Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-17

House in New York city. Some pretty mirrors
and some prettier pink plush chairs are here to
remind Senator aud Mrs. Brics Of the former
beauties Of their box in that home OF song.
the LIBRARY,
which has a bay-window extension on II street.
adjoins the yellow parlor. The wood work is
very heavily carved. There has been 20
special change made in the room, save to cover
the walls with tapestry Of q duh blue tint
and q silver pattern. The restoration Of old
brass lamps as gas fixtures on either side OF the
carved manfelpiece completes. the rather
ecclesiastical style or architecthfef for which
both this and, the dining room were always
famous. Mr. Brice has rare collection OF
books with which TO fll the cases lining the
room on all sides. 't-- ~
THE DINING ROOM
is spacious. The carved wood work has been
painted to resemble old ivory. The walls are
covered with leather in a blending Of rich
colors, seen at their best when the room lie
brightly lighted. The arched effect in the side
walls ID brought out better than ever. It has
always been much admired.
TO SENATOR BRIcEs OFFICE.
The west side of the mansion is also inclosed
with porticoes. The gates in the stone wall on
Connecticut avenue open on pathway leading
to the bro ad veranda steps. Visitors to SEN
ator Brice's Office can reach it without going
through any other part Of the house. The
Office is at the end of the back building 1t
happens to be the room where Mr.. Corcoran
spent the closing days of his life and where he
died bay window gives a fine view of tho
grounds. 1t is handsomely fitted up and few
Senators have more comfortable working
office. t'
and the walls of the staircase hung with GRIM
son brocade all tho way up. The hand rail and
banisters are pure white. Fine mirrors nearly
cover the walls at each landing.
THE UPPER FLOORS.
The front chambers on the second floor are
occupied by the Senator and his wife. Mrs.
Brics has boudoir adjoining hung in rose pink
silk. The furniture is covered with rose-col-
ored satin, and nothing prettier could be ever
dreamed about.
Back of these rooms are clothes and dress
closets, where a hundred gowns could be hung
and not one of them be in danger of getting
crushed. Guest chambers and the rooms for
the young sons of the house are in the back
wing.
The third floor is devoted to the young ladies,
Miss Helen and Miss Katie Brice. One has
chosen white as the color for her room. The
other room is almost Ms dainty and is in pale
blue The white room has its walls covered
with the futed folds of dotted white muslin
All the furniture is white, the dreperies white.
and even the carpet is white, too. In the blue
room the color scheme is carried out with the
same fidelity. The ceiling is like blue sky
with few clouds here and there.
Ono room. very large one between these
two, is the joint boudoir of the young ladies'
1t is all yellow and is about as dainty and at
the same time as cozy snuggerv rs can be i'm
agined. There is an upright piano and q small
library of weli-chosen books The furniture is
upholstered in pale yellow silks and satins and
the thick, velYety carpet is only shade deeper
i'll tint
guest chamber near by for a young lady is
papered and the pattern is just the same as
that in the cretonne with which the furniture
is covered. The furniture is old carved ma
hogany and the room is thoroughly English"
The broad landing upon which all these four
rooms open is furnished cozlly also and really
makes another room.
Five comfortable chambers on the top floor
are Tor the women servants. The housekeep-
er's room is in the wing. The men servants
have suite Of rooms over the porte cochere
near the pantries. and in fact all of them are as
comfortably housed as many of the guests in
the hotels in the neighborhood.
THE BASEMENT FLOOR
is well worth inspection. 1t is just as neat as q
pin. A good many thousand dollars have been
spent in it in the introduction of the newest
plumbing, furnaces and laundry facilities The
kitchen is nearly as big as the east room in the
mand The store rooms, the pantries. the veg
etabe cellars. the game house and the wine eel
lar are all Interesting features of the life be-
low stairs" In the wing is the servants hall.
The plumbing all over the house is entirely
new. Every piece of furniture has been reup-
hostered and repaired in some way The house
Is lighted by both gas and electric lights.
WELL ADAPTED FOR ENTERTAINING.
For entertaining the house is scarcely unsur-
in, foil 10 he
Of large company. The large court ward
gives ample space for several carriages to turn
around to drive out again under the porte
cochere. When the number is too large for
that better exit can be obtained by driving
out on 10th street through the private alley
way.
THE GARDENS
have always been greatly admired, and many a
person who has never seen behind the tall brick
walls has tried to imagine exactly what they
did look like. Mr.. Downing the landscape
gardener who laid out Lafayette Square
and the Smithsonian grounds was employed by
Mr.. Corcoran to design his garden. While the
latter lived the garden was his delight. 1t is
only within the last ten years that any part of
the grounds sold. They used to cover
nearly the entire square. The l street front has
now three houses on it, the United Service
Club being the largest and last built. There is
plenty garden left yet, however, to keep up the
thoroughly English appearance Of the house and
grounds, and to add very materially to the
enjoyment of the occupants of the mansion.
Since last spring the gardens have been entirely
restored to their old-time beauty and next
spring will be perfection.
The carriage house and stable are on the same
old-fashioned and comfortable order as the rest
OF the appointments.
Senator and Mrs. Brice have no intention Of
breaking up their New York home. which is
endeared to them by SO many happy associa-
tions and for that reason it is not likely they
will bring on many of their pictures or books
here. They have also a home in Lima, Ohio.
and a summer residence at Newport.
Tale of a Butt.
I,I.r