The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-03
MRS. ASTOR AT HOME.

The Small, But sumptuous Apartment
in Which She Receives Her Friends.
Cloro Bellies Letter to Philadelphia Press.
Mrs. William B. Astors reception room
is snug, small, sumptuous apartment that
looks out on Fifth avenue through a single
window, cased in ebony wood. and smothered
in hangings of Turquoise blue silk and in
digo tinted lace. The walls are hung in tur-
quoise silk, with a decorative dado and q
canvas painted ceiling, and the ebony finish
or the wood work is as beautifully polished
as piece of onyx. In the center of the
parquetrv floor is an odd design of small
Persian rugs, lnlaid as it were in field of
garnet terry. Precious rugs drape the
small divans, and superb specimens of needle
paintings are shown in the chair coverings.
The most att, active article Of furniture is a
small upright piano of light mahogany,
beautifully embellished with panels of
carved silver. symbolic of music and song.
Figures Cf cupids and busts of children
I'LL the corners of the room with beauty,
and as the visitor enters she passes under
the glossy green branches Of a small palm
tree that stands on pedestal of polished
green marble. All the ornaments are Of
| Dresden china, and the fantastic beauty
and gra of the figures, the variety of de-
sign and brilliancy of color produce an
effect both novel and agreeable. On the
walls hang brackets, baskets and pockets of
the towery porcelain, and about the metal
cabinet, along the edges of small stands and
| fairly croWding the piano shelf are shep-
| herds and shepherdesses, troubadours, peas
| ant girls and court figures, no two alike,
and each outrivaling the other in gayety
/ and color. Another feature OF this room is
| the splendid array Of artificial flowers, a
| variety of decoration, by the way, that Mrs
Astor Is very fond Of.
Violets lilies lilacs, feverfews, hyacinths,
! huttercups and little wilderness Of field
| flowers are knotted together in clustering
| bouquets anu freight Cue wheelbarro VS.,
vases AID jardinieres of Dresden china.
| while in the slender forms of crystal and
! jeweied ware ara roses, asters, japonicas
and magnolias of such q remarkable COM
| position as to challenge detection in flower
| show without the assistance OF touch or
| smell. The linen blossoms were brought
| from France last summer, and the sum paid
! for them would have procured very nice
| supply OF cut flowers for an entire season
| All the hangings about the room are made
of rich blue silk canvas, handsomely worked
in silver threads. The family crest, done
on field of scarlet and white in silk, silver
and gold, and mounted in banner form, is
| the glory of an 9 st corner
| Mrs. w. w. Astor's callers are directed
| to a little Pompeian room, finished in black
wood, and richly hung with crimson, the
| silk twill covering not only the walls and
windows but paneling the doors and drap-
| ing furniture, table and mantel shelf. The
color is that warm, blood-red, that makes a
plain face pretty and pretty face glorious
| By means of large and beautifully en-
broidered screen the room can be provided
with snuggery, aud it is here that the
| lovely young mistress sees an intimate
| friend, who has only a moment to stop and
a word to say. The fireplace has a delight
| full profusion of brasses, and among the
furniture is little tste-n-tete table spread
with dainty china service, where the re-
! freshing cup of vanilla cocoa or sweet
chocolate is brewed with jeweled fingers,
and discussed with fragments Of Four Hun
| dred repntatiOn.