The record-union., 1893-01-23
TIE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
One of the Beautiful Cities of the
World.
Sherman's Home-Calvin Brice's His
toric Householder Mansion
Warde's Residence.

Washington is the most beautiful city
in this country. This assertion need not
hurt any local pride. 1t should rather be
grateful to wholesome national pride in
the Nations capital. 1t is one of the
most beautiful cities in the world. Many
competent judges say SO. So far as
brightness and airiness and the plan of
the laying out are concerned Washington
stands high up toward perfection in the
list of the worlds cities. The lettered
streets and the numbered streets run at
right angles, but the city is intersected
in all directions by the broad avenues.
Where two avenues happen to intersect
at the crossing of a numbered and let
tered street the result is sweeping vista
away in every direction. There is neces-
sarily large open space at such mani
fold intersection, and these spaces are
being filled with the bronze statues of
those the Nation delights to honor. In
many streets and avenues the Govern
ment has made reservation which re-
quires residences to be set back given
number of feet from the sidewalk. This,
together with the many parks, greatly
enhances the effect of roominess. The
distant glimpses OF the imposing Govern
ment buildings give a stately effect to the
wide perspective. The smooth, immacu-
lately clean asphalt pavements are dotted
over with fine turnouts and with swiftly
flying bicycles.
Probably the most beautiful housei in the
city Is that of benjamin ii. Warde. AL
though placed in the midst of a block of
houses it is nevertheless made an effective
and beautiful work in the exterior. The
material is a light, cream-colored stone.
The foot entrance is into the wing, which
IS thrown forward TO a line with the
heavy wall which incloses the court. The
vestibule is only little above the ground
level. From the vestibule steps lead up
through an arch into the hall, room
probably twenty feet wide and over thirty
feet long. Across the hall from the en-
trance is a double arch, of semi-circular
curve, and and supported by slender,
graceful pillars, the bases, the capitals,
and the arches all beautifully carved.
The material of these arches is a reddish
Scotch stone. They lead one to the stair
way and one to the alcove under the
stairway.
The stairs are of antique work, with
light and closely placed ratings, the
woodwork being carved. Leading up to
broad landing toward the back of the
house the stairway divides, q part
doubling upon itself to lead back over
the hall, and another leading back fur
ther into the second story. The stairway
and arches were viewed with great satis-
faction by the artist himself. The great
fireplace at the end of the hall is of the
same Scotch stone, and also elaborately
carved, while the wainscoting is of
antique oak. The diningroom is to the
right of the hall, the windows looking out
upon the little inclosed court to the south
and on X street beyond. Back of
the dining-room, and communicating
through a double arch and two case
ments, is a picture cabinet. The dining
room and cabinet are finished in pol
ished mahogany, dark and beautifully
rich in color.
To the left of the entrance, and in the
same wall, is the stationary sideboard.
The wainscoting is paneled and carved,
as is all the woodwork in this impressive
room. The mahogany beams in the cell
ing are feature. In the side opposite
the entrance is the fireplace, framed in
broad, simple slabs OF an Egyptian mar
BILE, veined with ruddy color, which was
cut from ancient pillars and columns
quarrled many centuries ago. Over the
marble is the mahogany mantel-shelf.
From either side the fireplace rises a
tiuted plaster of mahogany, upon whose
capitals rests the border of the frieze.
which extends the whole width of the
room, and is exquisitely carved with a
scroll-like design.
The space over the mantel is worked
out in panels and carving. Closets with
glass fronts are on each side of the man
telpiece. The end of the room is thus en-
tirely given up to this detail of polished
mahogany and Egyptian marble. The
arches and easements in the picture cab
met are of the same polished marble. the
columns of the arches and the carving be-
ing extremely dainty in effect in contrast
with the broad slabs of stone in the case
ments. The floor is of hardwood inlaid
in designs. The walls are covered with a
stamped material of dark color.
Passing back through the hall to the
other end an arch leads to the left and
front OF the house into the library, This
is finished in white mahogany. all the
wainscoting, door and window frames
and bookcases being of this wood, as we'll
as the railing of few steps up to little
Sconce over the vestibule, which looks
down upon the library. Across the ball
Is the parlor, the walls covered with pale
blue silk. The fireplace in these two
rooms are of the Egyptian marble. The
wood carving of the whole house is ex-
quisite and wonderfully varied. The
dining-room is one which once seen
fingers always as a pleasure in the mem
Ory.
There are a number of new houses
approaching completion or contemplated,
which will add much to the domestic
architecture of the city. The largest and
mos. elaborate of these in which most
interest is felt is that of L. Z. Letter, on
Dupont circle. There is no entrance on
the circle. and nothing but an outwardly
curved alcove in the wall extending up
two stories and topped by balcony to
relieve the inhospitable appearance of
this side of the house. The only entrance.
except the back door, is under the mas
sive porte cochere, with its stone col
xrn oh ic IN, Nntr
enue. The opposite side of the house is
on Nineteenth street. The house is built
of cream-colored terra Gotta bricks. fin
ished with gray stone, and is three stories
and basement in hight.
The style of the architecture is a some
what modified colonial. The entrance
under the porte cochere is in the middle
of that wall of the house, and leads into a
lofty vestibule on the ground level, The
broad stairway to the left leads down into
the basement, and to the right directly
up into the great hall. This floor and the
one above are evidently arranged
especially for the giving of receDtions
balls, and social entertainments on q
magnificent scale. The rooms are of
stately proportions and thrown together
by wide avenues of communication. The
great hall itself is a room about seventy
i've feet long and twenty-eight feet wide.
At the end to the right from the
entrance is the staircase, a broad flight
leading up from the middle line to a large
landing with a great window for stained
glass, then branching right and left and
leading back up to the second story, the
hall of which is almost as large as the one
below. The stairs lead in the same way
TO the top of the house. The stairway In
the great hall below is to be of marble.
In small room reached through a
door under the stairway is a vault and
large safe. this room being suitable for an