The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-17
ghe aUthita xlY Eagle: Sunday orina nay II, 1891.


Borromeo, one Of the great cardinals OF his
time, who was enbalmed, and at present
ms wasted body, literally bedecked with
jewels, Is to be seen in the underground
apartment of the duomo, where is also his
study. with desk, books and number OF
his effects. He was elected cardinal in the
year 1860, and died in the year of 1884. He
was thought great deal of by the people,
and every year on the 4th of December The
IS exhibited with great pomp, and viewed.
| think, by all Milano It is a
great holiday in memory of him. and every
one does homage TO the great San Carlo
Borromea. But to come back to the pal
ace and the isle: Immediately at the land
ing there is restaurant, hotel and several
old buildings occupied by the peasants,
who attend TO the banks of the island; the
women all have stands near the landing,
where they sell fancy fans and rosaries
made from peculiar nut that grows on
the Island; also views OF the palace and
gardens. Beyond this is the entrance to
the piazza Of the palace, which is presided
over at present by Count Tomaso Borro-
meo. Immediately when ushered into the
hall by the porter the imposing grandeur
quite overwhelms one. A guide always
leads the way. The part of the palace
thrown open to the public contains about
twenty rooms or halls for each is really
hall in size and one more beautiful than
the other, but those that were more Strik-
lngly beautiful are the dining room, music
hall and the magnificent hall with the
throne. the conversation parlOr, billiard
room ball room and the picture gallery,
which contains paintings of number of
noted artists. The floors throughout the
palace are OF marble, or d sort OF mosaic,
laid in gorgeous designs aud of different
colors, which are kept so highly polished
that they look almost like glass. The
mirrors, gildings and the exquisite collec-
ton of marble brought 10 my mind the
old song, Il Dreamt 1 Dwell in Marble
Halls" and in reality it was only day
dream. The palace is such as one may
read of in books, but very seldom seen.
and | assure you we enjoyed the oppor
tunlty Of feasting our eyes upon such
grandeur.
1t would take volume to fully des-
cribe each room in detail so can only
furniture is all ancient, but such designs
of woodwork and gliding was truly a
treat to see, and the colors and quality Of
damask is superb, it seems almost impos-
sible TO believe them SO DID, they are so
excellently kept. A most beautiful piece
of furniture is a cabinet entirely OF
Tortoise and cabinet of Mosaic contain
ing lovely and valuable vases.
The rooms which always creates interest
is the bedroom in which Napoleon l slept,
and the room occupied by the king and
queen OF Spain still draped in the ancient
style
The Subterranean apartment consists of
twelve rooms, all built in grotto style, the
sealing forming perfect shells, and the
peculiar work of the walls produces
marvellous effect-the floors being Mosaic
some rooms are fountains and
in others there are collections of rarest
antinue and Statuary
Ascending again by another pair Of
fine marble stairs, we enter a magnificent
long hall, where are some fine paintings
and the entire walls bedecked with the col
lection of arazzi-I don't know what the
translation Of arazzi would be, they are
pieces of a sort of tapestry work, some
are very large, ten and twelve feet square
hung upon the walls, the work from a
short distance looks to be the work of art
by a masters brush, but instead are needle
work 50 beautifully done, the subject was
fine, as well as the coloring,
the nobility takes great interest in the
collection of them Uhe finest and
largest collection have seen
We're in the National museum at
Munich, some battle scenes were won
this vast hall we entered the
garden. 1t has the effect upon one of be-
ing transmitted from one fairy realm to
another, and surely Paradise on earth,
where the delicious odor of the rarest
flowers are waited by the gentle zephers
from every side. The magnificent grotto
built up in terraces, the rare plants from
every cline, the lemon, citron and orange
trees, the magnolia grove, the grotto with
the waterfall, the ivy, so hard to grow in
our land, but here hangs in dense clusters
and festOons probably fifteen feet in length,
the wonderful camphor tree, the bamboo,
the palms, cedar and cypress, which grow
most luxurantly. the exquisite statuary
the garden, and the strip of
natural wood perfectly captivates one.
IAN assure you it was feast never to be
forgotten, and no more appropriate name
could have been given, for in every sense
t is an Isle of Beauty, and in registering
our names l did not forget TO inscribe
" ichita, the Peerless Princess" on the
records of the historic Palace of Borromeo