The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-12
VANDERBILT PALACE.
The Most Novel and Striking Features
of That Famous House.
From the st. Louis Repnbffc.

From the ST Louis Republic
New York, Aug. 1.-Mr. Cornelius Van
derbilt's newly completed residence is not
less palace because it happens to be
built in republican America, nor is its
owner less a prince because he has no
title
The house, without being copy, yet
wildly recalls that portion of the chateau
OF Blois, built by Louis XII, which of all
the great chateaus and royal residences is
the most homelike and livable.
In the interior are certain striking fea.
lures that are sufficiently unique to be of
general interest.
Upon entering the house one finds one
self il large square hall, whose walls
are Of Caen stone, laid in blocks, and
eIabOratelY carved from the floor in the
gallery, upon which opens the rooms of
the second story. The effect is one of ex-
treme purity, suggesting the frost work
OF the ice npalaces of fairy lore but the
shadows cast blythe blocks of stone break
the uniformity and relieve it of GOODNESS
The floor is Of polished Mexican onyx
There is succession of drawing rooms
furnished after the style of the Louis
XIV, XIV and XVI periods. The prin-
cipal one is finished in white and gold
the gliding being in what is called the
'ormoN ehect'-dull in tone, as though
time had dimmed what has been called
1.-THE impertinent 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 gold leaf used in this room alone cost
IS, 900
The most novel feature is device to
screen the windows, which are neces-
sarily blank-looking spaces when the
is liuhtad in tho
are made TO slide in front of them, which
are then framed by the window draperies
SECRET CLOSET.
The library is very large room, fur
nished in dark. rich colors, com bining ex-
| IRENE elegance with perfect homelike
| comfort-a charm that few European
palaces have attained Between the man
tel and deep bay window there is a mys-
ferrous Enclosure that, opening, reveals a
| small elevator for the convenience of the
lady of the house, which she can manage
by touch, since it is worked by electric
ity. Should she desire to become sud
denly invisible, no fairy device or trap
door could be more effective.
A SUPERB SALON
The ballroom is probably the most mag
nitcent apartment in the country The
ceiling IS frescoed with figures, but the
tones are so delicate-almost vague-that
the heshly element is not Obtruded, as is
the case with the hackneyed gods and
goddesses of the European chamhe of
state. 1t seems as though one were look
ing up at them through vast distances
That they are "of the stuff that dreams
are made Of"
The furniture consists merely of the
scarlet velvet divans' for the accommo-
/ datlon OF non-dancers, so familiar in all
bathrooms of the old world The floor
has an elasticity that is remarkable.
MR.. yANDERBILT's STUDY.
The sauctum of the master of the house
IS an Imitation of the room of Catherine
de Medicis, IN the Chateau of Blcis The
walls, of chocolate brown, are divided
into small panels ten inches high by five
in width-eyery part of which is covered
with delicate designs In gilt As a faith
full 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 pri-
waite papers.
In the picture gallery the climax OF
artificial 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 modern invention, permits one to
change IL to a veritable daylight. some
what tempered, AS we have IL in the early
afternoon Of winters day. Since the
paintings are, perhaps, better seen by the
more brilliant light both kinds are sun
piled, and either may be commanded by a
touch. Aladdin's palace has found its
realization.