Wichita eagle., 1889-05-14
MRS. ASTOR AT HOME.

Tho Small but Sumptuous Apartment In
Which She Receives Her Friends.
Mrs. William 3. Astor's receptlon-room IS
a 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 indigo-tinted lace. The walls, says
Clara Belle, in the Philadelphia Press, are
hung in turquoise silk, with decorative
dado and a canvas-painted ceiling, and the
ebony finish of the woodwork is as beauti-
fully polished as piece of onyx. In the
center of the parquetry floor Is an odd de-
sign of small Persian rugs, lnlaid as 1t
were in a field Of garnet terry. Precious
rugs drape the small divans, and superb
specimens of needle paintings are shown
in the chair coverings. The most attractive
article of furniture is a small upright piano
of light mahogany, beautifully embeliished
with panels of carved silver, symbolic of
music and song.
Figures of cupids and busts of children fill
the corners Of the room with beauty, and as
the visitor enters she passes under the
glossy green branches of q small palm tree
that stands on pedestal of polished green
marble. All the ornaments are OF Dresden
china, and the fantastic beauty and grace
OF the figures, the variety of design and
/ briuiancv of color produce an effect both
novel and agreeable. On the walls hang
brackets, baskets aud pockets OF fiowery
porcelain, and about the metal cabinet,
along the edges of small STANDS and fairly
crowGing the piano shelf are shepherds and
shepherdesses. trou oadOurs, peasant 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, variety Of dec
Grafton, by the way, that Mrs. Astor IS
very fond Of
Vio!ets, lilies, lilacs, feverfews, hya-
cinths, buttercups and q little wilderness OF
field flowers are kuotted together N cl1s-
tering bouquets and freight the whee.bar-
rows, vases and jardinieres Of Dresden
china. while in the slender forms OF crystal
and ieweied ware are roses, asters. }spoai-
cas- and nagDo.ias OF such a remarkable
composition as 10 challenge detection in
sower show without the assistance CO touch
or smell. The lIuen blossoms were brought
fron. France last summer, and tie sun paid
for them would have procured a very nice
supply Of cut flowers for an entire season
All the han gings ABOUT the room are made
of rich, blue six canvas, handsomely
worked IL silver threads. Tie family crest,
done on a fed Of scarlet End white 10 six,
silver and god, and mounted IL banner
form, is tie glory Of an east corner.
Mrs. W VI. Astor's callers are directed
70 . little Ponpeii2n roon, finished il black
wood and richly hung With crimson, the sax
twin covering not cnly tire walls ard WIN
dow, bat pans.ing tie doors and drapiag
furniture, table a1d r1zntei-sheif TIE
co!crfs that 7-arE osooa-red taaJ makes
plain face prettT AID a pretty face g.o.ious.
By means Of g large and beautifully err
broi4ered screen. tire room can be provided
with a snurcery. and Il IS here that ire
lovelv yozag mistress sees an intimate
friend zho has ozly = moment 70 stop zod .
word 70 say. TIE fire. pace has delight
III prot1Si0n Of er@sses. ard zE1oag lie
furnitare IS little te;e-a-tete table spread
with a dainty china service, where the re-
.reshing cup OF vanilla cocos or swee:
chocolate Is brexed siia iswe.sd EuEers
aud discussed with fragments q Fozr Eza-
csed reyatasso3-