The morning call., 1894-10-28
A PALATIAL HOME.
Paris Residence of the
Russian ambassador.
IS INTERIOR DECORATIONS.
Some Events of Historical Interest
Connected With the
Building.

PARIS, Oct. s. 1S94.-The residence of
the Russian Enbassador and the Baroness
de Mohrenheim is a veritable palace 1t
is one of those sumptuous dwellings built
in the Faubourg st. Germain by the grand
seigneurs of the last century. The rooms
are decorated in the style SO much IN vogue
during the regency One secs neither the
cold sp!endor of Louis XIV nor the grace
of Louis XIV. The high ceilings are cor
Eiced with gilded wood. and salon sue
ceeds salon as we see the sparkle of cryS-
tai chandeliers and the sheen of mirrors
framed in gold. The entire second story
is devoted to reception-roomS. A monu-
mental staircase with heavy iron balus-
trade is hung with ancient Gobelins tapes
tries. A vestibule leads to three large
drawing-rooms separated by high arches,
and these salons serve as antechambers to
the thrODe-roOm. In this room there is not
a chair-not q table-but on platform the
throne is turned TO the wall, only to take
its normal position when the Gar himself
hcnors the embassy with his presence.
The state dining-rOom has four win-
dOws, overlooking court aud garden. The
cornice is of Nile green wood, with relief
in gold, and the hanglnes of cherry-co
| ored satin. 1t is a beautiful slght, when
under the light of three crystal chande-
| lers, sixty guests are seated at table
| decorated with the admirable suTt0ut OF
gilded bronze, where nymphS and fawns
| disport themselves at the foot of high cor
| bellies, filled with rare fruits and flowers.
| The third story is reserved for the home OF
| the ambassador and his family, while the
ground floor is divided into ordinary
salons, and serves for private receptions.
| An elevator adds much to the comfort or
! this immense residence.
Every Wednesday the Baroness de
| Mohrenheim receives her friends, either in
her boudor or in the green salon OF the
| ground door.
The ambassador spends much of his
| time in bis study, which, with the library,
occupies the right wing of the second story
| above the offices of the Chancelerie. The
| study is lighted by three immense win
| dows, and is ornamented with portraits OF
the imperial family. Beneath large brass
| cross is predieu, and also on the
boudor table, where the Embassadress
writes her letters. is a chiseled crystal
crucifix. The MOhrenheims are fervent
| Catholics, but like the Greeks, they have
a reverence for sacred images.
Nearly every morning the En- bassadOr
may be found in his study, but always at
O'Clock is he at his writing table.
Before luncheon each day the family
| unites in the SmOkiDg-ro0m, aud here the
butler announces that son excellence est
servie. The private dining-rOom is next
| the SMOKING rOOU. dnQ aIIeT luDc0eOn
| coffee is served in this fumoir. The furDi-
ture of the smoking-r0om is very simple.
1t is filled with bibelots and family souv-
| enirs. On a console is a bronze sta,uette
of the Baron de Mohrenheim, and on the
wall portrait of the General Baron de
Korff, father of the Eubas sadress.
When the family Of Louis XVI was i'm
prisoned in the Tulleries Marie Antoinette
grieved because the Dauphn could not
have his daily promenade. But friends
arranged that each Sunday the young
Prince should be taken 10 the garden of
the Russian embassy. then called Hotel
des Gar, and there play with a child of
his own age. And at the foot of a very
old Tree in front OF the house was buried
Mouff1on. the little dog OF the Dauphin,
the nseparable companion of the Prince.
The Baroness de MOhrenheim has two
daughters. one married to Count B0utour-
line, attache of he Russian EN- bassy in
Paris; the other is the wife of Viscount
de Sese of Paris.
Viscount de Seze is lieutenant of infan-
try and desr endant of a house famous in
France and Spain. He co1nts among his