The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-03
ART IN HOUSE FURNISHING.
Foreign Enthusiastically Original
American Ones.

ShHlcTlCiGl oneS.
Vernis-NIartin tables, overlaid with
auii Etruscan gold and decorated with
pictures under colorlcss lacquer; a mag
nificent bedroom suit of mahogany, the
bureau near six feet wide. surmounted
ny Il French plate mirror of huge dimen-
sions. the wash stand almost as gene
rousiy proportioned, is Tor the tem pieces
Sioo IT the wardrobe, of great size
queer shape. with it's superb mirror
higher than ones head, and with utter
disregard OF economy, IiClcu entirely
with curly birch, Is wanted, that is
$3.50 more
Spidery chairs. no two alike, arc
near. These, whose slender limbs be-
speak the thoroughbred, bring to mind
that period when Marie Anto.uettc
MIXED cows and Louis the XIV. lock-
smith and king. saw not yet the shadow
,oL thei gullotinc. -. Then the wreaths
the gilt Of the Napoleonc period are
nearby these, are seen in the mantel
mirrors. richly framed with gold. The
empire is near, the Corsican is crowned
Ladies desks OF that period, curly
birch mahogany, oak and birds eye
maple. abound. Smyrna rugs suggest
ing the "unspeakabie Turk, and those
Royal French Wilton ones, the like OF
which carpet palaces, are in the next
room. the walls of which on both sides
are lined to the ceiling with rolls of
carpeting, while in the air the salty
scent OF the almCcd-eycd Japs product.
the mattings, and that one unmistaka-
bly, modern and American oil cloth are
'distinctlS, pGrccptihlc These come
from the rear, where n whole store is
liied with them. In the next store
everything Is distinctly American
fifteen or twenty styles OF modern desks
roll top and plain, for business men:
iifteen styles of plate glass front china
closets. exquisite photographers, beauti-
fully framed pictures, and two-a lion
and q tiger-of heroic size, which seem
10 be nastelle or crayon, must be COW
eted by those whose dininE-room walls
are bare; book cases, folding beds,
music racks, wardrobes, combination
book cases. with desks; luxurious Office
chairs. mahogany and oak sidebClrds.
teak rood hall chairs, with morocco
seats; brass and cnamelcd iron beds.
All these are in the fourth store on
the first floor and so generous is the
stock that there is Il choice Of five to
twenty styles. On this floor, also, are
some single picces-covcrcd divans and
chairs stuffed to replction, covered with
magnificent al-sillS brocade-in such
exquisite tints as surround Venus when
she, enthroned III Shell, rises from the
sea. 1t Is n profaratIon for a man to
touch one of these pieces. and few will
UP stairs baby carriages, parlor suits,
bedroom suits, dining tables, so beau
tifuily polished as to need no cloth, are,
ana curtain sha des and drapericS, for
above each of the four stores are three
iioors and all are packed Seventeen
thousand feet Of floor space is occupied
ana 1t is a long walk over these, and
the big couchcs are an oasis
Courage, ample means and the pos
session of those qualities which enable
some 10 attract large personal follow
ing and make none fear 10 ask indul-
Eence, If unfortunate, nave enabled John
Wills 10 build one OF the really great
stores of The South. There are many
good furniture and carpet stores i'm
Norfolk and the owners are all friends
oil John Willis. who is Il builder of hi,
own not a tearer down of other mems
enterprises. Some one has TO be the
great store and Willis is that y fea-
ture OF the store is that sight-secrs are
always welcome, and next week hun
dredS VIII go to see the show there,
Mr.. Willis has been from the start a
large advertiser in The Virginian Has
no copyright cCl It's columns, however.
only knows the worth of a wide cir
cuation.