The record-union., 1893-01-23


Senator Sherman, alter living in Wash
1ngton in public life for thirty-five years,
has just built a house for himself to en-
body his own ideas of comfort in living.
The house is on X street, looking on
Franklin Square. It is in a block and the
only opportunity for architectural effect
Is in the front wall. The architect seems
to have determined to make the most of
this limited field, and has covered over
the front with numerous balconies, por-
ticos, different-formed arches, and has
left no available surface of the white In
diana limestone, of which the house is
built, that is not covered over with carved
designs and has in every way wrought
out the front with all that can conduce to
richness and elaborateness of effect. The
entrance TO the house is up the handsome
stone steps to the middle of the front
wall. The front door leads directly into
the front hall, which is IL feet wide,
opening up in the rear to give place for
the handsome staircase on the right side.
This staircase, OF antique oak, is feature
of the house.
A half flight leads from the hall to side
wall, where there is landing. Turning
at right angle to the left, a staircase
leads up from the second story, the last
steps making another turn at right
angle into the upper hall. Under the
upper half of the stairs is placed hand
derneath the stairs, which is raised one
step from the hall, and in which are
placed carved wooden settees. The front
room to the right of the hall is the library,
and is finished in red mahogany, the
bookcases around the walls being of this
wood. On the other side of the hall is the
drawing room, finished in eswhite ma
hogany. Back of this is the music-room,
with the same wood as finish.
Back of these rooms on this floor is the
dlning-room, with court on each side
to give plenty of light. This is the most
attractive room III the house, the wood
work being notable. The beams in the
ceiling form panels filled with designs in
plastic. The right side of the room con-
tains stationary sldeboard, the details
of which extend to the ceiling, supported
by carved columns on each side. A
stained glass window is given place in
the detail over the sideboard. The whole
rear wall of this room is broken back to
an alcove like bay window by two
angels in the wall. The middle portion
of the wall contains the open fireplace,
and those on each side windows. on each
side of the fireplace is built bench or
settle, the two being placed so as to face
each other. From the outer end of each
a carved wooden column extends to the
ceiling. The backs of the settles have
carved railing. This feature has an effect
upon the whole apartment, adding much
to its beatty.
There is also on this floor a smaller
breaktast-room, finished brightly in white
birdseye marble. Over the dining-room,
and entered just from the head of the
stairs, is the Senator's Office, where his
active work and study at home will be
done. The house is almost completed,
though it remains to be furnished.
A great deal OF interest attaches to the
n Sanotpr Calvin Prin Nf
the historic Corcoran mansion. 1t was
once the residence of Daniel Webster,
who parted with it to w. w. Corcoran,
the millionaire. Continuously with the
walls of the house runs high brick wall
about the grounds, shutting them wholly
from view. This brick wall at one time
inclosed the whole block. Much of the
grounds still remain to the house, but the
new United Service Club, the house of
Colonel John Hay and that of Henry c.
Adams, and one or two others, have been
built upon the square. Preparations have
been going on for many months for the
occupancy of the house by Senator Brice.
The steps have been taken from the old
entrance door on II street and the door
partly walled up so as to form window,
in which is placed stained-glass design.
The vestibule within has been converted
into tea room, hung with rich brocade.
There is nothing on the outside to take
the place of the old entrance. The only
access to the house is from the grounds.
The entrance TO the grounds is by an
archway through and under the house.
Amusing tales are told of the perplexity
of mail carriers and others in finding a
place for delivery to the house. IL is said
that 900 have been spent i'll the altera-
alton and returnishing OF the house. The
hall is hung with rich velvet brocade in a
deep red, so as to contrast effectively with
the snowwhite staircase, and directly
opposite the front door hangs portrait
of w. w. Corcoran.
Blue and silver brocade cover the walls
of the ballroom, the only furniture being
two superb Empire divans, fanked by
candelabra in solid bronze, which were
presented by Marshal Ney to the EN-
press Josephine. All the other rooms in
the house are equally costly and beautiful
in their different styles. The dining-room
is dark and has a cathedraI-like aspect
from its arched windows and heavy cary
ings. A magnificent sideboard, which
dates from the Corcoran time, is retained,
and the furniture has been made, as far as
possible, 10 correspond with it. Miss
Helen Brice's boudoir is in gold and
white, but not liking her bedroom she
had it torn to pieces, and it is to be done
over again. There are but few pictures,
as the artists who were consulted said that
the rich brocades that cover the walls
would not be a good background for
them, but all that the upholsterer's and
decorators skill can produce has been ex-
pended upon this historic mansion.
Another new house just completed and
about to opened is that of Lieutenant-
Commander Glover, whose wife is a
daughter of ex-senator Miller of Califor-
MIA. This is on New Hampshire avenue.
Eighteenth and q streets, just across the
street from the house the architect r.
Frank Schneider (also the designer of
Senator Sherman's house,, had built for
himself. This proximity has begotten a
good degree of rivalry between the archi-
tect as house owner and the architect as
a house builder for Mr.. Clover. The
Clover house is of white Indiana lime
stone. One of the curious features of the
house is the receptlon-room, done in ORR
entail style in emulation of an oriental
room in Mr.. Schneider's house. 1t is
wainscoted and paneled with teck wood.
carved in curious and fantastic designs.
The carving was all done in India by In
dian workmen.
The supports to the mantel shelf are a
couple of old Hindoo idols procured in
the East Indies. With the street on
three sides of him Mr.. Glover has been
able to have an entrance to his hall from
one street, and magnificent stained
glass window by Tiffany, looking from
tHe iaHuiuk Vi tne staircase upon another.
The angle OF the staircase and landing is
in the corner of the hall. The parlor of
this mousse is decorated in white and gold
in Louis XVI. style. The dininp-roonl
is paneled and finished with old English
oak in the Italian renaissance style.
The announcement has been published
that Senator Proctor of Vermont will
soon begin the construction of house on
the corner of Vermont avenue and K
street, looking upon Mcpherson Square.
The Senator's fortune is largely invested