West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-02-13

dwarfs IN bronze that suggest The
Black Forest legends. guard the
entrance TO the hall Of the grand
salcH. and near them two vases of
j panese art, six feet high, Which
were exhibited at the Yienns ex-
pa itIon.
Mirrors in antique frames, rich
IN gilded carvings. are on the walls.
massive doors in bevelcd glass lead
10 pirlors, halls. libraries and writ.
ing rooms-electric lights are en-
bedded in the ceilings and walls.
and hang down i'm chandeliers; this
is the rotunda, the business office
0ccu pying the smallest corner. as il
twas of the smallest Importance in
u hall SO repletc With ornament and
ticket off cs; but they are there.
AID everything that pertains to the
more prosaic business ideas--but
they do not intiude npom he
drelmy existence that obtains from
the antique surroundings.
The grand p,rlor--a salon.
dream of inagnlficence indescribh
ble-hcre-herc where the pencil
fails to say what there Is, or To tell
abeutit In any way. every nook and
corner has some dainty bit to show
a woman's hand has been here, and
IN all the grand apartments shows
what might have been done by a
princess in her owl house-a prin-
cess right royal in her taste and
perception made this the salon of n
continent. 1t was her design that
this dIvan should have growing
flowers from its center, and between
the seat-arms, that roses and Gala
lilies should mingle their perfume
where beauty Tolls. Her idea that
this cabinet, three hundred years
old, should be brought from some
castle ia Seville or Salamanca to
ornament this salon. 1t is an ex-
qnlsite piece with inlald woods.
ebony, pearl and ivory, with quaint
little paintings under marvelously
clear glass in the carved p,nels.
The effect Of the bronzes, gildinps.
inlaid woods of the c,binets con
trast with the white and gold of
the surrounding decorations i'm
pleasing effect. The white aud gold
of the upholstery and the hangings
have their beauty ENLARGED by the
shaded electric lights in ground
glass, softly tinted, that are set IN
the arched dome above-the light
falls on these cabinets. tables in
LAID in u hundred woods and peall
and ivory, brica brac aud candle
laefa from every land-paintings
not from this shop or that, but from
old Masters pencils to salon ccle
britles of moderu times--one is
portrait of Marguerite de Valois.
and another OF the Due de Savoy.
On the mantels and cabinets are
some beautiful. exquisitely chased
ewers and drinking cups in silver.
and on one the busts of Elizabeth
Of England and Mary Queen of
Scots IN very rare. silver bronze.
III ere is marble s;atuary in ex-
qusite designs from the cnisels of
the best sculptors. The drawing.
room is a museum of beautiful
things. Here there is an inlaid
table which once graced the fuller
les, as did also three ebony and gold
cabinets. On the table is rare bit
OF sculpture. "The Sleeping Beau
ty,' lii Carrara marble. There are
a sofa and two chairs that were
owned by Marie Aptoinette. a set
Of four chairs may be seen that be-
longed TO Louis Philippe. Then
there are numerous French and
japanese cabinets, and above each
IS suspended a dazzling crystal
mirror. There are eight of the an
tique pattern that have been brought
from this or that province of Spain.
gathered in their travels by Mr. and
Mrs. Plant.
The carpet in scarlet with its
black lions rampant, made IN
France, is replica of one of Louis
XIV, and covers the entire floor Of
this splendid salon, on which are
chairs of gold aud silk plush of the
same era-as there are also tapcs-
tries Of incalculable values and
richness that have hung in palaces
before they came to this one. The
writing and reading rooms Just off
the rotunda are furnished in the
same manner-one which might be
called 1.-THE Louis XIV. room" has
all the decorations and appoint
ments OF the era Of that monarch
are replicls, and in some cases
originals.
In the grand chambers the style
IS not less regal; IN magnificence
these surp ,ss anything have ever
seen; no two Of them are alike.
They range in size from the grand
suite Of complete living apart ments
with parlors and libraries, to the
chamber ,or two, with silken hang
ings Of grOs-grain watered silk, ~
white and delicate rose color; cano-
pied dressing else as dainty as the
bride who may stand before u, to
attire her pretty self for tho halls