Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1888-09-29
HARYoT Holt.
Arkansas Exhibits.


Arkansas Exhibits.
In the central part of this, the Getty of Roses"
with commanding view, is situated the home of
Mrs Arkansas. The exterior of the building is
fair to gaze upon, standing as it does partly con-
ceaed from view by the grand old forest trees,
with its smooth cut well kept lawn, its broad
walks, bordered on either side with gaily tinted
flowers, which lead to the entrance, standing hos
ptably open, and through which visitors come and
go unannounced In the center of the lawn
fountain is playing, and its lmpid waters trinEle
unsteady they fall into the large circular basin
below.
Passing through the wide open portals, one of
the first things that attracts the eye is the deli
cate, lace-ike drapery-not creamy in color-but
dark gray, that hangs in festoons from walls and
ceilings. Unlike the skilled workers employed by
Queen Victoria to manufacture an exquisite dress
and then destroy the pattern, the artists employed
to do this work are retained within this building
and any one wishing similar decorations can be
promptly supplied free of cost. The stone floors
of the corridors do not echo the footballs of those
who traverse them, for We dust of many years
rests thickly upon them, whilst the glarng light of
the midday sun is mellowed as it falls dimy
through the windows which have been preserved
carefully from the cleansing effects of soap and
water. Passing up the broad stairway, the olfac-
tory nerves are greeted with strange perfume,
which might be attributed to some rare exotic, did
not glance within the spacious drawing room re-
veal instantly the true cause.
A massive pyramid of brown granite has been
erected with great deal of care, but in just what
year we were unable to determine. This wonder
full work of art has been constructed with view
to preserving in their natural state the burnt ends
of cigars, discarded tobacco guilds, ETC., and the
effort has been highly successful. Across the hall
we found another quaint device for decoration.
Within the large oldfashoned fireplaces repose the
correspondence OF years. Large formidable look
ing documents, daintly folded billet doux, clum-
silly addressed notes and envelopes of all sizes,
shapes and colors lie heaped, piled up within the
spacious openings, and the effect is unique In the
extreme
The floors, like the stairways and halls, are
carefully guarded against the ravages of that dirt
clearing utens the broom, and callers are not
expected to leave cards, but their autographs in
stead may be left without fear of molestation, on
any articles of furniture, as the buster has been
most effectualy banished from these domains.
IL "oulo alolu us SreaC pleasure w give w our
readers complete picture of this time-honored
mansion, but the good housewife receives bienni-
ally, and thus far her receptions are exclusive
rather than select. Only her sons and their male
friends are permitted to occupy seats on the first
floor. Her daughters may gaze from the galleries
upon the solons assembled below, reading, smok-
ing, chewing and making laws for the State
Perhaps in the future we may learn more of
what transpires at these meetings. if so, we shall
esteem it privilege to inform your readers. In
the meantime we would advise all lovers of art,
rare bric-a-brac, choice decorations and quaint de-
signs to visit the State House.