The morning call., 1892-11-20
THE CLEWS BALLROOM.
1t Is One of the Finest Private Apart
mentS i'm the World.

No city in the world. not excepting Lon
don and Paris, eau show more beautiful
and stately apartments in its private houses
than New York. The bathrooms of New
York are particularly gorgeous.
For several years the Clewses have been
IL mourning and have entertained but little.
but this season they viii throw open their
house, and their new ballroom and the
other luxurious, newly decorated apart
ments VIII astonish their friends.
The Clews ballroom is one of the most
beautiful and artistiealIy perfect rooms in
America. There is nothing at all like 1t in
New York. and it will remain q lasting
monument to the skill and taste of the late
Jonn III. Sturgis OIL Boston, who was the
designer.
The room, which Is oval in shape. and
connects with the conservatory, is 55 feet in
length. 35 feet in breadth and % feet high.
he style OF DECORATION used is eomblna-
uon oil Inc Renaissance and Colonial. and
the colors adopted in the decorations and
furniture are white. gold and cream
The double dome, with which the room is
surmouDted. is the most strikingly beauti-
1ul thing OF It's sort that has been attempted
10 New ork. The frieze Is a row Of dane
Ing cupids with garlands of flowers not ex-
actly copy OF but similar to the one seen
In some OF the state apartments at YER
sailles. The first dome. that adjoining the
friezes. is orRamented with decoration of
festoons In delicate cream color on a white
ground. and beneath the points of support
Tor the festoons are medallions. each one
charged with the name OF great musician
in letters of gold.
The second dome, which springs grace
iully from the hrSt, IS also. unique and at
tractive in design. and the sky light above IL
IS covered with screen of iron, hammered
Into an elaborate geometrical pattern and
enameled in white. At night this Is illu.
minated from behind, and the effect pro-
duced 10y the part-colored ineatdescent
rays, filtered through the screen. is peeu-
larry striking.
The wainscoting is Of white and extends
ous short distance up the walls and other
woodwork, including the arches Of the four
eoionial acoves which are let into the room
at It's corners and are also of white Over
Tie entrance TO the adjoining conservatory,
which Is altogether in white marble Is the
musicians gallery, aud this for delicacy of
conception and beautiful workmanship is
worthy OF the rest Of the room The base
of the gallery is exceptionally attractive in
design. It's decorations is in arabesques
ana diapers, and the series of curves by
which IT springs out from the wall to meet
the gallery baiustrade Is singularly grace
The floor is OF inlaid wood, highly pol
ished, and it Is an ideal surface for dancing.
Upon ordinary occasions the room will be
used for music, and it is furnished with a
kiduu pituo VI Wulte marble, luIalQ With
ivory aud gold, and harp. When tie
floor is not needed for dancing its center is
covered with Ghiordes rug OF great size
and richness of color.
Other changes in the Clews house are
quite as noticeable as is this beautiful ball
room. The hall, which is baronal in its
proportions, was formerly dark and OF
baroniai gioominess. Now it has been
modernzed aud Is altogether In white, with
the exception OF the carpets, which are of
scarlet The stairway, which cost a fabu.
lous amount and is winding. is deliberately
carved. and in the center OF the stairway
spiral stands great palm trees, which ex-
tends nearly to the second floor, surrounded
by smaller palms and rare ferns.
The size of the hail has been increased
seemingly fourfold by huge mirrors set in
the walls and draped iugeniously to repre-
sent doors.
The private apartments on the upper
floors have also been embellished and the
Roman bath. all Of Mexican onyx, which
has been put on the second floor. Is proba-
bly, the richest and most costly in New
York.