The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-23
CAUGHT BY THE CAMERA.
WHAT SORT OF A HOUSE LILLIAN
RUSSELL LIVES IN.

Was a Love Letter From-Oaughty.
tCopUright.)
NEW YORK. Aug. 22.-To know
woman one must know her in her own
home,
AS subtitle flavor of character pervades
even business letter, SO in that envelope of
daily life-the house-there is sure TO Turk
a betrayed personality. Like Balzac's
Madame Firmiani, Lillian Russell has been
credited with as many personalities as a
chameleon. She has been this-she has been
that-snd has taken her color from the sur~
roundings newspaper traditions were pleased
to give her. In word there have been as
many fluctuations in Lillian Russell gossip |
as in stocks-or even philanthropy. But |
until now, not word has ever been written |
her house.
Never mind its street-and never mind |
fits number-or the color Of its awnings.
Its hall is small, and attracts no attention
to itself, merely in "Simon says thumbs
up manner inviting you to pass on. In
this it does as the majority of conven-
tional New York halls do. The drawing
room on the contrary is not conventional.
It snaps its fingers at Past and ignores
the Future. Its atmosphere is Of the Now.
An antiquarian would feel hurt by the at
titude it takes.
All here is Of pristine freshness. All seems
new, light, and full of sunshine. In winter
it allows dull shades Of rose and blue to war
with each other in a truly French fashion,
but to-day-in Augustus easy chair and
divan are hebited in what might he termed
their summer clothes, and are covered in
soft white silk with vague traileries OF yell
low. Even the softly swaying curtains at
the long windows follow this ca
price for white-and ,gold-a natural
one for q shrine Of opera bouffe. The house
does not compel attention by rare hangings.
georgous upholstery, or elaborate ceiling
effects. But there are other things within
it which so hold attention by the lapel of Its
coat that one would find it difficult to recall
those other attractions after leaving it. As
much of a compliment. probably, as one can
pay this little house so like bit Of amber
in coloring. and which imprisons bee with
80 sweet and popular hum.
The large picture upon the floor beneath
the mantel has just been forwarded to Miss
Russell from Paris. 1t is La Cigale repro
duced from the original by Bissou, and
favorite of the Salon of 1890. This picture
an some style you will find in every room,
as the prima donna's mind is just now much
occupied with the anticipated production
of the opera OF that name at the Garden
theater in October.
"Worry over It'll l should think did! |
have sleepless week before the bringing
out Of evory new opera. Every detail
every Item is fixed in my mind, and the
reality needs must accommodate itself to
the dream"
AS she spoke she passed beside palm,
which reached feathery fingers far above
her head. Palms are everywhere disposed
in huge pots, while table OF writhing brass
dragons makes itself useful by following
their example. The furniture here is all of
gilded or carved white wood, limiting Of
nothing more ancient than the year 1891
with the exception of little Verne Martin
c3air, which il oompanioned by some very
pretty marquetry and lacquer work. As for
lamps they are more numerous than appli-
cants for the chair now occupied by the
Hat. Lamps sentimentally dropping be-
meath shades of violets or rioting in the
embrace of roses, lamps to read by-lamps
TO dream and chat by-lamps demure and
vestal like-and lamps as alluring as any
Spanish beauty. Cabinets and etageres are
loaded with the usual collection OF Clois-
sonne Onyx, Doulton, Satsuma, Runga-
rian ware. Crown Derby and Royal Wor-
cester. But no bibelots are as interesting
as those entangled with the life of the
singer.
So leaving the greater part of the faience
to ceramic cranks we will interest ourselves
in q Dresden violin which lies on Its satin
cushion upon glass shelf within a cabinet.
"And thisT
"That-was presented TO me by musical
society upon the Tooth night of Poor Jo-
nathan" 1t was an elaborate wreath of lau- |
rels wrought 10 silver and gold and resting
complacently upon blue velvet cushion.
A third shelf displayed chatelaine of silver
with three pendants-a Fronch horn, a
guitar and mandolin.
ut was given me as dinner favor at
Saratoga, seel 1t is for cigarettes, matches |
or whatever you may wish,
"And thisp pointing to another souve> |
mir.
perhaps had better not give the donors
name-without permission
''No, indeed! Most certainly not" |
'And besides-I have forgotten itn This |
was concluslve-and like q woman-was it |
nUts
'And this Sedan chairg"
Game from Paris, to us-a gift And so
did the little piece Of faience, with Petit |
Jour upon itn
Upon the walls in white and gold frames,
are many pictures, all wafer colors with the
exception Of some Florentine porcelain. |
Crairiu's "Frou-Frou" and some fine and
vigorous crayons by Sarony. Van Beers is
represented. and so also is Havley, the
screen artist, by some good things. Over a
cabinet hangs q large water color portrait
OF Lillian Russell and her little daughter.
CALLED Lillian. My hostess eyed it critically
IL don't lksit Do your hesitated.
"He-the artist-died soon after. Can.
fidly now-do you wonderp
Under the carved satin wood manteI. with
ats great Cresden clock aud candlelabra. its
bowl of American Beauty roses. and its
two magnificent ivory busts of Beethoven
and Mozart, is a high photograph stand
Many OF the faces are favorites OF the foot
lights
They're all there. Seel Here's Judic-
and Thee. and our own Manola, and Hunt
tugton-and-all the rest of them.n And
Miss Russell gave three festive taps with a
long white finger-ringless- with a
narrow pink nail. Among the articles upon
the white and gold plaao, 10 which loaded
music rack plays attentive cavalier, is a sill
very bronze group Of cleanly-ouilt race
horses and dapper Jockeys
Miss Russelrs favorite song lies open upon
the rest, and as she passes the piano she
strikes few chords lightly and huns the
words:
81 want no star in heaven to guide me,
want no moon-no sun TO shine
While have you, sweetheart, beside me,
While know that you are mine"
By the piano Is a mammoth SCREEN which
frames some rare tapestry representing the
seasons. 1t is a souvenir OF Paris. Upon a
low table near it lie a couple of books. One
Is covered with brocade. which may he a
bit of priests vestment. an altar cloth or a
piece of First Empire gown-or-may not.
The other book is bound in dark leather.
"If you can Judge a man by his books,
xvhv NOT a xvaYnan ~ and I laid hands ,,pOy,