Nevada County picayune., 1890-03-05
FLOODS COUNTRY HOUSE.
The Grandest Mansion in America-Grav
 of the silent Woman.


 of the silent Woman.
 The closed and deserted mansion of the late Millionaire Flood at Menlo Park is probably the most magnificent country house in America. The estate covers 1000 acres. and is under the charge of landscape gardener and l20 assistants. The drives are several miles in length. and are made of white gravel kept spOtlcsSlyclcan. The foliage, shrub bery and bowers are beyond description Every thing is symphony in white and gold The porter'S lodge is a beau tiful cottage near the only entrance to the grounds and the great gates arc white and gold. The grounds arc lighted by hundreds of gas-lamps with ground glass shades, the gas being made on tho place. Statuary of the most chaste and elegant design and of exquisite work manship. gives finish to the velvet like lawns and closely trimmed hedges. But the house k the main attraction. It is built in style of architecture that might be termed French although not decidedly of that school. IL is dazzling white. the roofs are of black slate in patterns, and tho decorations are all in gold Even the inside blinds and the furnishings are white and gold, and this effect has been preserved in the fur nishings of the servants quarters. the superb stable and all the buildings OF the premises. The house stands on an emincncc and oycrlooks one of the most beautiful lawns that art could produce, Fountains plash on every side, terrace of ivy and flowers hens in the eastern view. while bank of yiolets and a wall of roses temper the fvrce of the otcan brccZes and perfume them. The perfect creation of an art istic mind. with all tht necessary funds to maintain 1t in all its perfection, Floods palace stands unriyaled in America, typical home of self-made millionaire, bnt the millionaire is not here to enjoy 1t.
 In one ot the city cemeteries is the grave of Miss Francis llrannelli, long since forgotten. She was known as the silent woman In 1879, while liv- ing with relatives in this city, Miss Hrannelli met loved, and was loved in return by young sea captain then in
 
 match. and, she believed, intercepted his letters 70 her and tried to keep them apart. olentaltcrcations onsucd. and during one of them. in parexysm of rage she vowed that she never again would open her lips in speech For over seven years she kept her VOW and even on her dcath-bod the forts of her friends to induce her tO break her voluntary silence were futile. As her relatives gathered around her death-bcd her sis ter. with tears in her eyes, implorcd her to break her VOW, if only to say good- bye. The two brothers added their en- treaties, but (o all appeals she was ob- aurate. Her brother went outside and plucked rose and offered 1t to her She shook her head and refused to take 1t. However, when the matron offered her the same flower she took il eagerly, and seemed to enjoy the perfume When her brother attempted 10 smooth the dying womans pillow she strongly disscnted, but allowed a nurse to do it, and seemed grateful. A few moments after she brcathod her last. She car ried her resentment against her rela-- ti'es to the bitter end. San Francisco Ls ter.