The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-04-06
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
LILLE DeVEREUx BLAKE TELLS
SOME INTERESTING STORIES.
The Chief Amusement of the Lenten Sea-
son-The Gloomy History of New
York BuiIding-The Spellbinders-Mar-
riages After Easter.
Especial correspondence

special Correspondence
NEW YORK, April 1.-The Lenten amuse-
ment of the social world of New York has
been largely pictures. The regular spring
exhibition in the Academy of Design has
taken the place of the water color exhibition
of late winter, and many receptions at the
Tenth street studio building, the Holbein
studios and the rooms of many artists have
gathered the artistic and the frivolous.
Speaking of the water color exhibition re-
calls curious incident Of the grand fancy
bali which opened it. When the crowd on
the corridors and stairs was at its height
lady left the dressing room and walked ma
iestically to the foot of the stairs. She was
brilliant with diamonds, her costume was
gorgeous and a train of satin and lace swept
the floor four yards in length, The crowd
gave the glittering mass room, and she passed
on in her dignifed walk up one step, two,
three, and another, each progress more
Hslow than the last, and then she
came to a dead halt The weight of the train
was SO great that when it was thus dragged.
upwards almost on a straight pull 1t abso-
lutely prevented motion. She stood there
belplessly till her escort and another gentle
man lifted the satin and aided her to the
broad landing. Across this she dragged her
splendid trammels unaided, and then essayed
the last fight of stairs, starting with extra
energy if so she might overcome the resist
ance. only to be stopped and almost dragged
backwards on the fifth step. She swayed
and would have fallen had not her compan-
ion caught her and again turned train bearer.
When she was once more on a level floor she
rould resume her majestic sweep, but must
have felt even then good deal like pris-
oner dragging ball and chain.
This incident recalls similar occurrence
on an historic occasion when Napoleon and
Josephine were crowned emperor and EN-
press of France Josephine wore long
train of pink velvet which was supported
bv two of Napoleons sisters. They cordially
dislked the empress, and as she moved up
the aisle of the cathedral they allowed the
train to drop to the floor The empress was
instantly a prisoner She could not move
An inch. Her utmost efforts could not drag
the rich stuff over the carpet.
Napoleon turned t. her with an angry
frown, and as she whispered the cause OF her
delay his eagle glance swept to his sisters
who hastily resumed their burden, and the
imperial progress went on.
Among the most notable pictures in the
Holbein studios are those of Mr.. George
Inness, whose landscapes have made him
Justly famous Many years ago relative
Mr.. Henry Inness was one of the most popu-
lar portrait painters of this city. He had a
daughter whose beauty was remarkable
form as well as face being almost perfect.
As she grew to womanhood she had natural
Iy many admirers. Some young artists
would have delighted to feast their eyes on
her charms for life time, and wealthy
suitors were also attracted. Among all those
there was one man of humble origin and fond
of fast horses and field sports, who for some
inexplicable reason seemed to attract the
young lady Her father was SO annoyed at
evidences of growing attachment that he
suddenly resolved to go to Europe, taking his
daughter with him. In England he was re-
ceived with open arms by artistic and fash
ionable circles, his reputation having pre-
coded him and prepared the way. His
daughter was soon an established belle.
although this was before the days of Ameri-
can professional beauties. Among her many
suitors was young nobleman of high rank
and pleasing manners, who after n time made
formal proposals to the artist for his daugh-
ter's hand Mr.. Inness accepted with graft
fcation the young lady seemed to be much
pleased with her admirer, and here was an
opportunity of settling her in life advantage
ousy She had not mentioned her Ameri-
can lover and he seemed to be forgotten, for
when the artist laid before his daughter the
offer of marriage she burst into tears and
made the startling announcement that she
could not accept it, because she was already
married to the American, who, it seems,
had persuaded her into a secret wedding Just
before her departure Indignant and heart
broken Mr.. lnness at once returned to this
country and gave his daughter to her hus-
band, but the disappointment was the gentle
artists death blow.
Sometimes when walking through Four
tenth street on one of these bright spring
days and noting the throng of people which
passes in and out of popular restaurant, |
think of the history of that building and the
strange fatality which has followed it until
now. 1t is the largest house in the block be-
tween Broadway and University place, and
was built about thirty years ago by Mr.. PEN
nyman At that time fashion centered about
equal tendencies, however, to Stuyvesant
square on the one side and Washington
square on the other. Mr.. Pennyman had re-
Gently acquired fortune and married q
young wife, and he desired that she should
be leader of society. The house was large,
with spacious parlors and dining room, fur
nished with lavish expenditure of money, and
in due time thrown open for entertainments
which were among the most costly and well
appointed of the day. But nothing seemed
to prosper with the family, there were do
nestle trials and even tragedies, and the
vast fortune melted away. Mr.. Pennyman
died and the property was sold 1t was
secured by French restaurateur and
fitted up as the Maison Doree People
who were grown up during war times
will remember its gilded front, with por-
traits of the Emperor Napoleon III, its wide,
quiet rooms, and the good dinners which
could be eaten there. But whether some
deed of violence had been committed on this
spot in the old colonial times, or for what
reason soever it may be, I'll fortune seemed
to brood over the place, the Maison Doree
was failure and the house was again closed.
It stood untenanted for some time, the dust