highly the
lack of 1t no doubt influences his life He
is a man who remembers an injury for
ever, and enjoys triumph however late
it may come. -
Dosoris Island, in the sound. is Mr.
Dana's summer home. To reach it one
goes to Glen Cove, l.. l.. by rail and then
drives the rest of the way, for Dosoris is
connected with Long Island by a bridge
Here Mr.. Dana has a handsome house
and we'll ordered garden. He has pas
sion for orchids and cultivates tho rarest
and most beautiful varieties. He also
devotes his attention TO some supcriine
chickens. The more ordinary part of
farming has not so much attraction for
him as it had for the late Horace Greeley
/ He does not raise garden sass, strictly
so called. Early in May he takes up his
residence on Dosoris Island and remains
| till late in the fall. These two establish
ments are maintained ON a scale of
/ princely magnificence; they cost a for
tune. Mr.. Dana spends his money
lavishly. and it Is doubtful If he has any
great property aside from The Sun.
Mr. Dana is not a hard taslzmaster. His
"desk men" are not overworlSed and they
are well paid. He IS not irascible,
I ~. 4 4 L. :.