The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-19
HOW CHAS. A. DANA LIVES
THE CULTURED AND ECCENTRIC
EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK SUN.
description Of the House Hc Lives In.
His Manner Of Entertaining and His
Law Il Expenditure An Epicnrean.
scholar and n Distinguished Editor.
1Hrccial CorrespoDdcnce.j

NEW YcgK. Aug l6.-If New Yorker
wants 90 urprise visitor with one OF
the sights Of the city. let him point out
Nr Chu..c, a. Dana upon the street.
''Is that DANA" the stranger will OK
claim. why, thought he was little
bit Of man.
The m:s.ako Is natural. for the carl
caturcs that crowd the comic papers por-
tray the distinguished editor of The Sun
as grotesquely underlined, whilo in real
ity he is above medium height and Of al
most commanding presence The pictures
wrong him also by pinching bis face into
burrows. which it never wears. Mr..
Dana's cOuntenance is digni6ed though
genial and TO a physiognomist readily be
trays his great intelligence. At 6S Mr.
Dana is a hearty old man whom it is
pleasure 30 meet.
-
He lircs N the winter in handsome
house 0n re corner Of Madison avenue
and Sistimh street He and his wife
VINO has been for many years an invalid,
constitute the permanent household. The
residence is new one, and was built &C
cordng 50 the ideas Of the present owner.
The visitor ascends a few steps from Six
tieth street and is ushcred into an TN
usually large hall. 4 broad and hand
some staircase with bGlustradcs literally
ornamcuted rises at the back ana makes
three RIGHT angles TO tie 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
T. III inn,
about the tastes of the owner. At tho
front is an uncommonly well appointed
billiard room. showing that the game is
one Of Mir Danas chief rccrea,ions, in
The rear is the dining room, long. broad
and cheerful. from which one would
right, guess that Mr.. Dana likes good
dinner. and will not eat n alone when he
can secure agreeable company.
Above the billiard room is the parlor.
and on Tie other side Of the house is the
library In this latter apartment one will
be impressed less by the number OF the
books han 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 its position with
tho parlor Here the visitor will find his
hosts most cherished Professionalism
and br.c-a- brac, costly and unique.
lie il al once confronted by great
piece Of Gobelin tapestry, representing
a battle scene The room is finished IN
white and gold 70 the right Of the en-
trance go a beautiful white mantelpiece,
upon vach 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 j. a peachblow vase, which Mr..
Dana SAYS is almost as fine as the peach
blow vase about which every body heard
50 much a couple of years ago. What Mr.
Dana says about his vase is probably cor
rect, for hc Is an authority on such sub
iccts. 50 is his publisher. MIR William
nj. La,ian, and the two will spend much
time asccrtaining the true inwardness OF
piece Of china half all 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 high salary. and earns
it. Mr Dana is fond of curious dishes,
and the chef always gets up several when
there is dinner party at the house. Mr.
Dana seldom appears to better advantage
than when lie 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 a hundred
interesting and novel things which he
eau say about a salad or fish, particu-
larly the latter for Mr. Dana knows all
about fish, and has caught Il great many
in his day He always has French waters
at his table. and the dinner is served in
Dclmonico style. 1t is Intellectually and
extraordinarily treat, but it is not
social event, for Mr.. Dana is not in So
cety Not single member of the first
circle" would admit that MIR Dana
has such thing as social position.
Not one unacquainted with the form
of social government in New York will
he able fully to understand how Mr. Dana
is placed 1t is useless to ra&e up the
causes suffice it 10 say that although the
man 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 lie
will have nothing to do with "sassiety."
Mr. Dana is not member of any club,
and It is doubtful if he could bc elected to
any of the best. for he has stirred up
strong preiudices 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 /. socAl position very highly. the
lack of it 10 doubt influences his life He
is man who remembers an injury for
ever, and enjoys triumph however late
1t may come -.
Dosoris Island, in the sound. is Mr.
Danas summer home. To reach it one
goes to Glen Cove. l.. l., by rail and then
drives the rest of the way, for Dosoris rs
with Long Island by bridge
Here Mr. Dana has handsome house
and well ordered garden. lie has pas
sion for orchids and cultivates the rarest
and most beautiful varieties lie also
deyotes his attention 20 some superhne
chickens The more ordinary part of
farming has not so much attraction for
him as it had for the late Horace Greeley,