New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09
NOTED OLD FURNITURE AT AUCTION.
ARTICLES FROM THE DBLAvAN HOUSE. ALBANY
THAT HAD BEEN USED BY FAMOUS MEN.


THAT HAD BEEN USED BY FAMOUS MEN.
Albany. oct. (SpeciaD-Durins the week some
furniture made famous through It's use by poll
tlclans and notables was sold In this city At sn
auctoneers sale. II the Old furniture that FOR
years stood In the parlor No. 81. and later
parlor No 80 Of the Delavan House. The part left
by the fire OF 1895. which IS to be torn down 10
make room for the new railroad station, was va
Gated recently and the furnishings were placed IN
the auction rooms.
The Delavan full OF history. and some OF
the public men Of to-day could write volumes of
"reminiscences Of happenings beneath It's roof All
the greater statesmen for the last half century ana
the scores OF lesser politicians made the Delavan
their rendezvous. Roscoe Conklng, Thurlow Weed
Samuel j. Tden. Boss" Tweed. Daniel Manning
Grover Cleveland Daniel s Lamont. Hamilton
Fish. James W. Hustled and many other political
and social giants were housed beneath its hos
pitable roof Memories Of prominent men cluster
around the big pile Of brick and stone and great DO
ltical movements which have affected not only 'he
state. but the Nation. had their origin In It's par
lors The most noted room in the old hotel vas
parlor No 81 situated the second Moor. over
looking Broadway at the corner Of Steuben-st
The sale Of this furniture attracted buyers from
Boston New York. Philadelphia, Hartford ana
other cities and the auction rooms were filed with
curo hunters Agents Of a Boston historical so
cietv purchased half a dozen fancy mirrors that
been
York Historical Society secured several OF the
smaller ones.
But the greatest prize OF all is to be retained In
Albany. Garret j. Benson, proprietor of the
HvgeIa the home Of many Senators and Assembly
men during the legislative term. secured the famous
he'd in which more prominent public men slept than
on any other one I'm the house In addition TO the
he'd ne nurchased a wardrobe, sofa and hvs
chairs which belong to the set and extra chair
Of ebony in its unpublished state. This chair has
heen used so much that a high polish has been
rubbed up.
The bed is large the top reaching nearly to the
ceiling of an ordinary room. on the headpoard'
which is finely carved is painted a miniature por-
trait There is much inaid work on the old bed
stead and time has left its imprint upon II. Inc
sofa is an oi-fashioned affair. and would 90 at any
time for a bed while the chairs are or the laree.
comfortable kind All these articles are eXquisitely
inlaid The set when new, cost sl,on ana was
sold for SOS Mr.. Benson was offered 500 Tor Il
an hour after he purchased 1t. but ne refused
since then ne has had many offers. and he has de-
cined 10 part with his prize at any price
The history of this fnrnituree Is Ih'e bvt
ma ni6cent house on the site OF the one now &C.
cupied by Mr.. Havemeyer, at Stamford. Conn,
and he furnished IT with the best that could be
nrocured Included In the estate which he LEFT was
his beautiful set Of furniture II tsn 70 me o' o
one OF the Leland boys. ana hnaIIy Decaino .iie
~ g., a na rlor OF the hotel known as NO o.. Two
"e,rs hsf6re the hotel proper burned down the tur
niture was removed TO paror NO AZ an t.a hca
Wa tscuartars OF the public men OF the day. ana
~ the lime OF the FIRE It was occupied ey speahsr
Maby Of the Asst fnmSus room are so many that
oSa'su ali would be TOO great a task but those
Of Buwer Lytton the Prince OF H MSss ASnoId
Lind Mhe- Ss.lofte OF belgium; General Grant and
presiient Arthur may be mentioned