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

N-N/I .-S- house, which Senator
Z ! !. !
SNS EfaMEN Calvin s. Brice Of Ohio
MR-<@G. has chosen as his resi-
NNSSG5HHJ1r dence for the next five
JHIE EMl.lA years. The extensive
UkI& SxFHNI scheme of improve
n M1llT ments which has been
NM ~ in progress since the
house was leased last
spring has not materially changed its outward
appearance.
The casual observer secs it now as it looked
after Mr.. Corcoran's purchase in 1912, when
Mr.. James Renwick, the architect Of the
Smithsonian Institution and Of st. Patrick 8
| Cathedral in New York, planned the altera-
tons and additions, which, when completed.
made the house for SO many years the largest
and most imposing private residence in Wash
ington.
HISTORIC MANSION.
The house is one of the list, mono too long
now, of Washington homes full of historical
memories. Unlike most OF the rest these same
memories are records of pleasant days and
doings. 1t has sheltered happy households.
The most distinguished men and women OF the
| age have been entertained there. and some OF
the notable inequalities of the early part of the
l last half century have taken place under it's
| originally for Mr.. Swan, who was district at
torney under President John Quincy Adams.
After that an English minister lived there. and
| following him Daniel Webster purchased the
property and made it his home. At that period
| the house was small. compared with what is
considered a suitable establishment for a states
! man Nowadays.
MR.. coRcoRAN's HosPITALIrIEs.
When Mr.. Corcoran bought the house from
Mr.. Webster he added the two wings and the l.
addition and made it the commodious house it
is today. Mr.. Corcoran entertained very law
ishly and his name and house were known all
over the world. While he was travelling abroad
from 1862 till 1866 he rented the house to the
| then French minister, Marquis de Montholon,
After Mr.. Corcoran's return the house had no
| other occupant than himself and family until
his death. His grandchildren have made but
little use Of it as residence excepting at odd
periods since, and have at any time been will
ing to lease the property.
THE NEW OCCUPANT AND HIS PLANS.
1t is understood that Senator Brices long
lease and the extensive improvements that he
has placed on the house and grounds gives him
the option of a final purchase if he should SO
decide. But be that as it may, he has undoubt-
edly provided a magnificent residence for the
coming half decade. and if he decides to re-
main any longer householder all the better
for Wa hington.
THE EXTERIOR.
The only change in the front of the house,
excepting of course the prettily draped win
dows and other unmi5takable suggestions of
the renovated interior, is doing away with the
familiar stone porch and making the main en-
trance under the old porte cochere. This turns
the old doorway into a broad window.
On the stone pedestal of the lamps at the
poste cochere entrance "Corcoran house" APP
pears in gilt lettering. The venerated owner
will not be forgotten by this generation at least.
On each side of the drive is a narrow pathway
and visitors in carriages on foot will all en-
ter the house by the same means The porch
, across this end is all Enclosed in glass, and
from it is a fine view of the court yard and car
| risge house.
As person enters this commodious hallway
the portrait Of Mr.. Corcoran, with bas reliefs Of
his daughter. Mrs. Eustis are the most prom
inent objects hanging in against an arch in the
ceiling. The long French windows in the din
ing room, drawing room and hall open on this
corridor and almost at any point there is a
| splendid vista Of the entire floor. In this cor
ridor, and in fact, throughout the whole house.
the idea OF the identifying has Teen
TO LIGHTEN AND BRIGHTEN
what was before SO dark and dull. The wood
work Of the corridor is in a deep ivory tint.
which, with the bright scarlet of the carpets
and wall hangings. restores the vivid contrasts
that were always the feature in the decoration
of houses built in the same period as the man.
sion.
COLLECTION OF BRIC-A-BRAC AND ANTIQUITIES
Many of the pictures, the b-onzes and statu-
AIRY, and some of the fine bric-a-brac that we're
familiar to visitors in this house twenty five
years ago are now prominent again in its deco
ration. The cellars and garrets were ransacked
for them and everything found. unique and
beautiful, has been utilized. In this collection
| OF antiques there were many fine old bronze and
marble clocks. portraits. candelabras, table and
mantel ornaments, old-time lamps and such
things that were in many cases presents made
| to Mr.. Corcoran by distinguished persons. Old
fashioned cabinets and settles, old brocaded
hangings and other pieces of furnishing have
all been brought into use. Many of those things
| were in Mr.. Corcorans villa at Cannes when he
lived abroad. 1t WAS really the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Eustis. and everything in it was
| always associated with her in her fathers mind
afterward.
OF GENUINE RELICS
| there are quite number. On the wall near
| Mr.. Brice's office are portraits Of Daniel Web
| ster with his autograph and date. Washington
| Irving, Humboldt, &c. In other places are q
concave mirror once owned by Thomas Jeffer-
son, two fine gilt candelabras-a gift to the
Empress Josephine and bought by Mr.. Cor
cOran-anO an arm CHAIR once IN the possession
| of George Washington.
| DANIEL wEBsrER's SITTING ROOM.
| The first room the majority of visitors will
enter from the corridor is the second drawing
room, called the red parlor. II was Daniel
Webster's sitting room once. and a marble bust
| Of tho statesman il on the cabinet. When
| lighted up tine room is very effective. There
| ore panels on the walls OF rich brocaded stuffs
| The front drawing room il all in yellow. The
| furniture is covered with canary colored satin
and MORE striped brocade. The whole effect is
as soft and as delicate the first ray of the
morning sun. The wood work has the rich
| ivory finish, with just little gilt introduced
here and there. The electric light comes from
| q bunch Of white roses in the center of the
ceiling. One corner OF tire room is devoted to
miniatures. A gilt frame filled with them
bangs against the yellow satin brocaded panel,
and under it is a table with glass top, where
more odd and beautiful things are displayed.
| TEA ROOM.
| Doing away with the old entrance has made
il possible to utilize the hallway as o tea room.
The door space is filled with stained glass
window, the fieur de lis pattern Of which is re-
| peated in the banners Of tapestry that cover
/ the walls Of this cozy corner. There is a pretty
7 n..st- L ~