Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-05
THE VANDERBILT PALACE.
Novel and Striking Features OF That Fa-
nous House.
lCorrespondence Of the Dispatch)

(Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
NEW YORK, August 4.-Mr. Cornelius
Vanderblt's newly-completed residence Is
not less a palace because 1t happens TO
be built in republican America, nor Is
its owner less a prince because he has
no title
The house. without being a copy. yet
wildly recalls that portion Of the Chateau
OF Blois, built by Louis MI. which of all
the great chateaux and royal residences
is the most homelike and livable.
In the interior are certain striking Tea
lures that are sufficiently unique TO be
Of general interest.
Upon entering the house. one finds ones
self in n large square hall. whose walls
are OF Caen stone, laid III blocks. and
deliberately carved from the floor to the
gallery, upon which ,open, the rooms Of
extreme purity, suggesting the frost work
OF the ice-palaces Of fairy lore. but the
shadows cast by the blocks of stone break
the uniformity and relieves 1t OF coldness.
The floor is of polished Mexican onyx.
There Is a succession OF drawing-roorls
furnished after the style Of the LOUIS
XIV. XIV, and XVI. periods. The princl-
pal one is finished in white and god-thc
gliding being in what is called he
''ornolu effect''-lull in tone. ne though
time had dimmed what has been called
1.-THE impairment stare'of new gilt
The frieze Is mass Of golden palm
leaves. so exquisite in design that the
Imagination tricks one into the belief
that they are waving slightly in the
breeze. The goldleaf used in this room
alone cost 5000.
The most novel feature is n device To
screen the windows. which are necessarily
blank looking spaces when the room II
lighted in the evening. Mirrors are made
TO slide in front Of them. which are
then framed by the window draperies.
A SECRET CLOSET
The library is a very large room, fur
nished in dark. rich cOlors combining ex-
treme elegance with perfect homelike
comfort-a charm that few European
palaces have attained. Between the man.
tel and a deep bay-window there Is a
mysterious Enclosure that, opening, re-
veals Il small elevator for the convenience
of the lady of the house. which she can
manage by a touch. since IL Is worked
by electricity. Should she desire to be-
come suddenly invisible, no fairy device
or trap-dOor could be more effective.
The ballroom is probably the most
magnificent apartment in this country.
The ceiling Is frescOed with figures. but
the tones are so delicate-almost vague
that the fieshy element Is not obtruded.
as is the case with the hackneyed gods
and goddesses of the European chambers
of state. 1t seems as though one were
looking up at them through vast differ
ences-that they are "of the stuff that
dreams are made of"
The furniture consists merely Of the
scarlet velvet dvans. for the accommo-
dalton of non-dancers, so familiar in all
the bathrooms OF the Old World The
floor has an elasticity that is remarka-
bic
MR.. NANDERBILTS STUDY.
The sanctum of the master of the house
Is an imitation Of the room of Catherine
de Nedicis i'm the Chateau Of BlOis The
walls. Of a chocolate brown, are divided
| into small panels--ten inches high, by five
in width-every part of which is covered
with delicate designs In gilt. AS a faithful
copy OF the chamber Of the Queen Mother.
these panels are made to slide back and
, forth and cover secret recesses, which
are utilized TO hold valuable private
papers.
In the picture gallery the climax of ar
tificial illumination would seem TO have
. been reached. The room may be flooded
with the electric light. now familiar to
us all, but new adaptation. made in
Paris, OF the modern invention permits
one to change II 10 a veritable daylight
somewhat tempered as we have II in the
early afternoon of a winters day. since
the paintings are. perhaps. better seen
by the more brilliant light. both kinds are
supplied. and either may be commanded
by a touch. Aladdin's palace has found
It's realization.
MRS. BURTON KINGSLAND.