Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13


mantel and shelves there are many bit
OF rare and beautiful pieces OF bric-a-bra'
ana on tho walls above some fine en-
cravings What arrests the attention
every visitor TO tho library Ia Miller's ia
nous engraving Of the Sstine Madonna
Several friends Of the artist persuade
him to undertake to make this engrayin
| from the original painting. He spen
eight years OF his life In preparing IN
/ plate. from which he made five copies
Major Dooley's is one of these fine. An
other, greatly damaged, was sold recent.
for 8, 200. After Miller had made the NV
copies from his original plate his fi1end
urged him to deepen the lines of hi
plate, complaining that with much use
they would wear away. Their dlssatis-
faction and the thought that he might In
jure his beautiful engraving broke the ar
lists heart and he died soon after. Over
his bier was hung. as his chief work, the
engraving of the Sistine Madonna.
Crossing the western hall. the next
room Is the pink parlor which with the
adjoining blue parlor stretches at the
back Of the hall to the dining-rooms. The
colorng here is as delicate as the tints
Of q summer sunset. The walls are hung
wainscoating of white mahogany below
and above the ceiling. frescoed in blue,
with raised gilt roses. The hanging Of
imported damask, tho pink fioor-cloth,
and the furniture. in Louis Quinze style,
all harmonic beautifully, while the
style OF Louis XIV. furniture is carried
out in the design OF the chandelier, the
mantel. and even the andirons; slabs OF
onyx, with deep pink veins from the fire
place. one OF the beautiful things in
this room is q tail onyx stand, beauti-
fully tinted with sweeps of pink ana
green that recall the colors of a rare opal.
and ornamented with Jewel like ormolu
designs. A music-box, once owned by
Empress Josephine. is another of the
treasures here. The ormolu work. near
ly covering its mahogany surface, Is evil
IDENTIFY the work OF a master. The dell
cate blue and silver tints of the next par
lor are beautifully carried out in the
llght-blue damask on the walls, the blue
and pink hangings at the windows, ana
cloud-colored rug on the floor. The wood
work is white enamel painted by hand, on
the doors and mantels, with graceful de-
signs OF flowers and vines. The furniture
in Louis Seize style. includes a rare cabi-
net, painted by Vernet Martin, the first
artist who painted on wood. 1t is filed
with many rare pieces OF china, cup
that would I'LL a collector with de-
light: rose-oovered delft COW,
and an cid hawthorn rose case.
Here, too, are number of medals
won by the master Of the house while al
Georgetown College and plate once
owned by Louis Napoleon. Perhaps the
rarest ornament in the room is the pair
Of dark-blue vases that occupy the man.
telpiece. On account Of their value III
fanny used TO keep them under glass
case, and earlier still they were bought
by the French Government to present TO
a famous singer, who had charmed all
hearts. The ceiling Of the blue parlor is
painted with medallions or Vatican
aides and Dresden shepherdesSes.
In q corner by the long landscape
windows stands one of the chief trea-
;urers Of the house-a table with royal
sevre china top, set in onyx, with stand
If ormolu work. The painting on the
op Of the table is exquisite in design |
md finish. An artist, In looking at IT, |
said: "That piece OF work is so fine that |
/ can only be appreciated by ones look |
ng through a microscope. The centre |
igures Of two Cupids. arm In arm, float |
ng through the air. with hanging drape- |
-ies, is surrounded by painted medallions, |
md a frost-work design in gold. The |
slender legs of the ormolu stand, termi- |
late In goats feet. and are bound to-
yether by garlands OF ormolu. A statue
# the young Hercules draws the atten-
ion after looking at the sevre table. |
The statue OF pure white Carara marble |
s in fine harmony with the general |
light tone Of the decorations. The whole
due parlor. with its flood of light touch
ng on the silvery walls and blue and
iilver furniture, is such O room as one
would like to remember on a close July
lay-or any other day in the year.
The dlning-room, like all the rest OF the
suite on the first floor, has hardwood
ioors, inlaid with mahogany. The high
Of oak is surmounted by
tapestry painted with beautlful designs
II flowers and figures, OF which the pre-
FALLING color is olive-green. The dining
Dom was especially planned to accom-
nodate the superb china cabinet OF rose
wood, which is the duplicate of that used
by Queen Victoria at Balmoral. me
carving is massive and handsome SO IS
he carving Of the Old Venetian china
ress and the sideboard, laden with hand
ONE old silver, bearing the Dooley crest
he head OF horse, and the inscription
Fidi ct Amorl."
The fireplace holds a massive copper
rate surrounded by slabs OF Sienna mar
lie. The handsomely carved mantel back
nd bevelled glass mirror reach TO the
arved oak ceiling. In the second hall
he coloring is discreetly rich, the key
ote Of which is silken rug, in old gold
nd blue, hanging against the western
'all. The rug is an antique, and proba-
ly spent fifteen years or SO under the |
ands Of its weaver, who lived hun
reds OF years ago. The furniture here
lcludes q sideboard owned by Thomas
a massive mahogany chair, |
18th scroll seat and inlaid back. Beauti-
IL chippendale chairs, French, inlaid fur
iture, water colors, engravings by Bar
)lozzi. and finely-frescoed walls make up
le harmonious whole of the bedrooms
pening on the hall. Everywhere the
ric-a-brao Is arranged without that os-
,ntation and crowding which gives a
ONE the air Of museum.
On Wednesday night every fireplace on
10 first floor was filed with luxuriant ,
in the blue and silver
)om, pink elsewhere. Beds of ferns and
nilax, Embedding clusters OF roses, or
lids and lilies decorated the mantels
lille every table bore a graceful vase Of
'ses, and were grouped about with
aims and other foliage plants.
,
Those honored with invitations TO the Q
ception were Mr.. and Mrs Joseph Bry- '
4, Mr.. j. Stewart Bryan; Mr.. and Mrs. '
dward G. Venable and Mr.. Alexander r
amilton, OF Petersburg; Judge and Mrs. 1
shby Wickham, Mr. and Mrs. w. p. De-
aussure, Judge and Mrs. keith, Judge Y
evils and Mrs. H. II. Wicknam, Mr.. ]
ID Mrs. George J.. Christian, Miss Mary /
Colonel and Mrs. Cowardin. s
r. and Mrs. John y. Purcell, ex-Gov- \