Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-07

I
church, and in order to destroy tnis illu-
Sion the owner had the entire outside OF
the stable painted black with trimmings
Of bronze green, relieved by covering
the Fittings and dentals with gold leaf.
The Norino Tower has seven floors
and innumerabIe departments. In
the first department are photo
graphs Of famous buildings, models OF
the Alhambra, steel and chain armors OF
the past centuries, figures in rice-paper,
statues of clay and bronze, and an In
finite number of odd costumes. Pro
ceed now up the donkey Staircase
and you enter the second floor, marked
Chemical, Mechanical, and Electrical. "
The third floor is the "Sanitary, and
the fourth bears the title "Optics, lllu-
sions, and Decisions" The fifth floor
is devoted to harmony in outlines and
colors, as well as in vibrating brass and
human tongues"
Tiyoli Hall is filed with all sorts Of
strange ornaments, and near 1t IS a most
remarkable grove with an artificial lake
covered with innumerabie novelties.
Near by is little hut in which the
Darwinian theory is illustrated by mum
Der of tlffed monkeys and appointed
ia which begins at the point IN nothing
particular and gradually develops until
o perfect human face IS reached. The
" Digger's Retreat" is close by
and is completely covered with
shovels, picks, and spades Of all sizes
and all ages and all shapes. Per
haps the most astonishing marvel
of the place was the grotto. Pass
ing through TO the " Smugglers' Cave
there is q miniature beach, upon which
boats are lying. while around is scattered
merchandise Of various kinds Opposite
the smuggler stands red man, cap
tive who has found it convenient to JOIN
the band. You pass now into rocky,
subtorranean tunnel, and soon reach the
round tower, thirty-fiye feet III hel8ht
1t is r. marvel of beauty. Its walls are
of solid stone and covered with crystals,
which shine and glisten in the varl-
colorod lights which enter the stained
glass roof. 4 short walk along mar
row dark and winding way leads to
the "Smuggler's Cave" Here the roof
rises higher and the pillars which
support it divide the space upinto cham
bers. A dim light penetrates the place
from some invisible quarter and gives to
the place pallid hue. On all sides you
encounter faces grinning at you from the
walls, for every rock here has diabollcal
expression superior to PaySons Me-
phisto or n comlcal leer which eXcels
the grimaces of Sol Smith Russell.
Everything is deathlike and fear creeps
over you, which is greatly enhanced when
YOU turn the next projecting point OF
rock and find that your path, which from
the inhowing light you thought led into
the upper world. is blocked by huge live
and lively black bears separated from you
only by n few iron bars.
But follow this winding pathway you
are now in and You soon come face to
face with the girl of the period,
who invites YOU to take a walk with her
in the "Elirtation Tunnel" This tun-
mel is long, narrow, and dark, and IN
passing through it is necessary to make
an Ariadne thread with the hands. At
the south end Of the grotto is Dianas
IOOl, where tllo Hdt'l iuohSo ti'Lou9H
crevices, under and Oyerrocks and shells,
babbllng, murmuring, and foamin9 until /
it falls in the Devils Basin" For the
past few years this once beautiful para
disc has not bceu kept in repair ana f.
many Of its beauties are already in adj
vancod stages of decay. Mr.. Baker .
would personally conduct his visitors
over hisgrounds. isJetcs werenotable |
for princely hospitality and marked &C.
centricity. His reception Of southern /
visitors IN 1877 WAS notable event. He |
was devoted to the Public Health Asso- /
citation. He had his own particular the .
cries upon many subjects, but his life |
was an unselhsh one and be will be re- /
membered kindly by u large mum Der of
friends.