Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-22

Oh u SOLID old mansion in the part OF
Fifth avenue below Twenty-third street.
The light in it is dim, the frames Of the
old mirrors on the wall, which mark the
days when the house was a home, are Of
a dead, relentless black.
Now, why is it that with the Repub-
iican headquarters, gorgeous with politi-
cal decorative jim ams--why is it that
the Democratic headquarters is abso-
lutely unadorned2 There must be a
reason for this. There is, and that rea-
son is simply that it was discovered ut
the very outset that no device of mural
adornment, no decorative touch that
the hand of an artist could evolve,
would live up to, would not fail to stul-
THY, the oriental grace of the saloon
with which the Hon. James Oliver re-
ceives lady callers. In other words, j.
divers reception bow is the sole adorn.
ment of that now historical apartment,
and let it be added that it is not only
the sole alornment, but that il is sulli
cicnt, the all-tilliag, the Misunderstanding
adornment, On the same principle that
masterpieces of sculpture arc shown pro.
iected upon dark red curtain so is
the reception bow of Mr. Oliver shown
projected upon the dark walls Of that
room. When the committee saw one
sample Of that Bow all idea Of other
decoration ceased James divers bow
is poem; would you frame poem in
political banners and jacklantcrns
Thus reasoned the committee and thus
remained the bow in all its classical, stat.
ucsqne simplicity-a monument to the
committees faultless taste.
In order to see Mr.. divers bow at
Its best, occasion should be taken to
visit the headquarters at hours when
ladies e4ll-that is TO say, in the after.
noon hours. 1t would be unreasonable
70 expect Mr.. Oliver, in the hurry and
hustle of receiving mere men visitors, to
give all the finest touches Of his art upon
every bow he bestnws. There is, to be
sure, n masters touch in even his com
monest salutation, and nothing is more
beautiful, indeed, than to observe the
nice shades Of distiCtion he throws into
his greetings of all corners, from the
bluil, genial, hearty, man-tO-man grasp
q lhe hand which he bestows upon the
Colonel from the West and South, 10
the reserved dignity with which he dis
family salutes the possible mugwump
All this is study III itself aud shows
how marYellOusly and with what light
nlng-like precision Mr.. Oliver Judges
men and human nature. But it is only
when Indies call that this political Ghes.
terrified gives the real Oliver bow in ali
its poetic grace. There is not a trace of
anything studied about it, otherwise, Of
course, its artistic value would be less
cncd. The only deyicc-if device 1t
hn nu Had ~,
heightens the effect of his salutatory
gem IS that he dresses throughout iii
very light-colored clothing. This, in
measure, is rendered necessary, from an
artistic standpoint, by the dull red tint
OF the walls. The statucsque effect is,
of course, greatly increased by the light
clothing against background of that
nature.
II is only, of course, in the most gen.
| cral terms that an idea of the Oliver
bow can be conveyed. The ''bustness"
| Of the boW-to borrow term from the
stage-is, however, very simple. Mr..
divers desk is across the room and
directly opposite the entrance door,
Inc moment a lady appears, no matter
how preoCcupied he may be, Mr.. Oliver
springs to his feet. There he rests for
moment to gather his poise. Then by "A
sort of swift, gliding canter he crosses
! the room, until he stands in front of the
lady, when, with swift movement. he
throws his body forward, bending only
at the hips, until he forms, following
llle rear lines from Il side elevation, Ill
| exact rlght-angtQl triangle, with his
| hands and arms dropping in a limp,
! relaxed way straight down from his
| shoulders towards the lloOr. kemain.
| ing suspended, as ii were, in this way
| Tor moment, by a swift, sweeping
movement he RECEIVERS himself partially,
and then, with a graceful, ducking
movement Of the head, accompanied
by a winning waving of his right hand
| towards vacant chair, he moves
forward towards the inner reception
room. This is, of course, but the barest
rand coarsest outline. Nothing short Of
absolute observation will Conveyani idea
Of the beautiful, the ideal reality.
But even at this duh moment in tho
! political canvass there are things at the
two headquarters of other than nero
decorative attractions. Tho fact that
putting together the machinery az n
national headquarters aud then nuttipr
the machinery IN motion has been re-
duced b something like d line art. a.
counts 70 great extent for the apparent
lack OF noise and cattcr when the en-.
CINE works. The fact that both head
quarters together are paying the govern
ment something like $40 day FOR pn.t.
age stamps pretty Clearly shows that the
hours ~ the men who put in their time
trncfe are not exactly hours Of itleness,
tas-. "a