The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

Jets for calyX. The fireplace is majestic.
Upon its high shelf are three dozen rlre
vases of exquisite designs and tintS Of glass.
A mosaic slab of glass about three feet long
is in the center OF the Nile green tiles.
window OF what seems to be jeweied glass
is between the drawing-room and library
il proves to be the back of another
grand fireplace, however, which has
an iron chimney, swung on great
chains inside the regular chimney OF
masonry 1t looks for all the world like an
immense high silk hat with slanting rim,
handsomely decorated with richly wrought
iron. Heavy chains with big iron globes
faSten it up somewhere in the masonry
above Only the mason and old Santa Claus
can know just where. There are no mean
ingless jimcracks scattered about like wares
in a retail store of omamentS-but the
pictures are handsome and bear the names
of the finest painters. One is so airy, so
odd, so attractive, it must be told about.
THE PEERING CAT.
Perhaps you've seen it. 1t is by that IA
nous French artist, who paints cats as no
one else can except himself. The picture
is Of little gray cat stealing softly through
a field ITO catch the bubble of thistle,
as it bumps among the butterflies and
glimmers down the SUM-" That is all it is.
But the airy. white, downy thistles, the yell
low cornfower and blue gentans, the hay
light and the alertly peeriDg cat with its
ears up and its eyes wide open, make a very
pleasing picture to look at-that gives one a
ticklish little thrill. But the library! OF
course, the walls are lined with books. AT
least the books reach more than half way up
the wall to the shelf that goes all around the
room and which has many odd, beautiful
and interesting jars, vases and gourds upon
il. The glass doors TO the bookcases don't
look like everybody else's doors, nor are
they all alike. Some have wee bits of lanes
and others are broad and deep; but the
most inviting corner in the library is that
formed By a turret, little semi-circular
nook with a dome of jeweled glass, from the
center of which swings an exquisite lamp
like long deep cup of iron wrought like
gossamer lace. A jewel or so gives II bit
of enhancing brightness The windows
are draped with curtains of peacock
blue velvet, and the cushions and pill
lows of the seat like half-moon,
are made of harmoniZing and contrasting
tones of India silk. Upon the small round
table in the center of this cosy corner were
a wealth of pTimroses in bloom. What a
place TO say sweet n0thiDgs in: TO lie in in
glorious ease and TO feel comfortably dis
posed toward all the world. The rest OF
tile house DaTtakes of the same artistic in
dividuality. The dining-room Is respendent
with rare blue and white porcelain. Plaques
Of 1t, vases of it, pitchers of it-eyerything
tempting and desirable of it.
Speaking of porcelain reminds me of the
Brayt0n Ives collection He is collector
Oh tACelleIlG JuuBHituL ana IDOSJ dIllSulc
taste, and lie brought out Of the everywhere
into the here rare specimens of blue ana
white porcelain, of such pretty forms ami
rich glaze and color that one looks at them
with little articulate grunts, obs and abs of
ecstacy. The jade-white and transparent
as cloud, some of them pink as the petal
Of pale pink rose, green as a beildower
apple, in shapes Of vases, censor bowls and
cups, pleased the fancy.
pEAcURIoW VASES
The japanese sword guards were interest
ing, but not so much so as the vases clois-
some and peachblOw. The exact counter
part of the peachblow.that sold for $4,000
was there. 1t only brought $780, however
1t really isn't the intrinsic value of the
precious things, but how badly collector
wants them for his treasury, that makes
them so high-prced. He may have a fine
collection and just want rare piece to
make his treasures complete, and he will
lngly gives an immense amount of money to
crafty his fancy. just as small boy will
give all his cord ard apple cores, bankrupt
himself TO get BIRDS egg he hasn't in his
collection, OF pay fabulous sum for
stamp. But tile peachblow is a dainty
thing. So exquisite in FORM vet simple
So lovely in color, like the cheek of a peach,
or the blush OF maiden. SO rich in glaze,
like the Satiny polish OF II shining leaf! It's
an aristocratic looking thing! II has high
bred air, and yet it is simple in the extreme,
but perfect in its simplicity.
No matter if your name has seven aristo-
cratic links to it that tell the public your
ancestry dates back to the nverburdened
Mayfiower that came over weighted down
with more chests and cOat-Of-arms than
Pilgrim Fathers, you must simply put your
surname on your card. OF course, Mrs.
Cleveland, Mrs. Harrison. Mrs. Chuate, aud
several of the feminine ilk who are promi-
nent in this big little world, will have no
difficulty, but what Of the Smiths, Browns,
Wilson's. Williams and other lovely bodies