The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-13
THE CHAMBRRLAINs AT HOME.
The Establishment the Latest Aneri-
can Bride Will Preside Over.
From The Nev York World.

his handsome house at Birmingham, Joseph
Chamberlain has given conspicuous place
to the engrossed commission which sent
him to America to deal with the fisheries
troubles and was the means of his winning
the American wife whose arrival here En-
glish society awaits with eager interest. 1t
is rather a formidable looking piece of
parchment, deliberately framed, and the
great yellow splotch by which her majesty
affixes her seal attracts attention to it the
moment one enters the room.
The homo to which Mr.. Chamberlain is
bringing his Yankee bride, "Highbury,n is
too new to be beautiful from an English
point of view. though it is situated in one
of the loveliest spots of the altog eth IT lovely
midlandS. But famous landscape gar
dener has been at work upon it with the
dainty tricks of his art, and when the place
is little mellowed by age it will be a
charming home. Chamberlain's chief pride
about the estate is a magnificent yew tree,
historic in Birmingham, and which is said
to be mentioned in the Domesday Book.
During the past three years, and particu-
larly since his return from America in the
spring, Mr.. Chamberlain has devoted a
good deal of time and money in identifying
Highbury. The house is considered model
of English gothic in terra Gotta and red
brick. The rooms in it surround a central
hall, Moorish fashion, making galleried
inclosure large enough for 500 people to
stand in very comfortably, The pretty
panel decorations and antique furniture in
this hall are the particular pride of Mr.
Chamberlai 3 accomplished daughter, who
is only year or two younger than his new
American wife. The hbrary-where the
champion of disgruntled liberals receives
political pilgrims to the Mecca Of the rem
nant of great party-is plain, comfort
Ill ,,,1a Of
the industry of Mr.. Chamberlain and his
so Austen.
FINE ART GALLERY AND CONSERVATORY.
The drawing-room is the purely aesthetic
feature of the house, though al the other
apartments are more or less in harmony
with it. The ceiling is made of deep-stai ed
satin-wood panels, set off with walnut. Tie
walls are covered with Powered ilk mate
rial and the furniture is made of ebony, in
laid with ivory The pictures include an
excellent example of Golfers Arundel
Castle" a couple of Cox's best water
colors, Venice" by Fred Walker, and
one of Prouts finest studies in archi-
lecture, 1.-THE Zwinger Palace Dresden"
Mr.. Chamberlain's Conservatives are
famous in England, and are mainly devoted
to his pet orchids. The dollhouse covers
nearly an acre of ground. Mr.. Chambei-
lain's love for orchids amounts almost to a
passion. He does not confine his collection
to the higher-priced varieties, for the reason
that they are not always the most beauti-
full, and it is his fancy that, singular and
supremely pretty as the plants in flower
NAV be, they ought to be shown in setting
of ferns or moses and not be made to show
their leafess and naked charms in isolated
pots. An exception is made in the case of
those abnormal sorts which will grow on a
piece Of bare wood. These are suspended
from the roofs of the orchid houses and
present an almost uncanny appearance. A
curious story is told of the accidental dis
covery of a new plant which came about in
connection with the Highburv orchid cult
ure. II grew up from a seed which was
imported among the loose soil in which
certain batch of orchids had been packed,
and its development was SO singular at
at last the gardener transplanted 1T to the
large conservatory, where, with plenty OF
soil and moisture, it grew amazingly. After
three wears it Powered. Its leaves are 4
feet long by feet broad, and it has q Grim
son flower similar in shape 70 that of an
arum lily. Experts were called in to
christen it, and, finding it to be Of an I'M
known sort, they called it Anthurlum-
Chamberlain.
Besides tine orchid houses there are vine
ries, peacheries, a great row OF cucumber
frames, rose house and flower garden, and
small kitchen garden. Yet nothing
among all these makes a nobler show than
the great banks of closely grown rhododeu-
drons which crown the summit OF the
grounds, and which in the early summer
are a sight for the eyes TO feast on
MRS. CHAMBERLAIN'S HANDSOME STEPSoN.
Young Austen Chamberlain is the darling
of Birmingha Ell Is. When he was in
swaddlng clothes twenty-five years go the
matrons used to pinca his chubby C eeks
and tell him how much like his adored
father he was They have been telling him
SO ever since. and instead of growing tired
of hearing it, nothing pleases him more.
How really striking this resemblance is
may be seen from the picture which he
courteously gave The World correspondent.
Austen Chamberlain is, literally, a chip of
the old block. He wears-a monocle in the
right eve Just as his father does; has the
same peculiArities of voice and the same
gestures, the same tastes and much the
sqme habits of work. He is as the younger
Kean was to the elder. Politicians OF his
fathers way Of thinking predict great fu-
ture for him. He loves politics; is rcsolute,
unflinching and full of fight. He was one
of the best orators in his class at Cam
bridge, aud within two years has done
good practical work on the stump. In his
fathers absence he has been taken into the
councils of the unionist committee rooms.
In aD pe0raDce ne Is Tall, Wen SsI, WIN
easy bearing and courtly manners. He is
thoroughly English in everything, even TO
the short brier wood pipe, Which he smokes
about the house. Young Austen is pre-
pared to receive his fathers new Yankee
wifo with open arms; but if she interiors;
wi h that pip, there is sure 60 be trouble.
The Young man is very fond of a snug little
library on the first floor of his fathers
house. His selection of books is a tribute
to his scholarship.
Mr.. Chamberlain's attractive daughter
has for three years been belle of the
London drawing-rooms. She was intro
duced into society here in 1850, when her
father became q cabinet minister. After
due presentation at court she was fairly
afloat on the social sea. 1t is fourteen years
since Mr.. Chamberlain's second WHO med,
and almost before she grew TO womanhood
the daughter ok the care Of the Birming-
ham household in her hands This wedding
will relieve her of this responsibility, but
il the gossip one hears in Birmingham be
true il, will not be very long beforetshe VIII
assume similar responsibilities under slightly
altered conditions.
Miss Chamberlain's friends call her ian
accomplished and delightful young lady"
She paints we'll, sings well, plays tennis
well, rides well, and knows how to say a
witty thing. She has AN oval face, with
dark ewes, and dark hair which IL is her fad
to dress in old-fashioned, simple style Her
face has not the fresh color common with
English girls, but IL is rehnod and gentle
looking. She can afford 70 dress richly. and