Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-18
ARTISTIC INTERIORS.
Houses of Washington That Are Beau-
tiful Beyond Description.
NOTED WOMEN AS DECORATORS.
Handiwork of Mrs. Harrison That Delights
the Presidents Eye.
POEMS IN TABLE oRNAMENTATION

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPArcH.1
WAsHINGTo Jan. ashington is
fast becoming an art center. We have
quite a school of painters here now, and the
Corcoran Gallery has regular art college,
which is supported by a fund which the
millionaire philanthropist left. Mr.. Wana-
makers gallery contains only few of the
finest pictures of Washington, and you will
find elegant paintings and works of real art
in nearly every statesman's house. The art
tastes of the people of the United States
have been greatly improved within the past
few years, and We have a number of ladies
here who could make a living by colors and
brushes if they had to.
Mrs. Harrison's ability in painting and
china decorating is already so we'll known
that there remains little to be said on the
subject. The private apartments of the
White House bear many evidences of this
artistic talent on the part of its mistress.
Two water color scenes at Cape May, painted
during her stay at that place last summer,
are prettily framed in gold and hang in the
Presidents room on the wall.
Where His First Glance
on awaking will fall upon them. By the
dressing table, in silyered frame, is third
water color, white orchid, the delicate tints
of which are shown to advantage by the
moss green velvet mat in which it is set.
Several bits of porcelain painting ornament
the walls OF the library, and charming
studies, of flowers are scattered about
throughout the sleeping apartments. The
flower pieces placed on exhibition at the art
exhibit of the Cosmos Club last spring are
not considered by Mrs. Harrison rs among
her best work. and they were only allowed
to appear at the earnest solicitation OF those
in charge of the exhibit.
A piece of work of which Mrs. Harrison
is Justly proud is the painting Of orchids
sent to Chicago, and from there to the Gin
cinnati exhibit few weeks since. A new
feature of art work which Mrs. Harrison
has recently taken up is pGintlng on tapes
try, in which she has taken a number of
lessons from Mr.. Putzki, German artist,
formerly a resident of indianapolis, in
whose career the mistress OF the White
House has taken such an active interest as
to get up large class of scholars, setting the
example herself Of going to his studio,
where she was last year one of the most
punctual attendants throughout Lent.
A Literary Artist.
Mrs N. S. Lincoln, wife of the eminent
surgeon, in addition to the distinction of
being an author and an acknowledged
society leader, is quite famous as a hostess,
lnasmuch as her dinners and luncneons are
always marked by the charm of originality,
while iu all other respects conforming to the
rules of conventionality. This matter,
difficult of achievement as it naturally Is,
has been reduced by her to perfect science,
which is at once the envy and admiration
of those friends so fortunate as to be IN
cluded ir the list of invited guests.
With true artistic instinct, Mrs. Lincoln
has made the outward setting of these little
feasts a fitting one, and the dining room is
in all respects what It should be to accord
Herewith. There is harmonious mingling
of dark, waxed floor, Turkish rugs, pol
ished mahogany furniture, pretty crimson
lined hooks filled with bric-a-brac, and
bronzes and pictures over which the light
from log fire throws the requisite pictur-
esuueness of warmth and shadow. There
are hanging cabinets of rare china, and over
the buffet, lowering like presiding genius,
is a white owl. &.
Cupid'S 5 Mail at LuncneOns
Among the most notable luncheons given
by Mrs. Lincoln, was that on last Valentino
Day, when each Of the guests carried away
with her dainty set of verses of pleasant
personalities, especially written for her by
the hostess. The decorations Of the table
were symbolical Of the occasion, the center
ornament of crimson flowers being pierced
by long golden dart. Just before coffee
was served, a loud knock was heard, and a
smiling maid entered. bearing big square
bag with a paddock marked in gold,
"Cupid's Mail" The contents being dis
, tributed, each guest was gratifed to find
that special envelope had been prepared
in her honor, and that the cupids disported
themselves among the hearts and rose bow
ers in especially quaint and appropriate
manner.
Another luncheon worthy of mention was
one given some years ago to Mrs. Winnie
Grey, OF New York, at that time Miss Tillie
Freiinghuysen. All unwittingly on the
part OF the guest OF honor, the date set by
her for the luncheon fell on All Fools Day,
the 1st of April. but the hostess resolved to
take advantage of the same and in her own
clever fashion, render the occasion memor-
able.
Souvenirs In Doushnuts.
Accordingly the center piece which
greeted the sight of the amused guests was
a big faol's cap of pink and blue satin jiDg-
ling with bells. This was finally passed to
Miss Frelinghuysen, who upon lifting 1t up,
discovered beneath a silver epergne filled
with doughnuts. Each guest took one and
upon breaking the deliciously Drowned sur
face. found embedded in the raw cotton in
terror. lovely little souvenir of the occa-
sion in silver.
Mrs. Howard Ganson White, who dis
penses the hospitalities of the season for her
father, Senator Philetus Sawyer, is happy
in the possession of some of the finest paint
inc to be found on the walls of any house in
the limited States The ceiling of the par
lor is of highly polished satin wood, the
center of each square painted with q rose SO
natural as to have the appearance OF the
natural flower resting there. A deep frieze,
which extends in a broken graceful line
overlapping the edges OF the ceiling, is a
yeritable shower OF roses. Above the orna-
mental satin-wood mantel is a single female
fnnra the Incarnation of June, standing
wirb outstretched arms finging abroad the
delicate tinted petals. Beyond this there
has been no set rule followed in the ar
ranpement of the frieze; it is simply q
wealth of roses.
Mrs. Hearsts Artistic Dining Room.
Mrs. Hearst, wife of the millionaire Sena-
tor from California, in building her new
house. or more properly speaking, in re-
modelling the house purchased from e1-
Secretary Fsirchild, has set the stamp of her
own individually artistic taste upon the
dining room, which is unlike any other in
Washington, and in all probability any
other in this country. 1t is modelled In
every particular after veritable Dutch in
AZ walls xainscoted hirh in dark