St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-10

Siljil lry III lHe
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Wd0S/ q such ilk; l refer tC
M EN2A Y any and everything
%4Sqs, ,ASS.I which might be
GNzGAM&g termed an orna-
e. ment, not useful,
sSs but necessary to
luxurious effect.
A walk through Mrs. Secretary Whit
ney's superb parlors in the light of these
beautiful spring mornings might, per
chance, carry the visitor through all the
countries of Europe, especially If he were
endowed with vivid Imagination. Like
many other New York homes, the
sQuareness of the front rooms is IN
truded upon by alcoves, which form 1T
tie hooks and inches, and do good service
as receivers of Mrs. Whitney's foreign
bric-a-brac and antique curioSitleS.
On the south side, just where Mrs.
Frances Cleveland stood on the evening
of her first metropolitan ball, and was
introduced by Mrs. Whitley, is what
is termed the presidential quarter.
Here flags ornamented with stars
and stripes, old relics of the Reyolu-
tion and the late war, repose in
honored and respected silence. A little
cabinet reveals aged coins, newspapers,
stamps, and bits of bead work. There
probably is great deal more concealed
behind its yellow lining, which none
but the mistress herself is aware OF, so
crowded are its contents. Two dozen
of the finest etchings expose the familiar
(countenances of the most illustrious
heads of our government, and true
drawing of the old Kearsarge at anchor
stirs the feeling Of patriotism in every
breast.
Mrs. Whitney's Charming Taste.
Mrs. Whitney has travelled much, and
with a taste for reminiScence has
derived great pleasure in her keepsakeS
which are overnumerous. 1t seems no
one else but she would think of treasur-
ing Lafayette's snuff box, wrapping it
in soft batting, and bringing it home to
New York to rest content Oh her parlor
and giving it the place of honor
in her home. She has a LOUIS XIV.
chest of drawers which figured in the
Court Of Napoleon, with high. graceful
pillars and low, narrow drawers, with
dragons head handles, and harpsichord
a hundred years old and fiat center
table with curious spindle legs.
How easy it Is, when gazing at these,
toilet ones mind drift backward to the
good old times when they were designed
and made! What a chain of faScinat-
ing thoughts can be aroused by this
old harpSichord for instance, the
keys of which were once swept
by the jeweled, dainty fingers
of some high-born dame, and many a
song of passionate love may have been
fnfn tod hn It,1N
melody it is capable of putting forth.
sort is more than sufficient to Mrs.
Whitney'S callers to weave unending
IOmanceS.
Just inside the sheltering arms of
Murray Hill, in the sacred precincts of
the 'tour hundred" dwells Mrs. George
Kidd, one of It's most renowned leaders.
She has good deal of French blood in
her veins, and she certainly remains
true in her tastes to her ancestry.
Her magnificent drawing room. on
the second landing, with great French
window in front, bring to mind the Bat
tie of the Roses. Two shades, red and
white, seem fighting for supremacy,
but through the whole harmony Of the
room the furnishings remain loyal to two
distinct cOlorS. The little ruby flames
place blend perfectly with the drapery
curtains on the windows and the burn
Ing rubieS at the hostess neck and ears.
From the ShaI.'s Harem.
Several curious little knick-knacks
catch the eye upon entering the apart
ment. Some terra-cotta water jugs
from Egypt, a Turkish fez which be-
longed to one of the ladies of the shah's
rovroI boron AlpiDn nr0nly from
Switzerland and trophies rich and rare
from Rome.
Mrs. Kidd is extremely fond of en-
broidery. She spent many of her child
hood years in a French convent, and
there learned the beautiful, intricate
stitches which look like fairy'S magic
touch on the head rests and couch
cushions of her own manufacture, which
are noticeable artistic features in her
drawing room.
One peculiar feature of Mrs. Kidd's
parlor is the handsome mirror which is
hung i'll the center of the room. Mr..
Kidd purchased it in London some three
years ago, during their stay in Europe,
from an old dealer in antiquities, VINO
affirmed that it was discovered in the
parish of st. Keverne, in Cornwall, in
1888. 1t is Roman in form and sub
stance, but the Ornamentation is Celtic
pattern incised; the shape, too, speaks
of Celtic originality. Ii is not the
latest style to decorate drawing rooms
with mirrors, but Mrs. Kidd clingS to
her fondness for oddities in ornamental
ton, aud the old mirror remains in its
accustomed place unharmed.
Mrs. Hicks Lord has cabinet liter
ally stocked with art studies in sterling
silver, representing small table ware,
toilet goods and animated monsters of
the deep and forest in inch forms in her
reception room, while Mrs. Irene Wilson
was in her salon small table laden
with silver live stock, every item of
which is masterpiece.
What article of furniture appeals
more to a woman's heart than clock?
AS the pendulum swings back and forth
it echoes all the pleasant hours of Ler
honeymoon. the early happiness of her
welded life and the joys of her youth.
Mrs. Gen. Coils, the beautiful au-
burn-haired Southern woman who took
all New York by storm, is the posses
sor of perhaps the most valuable clock
in the metropolis. 1t is in marquetry
design, finished with a landscape in
monochrome that is stained in the wood
before the polish is put on.
She also has in the makeup of her par
lor number OF fancy ruSh-bottomed
conversation chairs inlaid with colored
woods. There is nothing foreign, Gu
rious or antique about them, yet they
are old, unique and unusual. Every
body remarks the novel tout ensemble
of Mrs. Collis' drawing room,a agrees
that its very Oddity rests the eyes, and
perhaps helps to make her gatherings
SO popular and well attended.
OF Course There Are Screens.
Screens, screens verywhere-they
seem to surround you in Nine. de Bar
rios mansion, on Fifth avenue. Japan
ese gilded four-paneled fire screens,
French cretonne screens and painted
German screens delight the eye at every
turn. Individual hand screens of gold
and silver inlaid with nearl rest ON tha