New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-01

The villa which Empress Elizabeth Of Austria Is
having built at Corfu will certainly be one Of the most
perfect and luxurious dwellings imaginable Bur
rounded by superb grounds which all the year round
a mass Of fragrant blossoms and shaded by dense
groves Of palm and blue gum trees the house. throned
Il, il were. on HILL looks like a huge jewel IN the
glorious light Of the Eastern 1t i, constructed in
Pompcan style the walls Of pink Ferarra marble are
adorned with beautiful mo>aicS. and the fiat roof Is
incosci by an deliberately carved halu>trde Be
hind the villa i field Of roses, comprising $1,000
bushes Of all kind, and coors. y tre,ed walk. COW
cred with climbing noisette and nyphetos roses. in-
closes this unique collection the fowerladen branches
meeting and interlacing overhead, and hanging down
on both sides almost to the ground. Here and there
the snowy column OF high reaching fountain rises
far up into the air and fall, In gterne spray Oh the
turf smooth ~ velvet bordered with ground ivy.
The gardens and park are almost completed. Tho
latter descend, in sopnz terraces to the edge of the
sea- where marble flight of stairs leads to private
h,rLor. \ lighthouse. also built of marble and pro
vdcd with an electric lamp. will thro" Its
dazzling rays over the waters and on the surrounding
woods. \ sea-wall Of pink marble, studded at inter
val, with tall OF maioca filled with aloe plants.
,trctcls along the shore separating the grounds from
the golden sands Of the beach.
The villa contains l2s rooms. and the stables can hold
fifty horses From the windows Of the EMPRESS
sleeping apartment and boulor the view Is admir-
able reaching far away to where the mountains OF
cyprus and Albania tower into the sky.
All the no m, will be- furnished with the exquisite taste
ever d PLAYED by the Empress In all interior arrange
mcnts Her Macsty's hOndor Will be entirely IN white
and ,ilver-walls. ceiling and all-with doors OF whc
l,coucrcd wood painted with groups Of lilies of the
valley volets and heather. and white velvet furniture
Hut II is said that the stables. saddle and harness rooms
will be the greatest marvel Of the place. For these
Elizabeth has ordered everything tc be brought from
ENGLAND down to the wainscotng Of light oak The
buding devoted TO this part of the establishment Is NJ
some distance from the house. and Is very picturesque
with us many gables. it, laticcd windows and its
pointed roofs with crceperi. The alley lead
ing to it gently ascends through the woods. and Is
bordered with varegated geraniums and groves OF
camellias azalcas and gigantic ferns. The villa VIII
cost when finished and furnished over ten million
francs not including Of course. the treasures Of art
which are being down to adorn the picture gallery
How many people there whose ideas are misty as
TO the time when the century begins and ends! Inc
writer has seen at twice in reputable publications
the statement George Bancroft. who was born In
1900 was born I'm the first year I'm the present
centuryr A moments consideration must convince
even mind of than average stupidity that $500
was the year Of the last century and not the open
ing wear of the present The first century COM
nrised 100 years, and did not end with the year 90
was not completed until the last moment Of the last
dav Of the year 100 The blunder is likely TO
con ont again and again the close OF the present
centurv draws near. and OF the most frequent In
uires addressed to the Omniscent editor by the intel
pent will lie as 10 whether the twentieth
ceptprv begins with 1900 1901 The same difficulty
v,s experienced last year. when not a few people
ho,cht that They had entered the last decade Of the
pineeenth century and did not hesitate tC say so. |
houph As matter OF fact that same last decade dd not
hcgin until the first Of January this year. II people
would only think Of the analogy between the century