Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-25
LIFE AT SARATOGA.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND
THEIR LIFE THERE.
Opening of Franklin W. Smiths won-
derful Pompeiian villa and Num-
erous Works of Art.
Ispeci al Correspondence of the SUNDAY UNION

lSpecl al Correspondence of the SUNDAY UNION. !
SARATOGA, n. Y, August IL, 1889.
II never saw SO many old people to-
gether," said lady to me last night IN a
parlor of the States. 1t was true of the
States and equally true of every other
hotel. We, like others, sat watching a
group of three ancient bellies, who, attired
for hop, played off preliminary graces in
side parlor. The leader, of commanding
hight and portly, had been a beautiful
woman, was still handsome and would
have been attractive but for an effort after
glrlishpess as she drew on her I-know-
not-how-many button white kid gloves,
which spoiled the picture. Her dress was
black velvet, made with long train, the
front adorned by founce of exquisitely
fine point lace. Beautiful motifs of crystal
beads trimmed the front of the corsage,
and headed the rare flounce of lace.
Happily she did not wear low-neck or
short sleeves and did not dye her quite
gray hair, which dressed high, was sur
mounted by three white ostrich tips. Her
companions were smaller, shrivelled as
dried peas, and with saffron complications.
Perhaps she chose them as foils-at
any rate, such they were, but fortunately
on this occasion, dressed in black
lace. The absolute indifference with which
numerous gray headed bipeds regarded
them was certainly not encouraging, but
before long they sailed off and let us hope
had better luck subsequently. 1t is to be
presumed they did not hop, and if young
people did not come to the front from some
direction, of course there could be no
hops. Yet more than once | have heard
the question asked as to where they come
from. Only a few young girls, compara-
lively, are seen on the piazzas and still
fewer young men, but on festive nights
they turn up. "From the cottages" has
been the mysterious answer have heard
given, and doubtless the cottages must con-
tribute quota.
The upshot of the matter is, however.
that even passable young girl looks re-
freShing among so many crones, and where
a genuine beauty, such as Miss Giulia
Morosini, and an heiress in addition, ap-
pears on the scene, all eyes turn to look.
Much to her credit, she seems to shun
rather than seek attention, and her dress
the other night was sweetly simple.
White tulle and crimson ribbons set off her
Italian style of beauty her dark hair was
drawn loosely from her forehead and massed
In low coil, with two gold ornaments in
keeping with gold chain about her neck.
Her features are regular, eyes dark, and
while of medium height she is decidedly
slender.
Mrs. Dahlgren, nee Drexel, being in
light mourning, appeared recently at a
hop In black net made with half low
neck, short sleeves and long black un-
dressed kid gloves, an elegant diamond
star in her high-dressed hair, diamond
necklace and earrings. Not positively
pretty, she Is pleasing in appearance, wll-
fresh complexion, aquiline cast of features,
brown eyes and hair. Rather tall, her
husband does not exceed her in hight, and
is a pale-faced, delicate looking young
man, with brown hair and eyes and with
out moustache or beard, reminding one of
the Rev. Heber Newton when more Youth
full.
In mentioning Miss Morosini, l ne
elected to say that though SO feminine in
looks, she is quite bold handler of the
ing tandem with her father by her side.
Sometimes she manages handsome pair
of bays. The subject of driving reminds
me of story told me recently by Sara
togian of Mrs Walter II. Hanson, nee
Amy Lathrop, niece of Mrs. Leland Stan
ford of California. She is here again at
her residence, and is extremely popular
among the natives of the place by reason
of many private, unostentatious charities
The story told was that during winter
visit to this section she had been seen
driving from the house of one poor family
to another, distributing Christmas turkeys,
with which her sleigh was quite loaded
down. She is well-developed blonde,
very pleasing in appearance, and with
sympathetic and cordial manners.
The event of this week, in my opinion
the event of the season, has been the open
ing to the public by Mr.. Franklin w.
Smith, of Boston, of the Pompeiisn Villa,
upon which he has been actively engaged
since last June year ago. Placed in the
heart of the town, opposite the Clarendon
Hotel, it is readily visited by strangers and
must henceforth be Mecca to all who
possess a ray of sensibility. Mr. Smith
has proved himself an educator in the
highest sense of the term, and as the re-
suit of untiring pains and research, shows
to this generation the daily walk and
habit of the leading nation on earth two
thousand years ago. The exact structure
is reproduced of the house of Pansa. a
wealthy citizen of the unfortunate city.
The dimensions of the various departments
have been faithfully given, and mural dec
orations, Of which old Romans seem to
have been very fond, are presented, if not
precisely what they were in that especial
domicile, Get what, by comparison
with different ruined dwellings, relics
preserved in museums, drawings and man
uscripts, they easily might have been.
Passing over portrayals of graceful female
figures clad in gossamer yestments and en-
gagged in dancing, much after modern
fashion, neglecting classic wreath and gar
nished column, / will endeavor TO portray
the symbolic adornments on the kitchen
walls, which at that early date were con-
tiguous to the elaborate and richly-ftlr-
Dished dining halls. A spark of kinship
glows at the sight Of string of fish,
small poker, leg of mutton or ham,
spare-rib and the like, while two pictured
birds engaged in chasing flies assure us
that the ancients like ourselves contended
with that household pest. Contrary to
what has just been written, moreover, |
would mention the bathroom. much after
the fashion of our times, except that the
tub of marble is sunk in the floor and here
again the walls are covered with fish SWIM
ming, and aquatic plants. The bathroom,
hover, was regarded only as an occasional
adjunct, since the rich Roman was wont TO
repair to the luxurious public baths on
rising. Having slept in his clothes no pre-
liminary labors of the toilet were needful,
and he rose from slumbers, which let US
hope were peaceful, on a bed not very UNI
like ours, but placed in a small, box-like
apartment, not much larger than the bath
room and without door. The only means
OF privacy was the drawing of a curtain,
and it may be added that rich hangings
frosa poles and rings are marked feature
in the ancient domicile. The floors of
marble tiling gave birth to ours of similar
pattern and color, though not always equal
in elaborateness, since 1000 pieces to one
square foot occasionally raise the work to
the higher standard of mosaic
Very noticeable is the entire absence of
windows-such as we would term them
Instead are what we would call apertures,
about two feet square, set at short inter-