Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11
The home government docs not seem 70 care

70 decorate its legation with ANYTHING sug-
gestive OF Mexico. and there is really very hit
Tie IN the house different from that i'm any
modern mansion. Mr.. Romero has some good
pictures, which he especially prizes and one Of
them Is Holy Family" by Raphael Madame
romero has quite a collection Of the curious
rag figures depicting Mexican types from the
grand senior to the market woman, which afford
her friends pleasure.
The superb gold service which is used on the
iesanon table has no duplicate in this city at
least. The minister presented it TO his wife
only few years ago.
THE STEWART CASTLE.
The Chinese legation ball room in a race for
honors would come out an easy second and ask
no fayors either. When Senator Stewart built
his castle ball rooms were as scarce as the pro-
verbal angels visits. With its gorgeous Grim
son ana git upholstery, il began 20 be famous
night on. and in one way or other has never lost
It's mold IN the public mind. Since the Chinese
made the castle its legation house, the ball
room played an important part in its diplo-
matte history. The famous balls given bv the
predecessor OF the present minister his SUNNI
tious suppers and the awful onslaught made by
the guests on the dining room. that tremendous
leeu which viii yet be immortal ell in song or
story. the magnificent banquet that he gave TO
Mr. Clevolands cabinet. which Was spread
IN this ball room. his birthday parties
ms small dances and all the rest of his princcly
inequalities in which this big room came into
achVe play were all great occasions. Tins bail
room makes very good theater or music
room, as II has one large and two small plat
forms. and has been often used for private
tneatricals or musicales. Only for death in
the imperial family, society would have had a
chance again at Its well waNcd floors for Mr.
lsui. the present minister. had all his prepare
tlons ready TO give large ball on the 9th Of
last February. In the parlors of the legation
are some wonderful specimens of LACQUER work
n ftw hnnIGpv,a
ments, but as rule very little TO suggest the
land OF Its occupants
RUSSIAN HOSPITALITY.
Probably next winter there will be no Caver
ball room than the far-famed and far-honored
one at the Russian legation. For the las; three
or four years 1t has been quite out Of the cur
rent, but next winter. when it is hoped Baron
de Strive will bring back his daughter, now a
grown-up young lady, to preside for him. its
glories Will be revived. As modern ideas now
go IL Is now considered old-fashioned aad
needs some freshening up TO make it a rival Of
others. Still it has echoed the slippered tread
OF many fair dame and gallant when Nine de
Struve lived, as her winter series of balls
were really the great occasions and
were attended with all fashionable eclat
lr: Greger later on gave fencing exhi-
bltions IN this ball room on Sunday mornings
to which came his guests the leading
matrons and bellies. 1t has had other uses. too.
IKE Shrove Tuesday night, when a part of the
social world were the guests there of Mr.. Ham
sen at a musicale, dance and a supper.
DR.. HAMMoND's MANSION.
DR.. Hamnond's ball room is the court in the
center of his mansion upon which all the rooms
open. 1t is the most spacious of any and is
magnificently decorated. The gallery on
the second floor adds greatly to the scenic eff
feet when brilliant gathering on the floor be-
low Is seen from il and the onlookers them
selves form part OF the picture. This ball
room Is the realization of modern splendor
THE HEARST PICTURE GALLERY
The Hearst ball room is also a picture gal
lery. Mrs. Hearst has taken every opportunity
TO crafty her love for old things, and in her
home here has collected together many of the
beautiful things she owns. She has in her
lofty ball room wonderfully carved cabinet,
some superb tapestries, fine pictures and rich
hanglngs, which are all unique in their way.
Mrs. Hearst has probably the prettiest door
bell in this city. A vine runs up the wall near
the door and hanging from it is a single flower.
You pull the flower, the vine gives a little
tremble and you hear the tinkle of the bell in
the hall OF course the flower and the vine are
wrought iron. but that only makes il more Gu
rlous. The dining room of the house is in old
Dutch style. but the ball room suggests the
lighter and more tasteful effects of a French
salon. Mrs. Hearst, who built her house with
princely ideas of hospitality, has a supper room
under the ball room. that practically
her house is really the best equipped
here for purposes of large entertainments
SENATOR srANFoRD's IMPROVEMENTS
Senator and Mrs Stanford found the man.
sion tina. they have been occupying the past
six years inadequate to the demands upon ii on
occasions OF large receptions, and during their
absence this summer a more spacious dining
room will be added TO the house. In effect il
viii be totally different from the rest of the
house, and while it will be in the extremely
simple style of the colonial period. Mrs STAN
ford has so many beautiful possessions which
will show to good advantage in it that it will
soon be reckoned among the finest dining
rooms OF the West End. 1t is to be finished
entirely in white. s, far as the wood work is
concerned, and the decorations and hangings
will be in light, tasteful effects.
The music room at Senator Stockbridge's
house is another of the fine rooms. 1t has an
organ and piano and there is plenty of room
for large company.
BOUNDARY CASTLE.
At Mr.. Henderson's residence, Boundary
Castle. the hall and the drawing rooms az,
light and gay in effect The hall is particu-
larry admired, decorated as it is in the Moorish
style. The ball room is rich and dark. The
heavy mahogany used in the wood work and the
dark, rich reds of the walls form a fine back
ground for the pictures which nearly cover
them all.
Mr.. Stilson Hutchins' picture gallery makes
the big room in his Massachusetts avenue man
sion.
Mr.. B. II. Warder's fine residence is made
complete by the picture gallery
In the two new houses building now Mrs
Chandlers, corner of 10th and K streets. and
Mr.. Henry Strongs. a square above it. there
will be large rooms. Mr.. Strong has said in a
joking way that his big room was not neces-
sarily ball room and that he really intended
TO make skating rink Of it for his little daugh-
ter and her friends.
Mr. JOHN ". THoMpsoS's BALL ROOM.
Mr.. John W. Thompson has one Of the finest
ball rooms in this city, and it has frequently
been the scene of notable events 1t is deco
rated in the style of the drawing rooms. and
when all the communicating doors are thrown
open il makes. in connection with the long par
lor on one side and the library and dining room
on the other, one spacious apartment It's
walls, as, indeed all of the other rooms are
covered with fine pictures, selected by Mr..
Thompson or his daughter during their many
journeys to Europe.
Mr.. and Mrs. b. ii. Warner added q large
room to their house lately, in which their hosts
OF friends have found extra comfort and pleas
ure upon occasions Of their large entertain
ments.
In the old regime the ball rooms of the Ma
guire house on E street, the Cresswen house,
corner of 18th and streets, the Coleman man.
sion on II street, the Wallach house. the Cor
coran mansion and the Porter residence on II