The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-18
FLOODS COUNTRY HOUSE.
The Grandest Mansion in America-GravC
of the Silent Woman.

The Grandest Mansion in America-Gravo
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 100
| assistants. The drives are several miles
In length, and are made of white gravel
kept spotlessly clean. The foliage, shrub
berry and bowers are beyond description.
Every thing is a symphony in white
and gold" The porter's lodge is beau
tlful cottage near the only entrance to
the grounds, and the great gates are
white and gold. The grounds are lighted
by hundreds of gas-lamps with ground
glass shades, the gas being made on the
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 is the main attraction. 1t
Is built in style of architecture that
might be termed French, although not
decidedly of that school. 1t is dazzling
white, the roofs are of black slate in
patterns, and the 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
on the premises. The house stands
on an eminence and overlooks one of
Che most beautiful lawns that art
cSdTd produce:- FfTsnntaiRsr pias1h> On.
every side, terrace of ivy and flowers
hens in the eastern view, while a bank
of violets and wall of roses temper the
force of the ocean breeZes and perfume
them. The perfect creation of an art
istic mind, with all the necessary funds
to maintain it in all its perfection,
Floods palace stands unrivaled in
America, a typical home of a self-made
millionaire, bnt the millionaire is not
here to enjoy it.
In one of the city cemeteries is the
grave of Miss Francis Hrannelli, 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 a young sea captain then in
this port Her relatives opposed the
match, and, sho believed, intercepted
his letters 10 her and tried to keep them
apart. Violent alterations onsued, and
| during one of them, in a paroXysm 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 death-bed the efforts of her friends
to induce her to break her voluntary
silence were futile. AS her relatives
gathered around her death-bed her sis
| ter, with tears in her eyes, implored her
to break her vow, if only to say good
| bye. The two brothers added their en-
treaties, but to all appeals she was OBJ
durate. Her brother went outside and
| plucked rose and offered it to her.
She shook her head and refused to take
it. However, when the matron offered
her the same flower she took it eagerly,
and seemed to enjoy the perfume:
When her brother attempted TO smooth
the dying woman's pillow she strongly
dissented, but allowed nurse to do it,
and seemed grateful. A few moments
Iafter she broathed her last. She car
ed her resentment against her rela-
tiv>s to the bitter end.-San Francisco
| Letter.