Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22
PEEPS INTO A PALACE.
An Evening at the Wanamaker Home
With the Vassar Aid Society.
FORTUNES IN THE FURNISHINGS,
Richest Of Everything Blended Into .
Tasteful Beauty Bower.
ITS VERY PRONOUNCED INDIVIDUALITY
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1sPArcH.l J

|
1shing society of young ladies in Washing
ton called 'The Vassar Aid Society,
whose aim is to provide scholarships for de-
serving though impecunious girls, and thus
help them to a college education. Of course
Plttsburg knows all about this kind of work,
and need not commend it. In Washing
ton the prime movers in this society are
themselves Vassar graduates and influential
girls in society life. One of their methods
of "ways and means is to give literary
evening in some beautiful home. Tickets to
these are sold personally by the members,
and are most select entertainments and quite
"the thing to attend.
One such evening was given recently at
| the home of Postmaster General Wana-
maker, 1871 1 street, N. W. The house is
square brown-stone, the same the Whit
| neys occupied during the Cleveland admin
lstration. AS one enters the front door,
opened by a white butler in livery, with
two others opposite him, you find yourself
in wide hall, in the center of the house,
extending about one-third of the way back.
On the right of the hallway is double
doorway leading into the library. The
sides of this are finished in high, dark
hard wood wainscoting Above this on a
background of tinted paper. hang quantities
OF beautiful photographs of celebrated
things and places These are framed in
narrow dark wood holdings.
Photograph of Mrs. Harrison.
The fireplace occupies one end of the
room The most conspicuous object on the
mantel above the fireplace. is large, full
length photograph, tastily framed, of Mrs
Benjamin Harrison, attired in magnificent
dress of white satin and peark, made decol-
lete and full train She equals in splendor
and poise of body any queen or princess in
existence. Substantial chairs and couches
are placed temptingly around large, hand
some writing table Occupying the center.
Opposite the library is wide opening,
hung with heavy silk portieres, leading
into the front parlor. This room is fur
nished with the most exquisite set of gilt
furniture, upholstered with brocaded silk of
beautiful design and richness. At the win
dows hang curtains Of lace, fine as cobwebs
in texture On the mantelpiece stands q
clock, the round face of which is fastened
against the strings of a gold harp. Around
the face is the pendulum in the form of
circle set with brilliants, which dance and
sparkle while moving. In two corners of
the room stand cabinets of rare design filled
with pieces of exquisite Dresden china and
bric-a-brac. Elegant pieces of Persian and
Turkish silk embroideries are gracefully
thrown over arms of chairs, onyx tables and
soft couches
The Wanamakers Have Good Taste.
The elegance is so different, so much more
rare than other elegant parlors 1t fairly
dazzles one. Back of this room, connected
by wide opening draped handsomely, is
another large room, furnished with a mas
sive set of furniture, upholstered in genuine
tapestry most rare and beautiful On each
side of the fireplace are bookcases filled with
handsome volumes and covered with bronze
busts of NEUROLOGICAL beings, Dresden vases,
and novel bits of fine bric-a-brac. The
same abundance of handsome embroideries
abounds. There is no wall at all between
this room and the dining room at the right
hand. The dining room is larger than both
front and back parlors, and is furnished in
dark rich reds, of elegant material. Two
long buffers tables occupy two sides of the
room. These are filled with silver and cut
glass. The fourth side of the room is
principally one of windows, dainty, small
square ones, filed with stained glass.
Charming window seats are under
these. The dining table covered
with dark, rich cloth, surrounded by six
1eathern chairs, has in the center a mass of
pink hyacinths growing in holder of fill
gree silver. The carpet is rich red velvet
to match the sides of the room, which are
covered with brocaded silk tapestry. Over
one of the buffers tables hangs an immense
painting of Rosa Bonheur's, 1.-THE Cattle"
1t is about the size and same style as 'rThe
Horse Fair" by the same artist, now in the
Museum, Central Park.
A Beautiful Art Effect.
Passing on from the back parlor through
silk hangings, you find yourself in charm
ing alcove, just broad enough to accommo-
date divan, which is covered loosely with
q costly piece of Persian embroidery. Back |
life-sized group Of statuary. Cupid and |
Psyche, in the attitude of Cupid finding |
Psyche asleep on a messy bank. A blaze of |
softened light falls on this, and to find |
where this light comes from, you emerge
into the brilliantly lighted ball room. The
walls are one blaze Of light and color, for
IN them are hung beautiful works of art In
he shape of oil paintings. One could spend
! week delightfully."- in this one room.
All the rooms have fine paintings on
heir walls, but this is the climax 1t is
he finest private picture gallery in Wash
ngton. Extending the whole length of the
luther end of the room is an immense fire.
place, with mantel and mirror in due pro-
portion. On the mantel stands a pair OF
Japanese vases, all of which
rive this part of the room an air of vast
less. On another side Of the room, in a
,iche of the wall, is raised platform with
window on each side. The whole is a
mass of silk hangings, cushioned window
eats and Persian cushions and tapestries
The railing around this and the steps lead
ng to it are completely covered by these
At the foot Of the railing
re palms in handsome vases. Here on this
aised space are the orchestra players or the
peakers, as it happens to be.
Mammoth Proportions of the Room.
In the center of the room, on raised pc
estal, stands most majestic palm. This
low large the room is. 1t will easily seat
rom 200 to 300 The ballroom was built on
o the house under Mrs. Whitnay's direc-
ion. Around the sides of the ballroom are
he quaint old fashioned pieces Of furniture
UGH as chairs, stools, couches and pillows
hat we're used in the French salons in the
ime of Louis XIV. They are very sugges-
i've Of the CAV, glittering French rooms of
hat time The inlaid hardwood floor is
overed with handsome rugs when dancing l.
not the programme of the evening.
On this particular evening the guests
Tere assembled in this room and listened to
ONE vocal selections and lecture by Miss
Velch, After this Mr.. and Mrs. Wana-
maker and two daughters mingled with the
uests in social conversation and an hour
lore was spent most pleasantly. Mr..
Vanamaker himself is not SO large as his
ictures represent him, being only medium
led He has a kind genial countenance, |