The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-17
r MARK HOME
AFTERNOON SCENES AT uINDER-
MERE ON A QUIET DAT

Their Signatures In the Visitors Book.
A call at windermere. the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. Mark A. Hanna. from the time the car
riage wheels leave tho beaten road OF tho Lake
avenue drive, four miles west Of Cleveland. and
you are whirled between the tall stone columns
which mark the gateway to the park. and the
horses CHATTER down the winding gravel drive
way past great forest trees, n frozen stream and
rolling lawns TO tho broad steps leading to tho
veranda. and the solemn-faced butler who
opens tho door takes your card ana says that
Mrs. Hanna Is at home, until the door closes
after you and It is oil . memory, is one Of pecu-
liar interest aud pleasure.
While you are ushered into the wide reception
hall to await your hostess you see that the house
itself Is q marvel OF simple elegance. The hall
extends the entire length OF the house from tho
entrance ut tho front TO q wide columned
porch looking out toward tho lake. where q little
round summer house Is built close to the line Of
tho cliff which falls perpendicularly away TO
the edge Of tho water far below. After you
glance through the windows at the panorama
OF shifting clouds and frozen waves of Lake
Erie. your eye comes back to the details of the
warm interior. Tho house forms o background
for the mistress Of winderme.e, and It is with .
sense Of qualification that one secs the appoint
ments Of this house.
The ceilings of the hall arc Ordered with oak.
tho panels between covered with red and bun
leather. The castings and floors arc Of oak. pol
ished until Git shines like mirror. Tho floors
are partly covered with an Immense dark blue
Bokhara rug at one end, while at the other two
columns. n pair of undrawn curtains, and .
smaller Oriental rug suggest but do not sep
arate n space where one can have q quiet little
chat away from intrusion.
An ebony seat heaped with pillows. q tail
fnahnnanu rlnrk NaF sahlns and mans
Wide, low. upholstered chairs ill the main hall;
but 1t Is not on these that the eye rests. At the
right OF the hall is the large drawing room.
seen through q wide archway. At the loft the
library 10 seen, and on beyond a hall from which
the stairs lead behind q wall OF Moorish fret.
work is the dining room. The reception hall is
the place where most of the casual visitors are
received, aud Is the most attractive spot, with
perhaps the exception Of the dining room. On
the walls arc almos. innumerablo etcbings of
different sizes and shapes framed In oak. An
original pen and ink drawing Of q cartoon Of Mr..
Mckinley hangs framed near q table covered
with books. and u transparent picture Of tho
President-elect hangs In one OF the windows.
Tall palms are placed In different parts OF the
hall. standing In hu ee majolica or celladon jar
dinieres. A banquet lamp Of crystal. with an
enormous umbrella shade. stands on a table at
the entrance to tho drawing room. and two ve-
hotihli hhu CnhnucIeT0
with cut glass globes suggest soft lights whom
the sun goes down. A. tea table holding q gold
Turkish table Of inisid ivory, deep window
seats In the slcoves. covered with pillows. dam
" white.rufied curtains. and high;backed
chairs are ARRANGED with n careful carelessness
As artistic rs II is characteristic of Mrs. Hanna.
And Mrs. HANNA As she comes toward you
come she Is as simple and unostentatious as q
girl. Her manner Is pleasing, and you hardly
usually tail and carries herself Wei. In con.
her hip was broken, sho limps slightly. and
walks for the present with q cane. Her hair 10
quite white. and Is worn back from her forehead
d Ia Pompddour. but 1t is her eyes that hold
intelligence that has come BY a life OF study and
refinement as well as by inheritance: Her face
and her features clearly cut.
OF course there are other guests. There al.
o %ay ,s nse p.I lieu a,w Sss M meet sn ae SIas' MsKin Sst
were about. TO terminals their visit Of several
days. Mrs. Hanna,s mother. Mrs. p. +: Rhoades,
passing the day there. as were several others
from far and near. Other people came and
busiiy engaged greeting and speeding guests
until some one remarked:
Mrs. Hanna. | should think your life would
be n burden. having to meet all these people, for
l know the house Is full all the time"
Mrs. Hanna shook her head with a little laugh
"oh. ! enjoy 1t all and get such inspiration
from ali the people that receive more from
W cHtt tHNH j ElNC. 4 HNsuTc you.
She was wearing q gown OF purple cloth. with
a blouse OF figured, purple silk. n white linen
e sSita.' s ana . Stse wears .s' sh hSaTp,' Of = h snr fcyeF, os
most of her dresses. While at times she Ia
ablaze with diamonds. she wears in the after
moons not the smallest bit Of Jewelry. She sits
with = bit Of Embroidery and chats with her
friends. leading the conversation over q wide
has made her fame as a hostess travel over the
continent She does beautiful, work with her
needle. land embroidery Is, the only accom-
Dltphmeut she cares for. RS she never has hunR
or played. or painted.
or course everybody in the room was interested
In tho coming inauguration. aud everybody
talked Of the outcome o! present events. And
able to stand tho strain of the duties OF tho
White House. And the Governor-they all call
him the Governor at Windermere- said:
We don't make any plans. We are content
to Let each day take care Of itself"
When the talk was Of books a look came into
brother. the historian. and one could see her
love and appreciation Of good literature. When
Love Affairs OF "A B~ibliomaniac. {" she said:
Indeed. believe in early loye affairs; be.
happy. and Mrs. Khoades took up the story
ana told how Mrs, Hnnna's father had oh;
had r.die offered dr. her ,e every S sindue wraS ITO To- i mr.n" h Hma
She had Just returned from a New York finish
my school and had . brilliant season before
her. She had made her debut In society, and
aarement NO much that Mr.. and Mrs. Rhoades
NIO III w tuhc Y " u ioUk tbuT III
Europe. but. said Mrs. Rhoades. she was SO
unhappy. that we had to relent and allow her 10
marry Mr.. Hanna" to which Mrs. Hanna re-
marked: You see. ] was right. aud 1 am full
of sympathy for lovers"
by, this time the carriage for the McKinleys
was at the door. and their departure was the
signal for II general stir. Mrs. Mckinley was
bundled up. and there VAS u chatterof good
bys. u rustic OF handshakes. and rafting uf
CHAINS as the horses prancrd at the door.
II wish l could find words u thank YOU"
Major Mckinley said, as lie took Mrs. IIanna's
hand, We won't count this time, and We viii
como back again." he added with u laugh. and
Mrs. Hanna snid! Mark will arrange whon."
and Mrs. Mckinley was kissed, and every body
said good by and watched the President-elect as
he helped his wife into the carriage.
Mrs. Hanna picked up tho conversation by
repeating n question somebody had asked her,
aud answered.:
"Washingtonp we don't know about Wash
ington. | only know that wo arc going on to
the inauguration, and beyond that wo have
made no plans
y" hut you nave boen In Washington. and know
the city well +"
:" oh, yes; ever since when as n CIR! l Waited
Mrs, stephen Douglas there | have spent con.
siGerabie tlmo In W nsh'ngton, aud tho life there
Is what care mobt for"
One of the visitors turned To n relative OF tho