Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-10-31

through great stained glass dome forty
feet above the floor. The immense height OF
the ceiling gives the apartment dignity
which is lacking in the rooms of ether fine
New York houses.
A WONDERFUL BALL ROOM.
Here, as in the grand hall, the command
ing genius and exquisite taste Of Carl Bitter
has been called upon in the modelling of
figure pieces. Perhaps the most notable
pieces of figure work which adorne this
apartment are eight caryatides Of heroic size
modelled direct from Sandow, the strong
man. These figures stand upon the cornice
twenty feet from the floor, and support the
potundo. No two hgures are alike, but all
are in STOPPING posture. as if actually bear.
ing a great weight. Sandow's massive fig
ure, with its swelling muscles and tendons,
has lent itself admirably TO the purpose,
and there is no doubt that these caryatides
will long be considered among the most
striking decorative figures in the world,
But these are not the only figure decora.
tons in the gallery by any means. Upon
the western wall and between the entrances
there are two heroic figures. half human
half brute, taken from some old time meth
olgv. Higher up, between the Sandow fig
ures in the ''coye" which supports the ro-
tunda. male and semalc, half length and full
length figures, some human and some of
fauns, fland ovoid panels. Over each panel
is head, and each is inscribed with some
name famous in the history of art. These
in their order, beginning at the southwest
corner of the gallery, viz: Andrea del Sar
to, Rembrandt, Michael Angelo, A. Correg
go, Murillo Nelasquez, Leonardo da Vicci,
Paulo Veronese and Rafaelle Sanzo.
Upon the eastern wall there are other
beautiful figures near the top, and below
them round panel for painting, which is
fanked by graceful figures of heroic size
At might the illumination will be furnished
by hundreds OF electric light bulbs arranged
around the upper cornice of the s'cove,"
just under the rotunda.
WHAT IT COST.
Some idea of the amount of interior carv-
ing can be gained from the fact that forty
carvers, two hundred cutters, one hundred
polshers and seventy-hve helpers were en-
ployed in the house continually tor ten
months, The house was begun in the early
part of 1893 and has taken more thad two
years and a half to build. 1t has given en-
ployment on an average to three hundred
men since it was begun. In wages alone
$500, 900 have been spent. Counting the
cost of materials and the cost of the land, the
house without the Furnishings represents en-
outlay of 81, 500, 900, and when It is hlled
with the multitude of art treasures the whole
will sum up close to $1,000, 700. This may
seem an exaggeration, but when it is remem-
bered that Single gold dinner service be-
longing to Mrs. William Astor cost $6o, 900,
and Gobelin tapestry $4,000, it can tie
seen that items of this kind soon mount into
enormous figures.
Mrs. William As,or's picture gallery is
valued at $3oo, 600, and is probably worth
much more than when it was formed. II
the Jewels of the two ladies were to be in
cluded three millions would not cover it all
BY any means. Four millions would be
much nearer the correct sum.
THE LIVING ROOMS.
In the south house, that of John Jacob
Aston, the upper rooms. the living rooms,
are smaller than in Mrs. Astor's house, for
the reason that more people must be accom-
modated. The library is about the same
sire q the elder Mrs. Astor's, but the sitna-
ton Of the bedrooms i pleasanter, for they
are on the corner Of Fifty sixth street.
First, is Mr.. Astor's bedroom, which has
1 small dressing-room of. Il Is smaller than
Mrs. Astor's, and shows that he has given
the best Of It to his wife. for her bedroom
occupies the exact corner Of the hosse, and
is one third larger than his.
Next to Mr.. Astos's bedroom, and front
ing On Sixty eth street, i one Of the pref
tisst apartments in the house Mn. Astor's