The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-07
LUXURIOUS Ell EV1ToRS.
Cars Used In the Houses or Million
aires.

Little boudoirs on wings Is the appropriate de-
scription given by an enthusiastic Frenchman
OF the elevators he found himself invited to enter
on arriving in the very new and sumptuous
houses of his American hostesses. In fact, so
agreeable an impression did these elevators
have on his receptive and appreciative Gallo
mind that he is going back to Paris to preach
the benefits thu elevator will confer In the tall
French houses. So far in Paris there Is but one
of these conveniences known, and that has been
recently fitted into the splendid town residence
Of the Countess Castellane. In the great houses
Of our American millionaires the elevator Is be.
coming the rule and not the exception, espe-
cially SO at Newport and in New York city,
where a foot of land 10 worth a small fortune,
and the houses are rearing their heads moro
loftily every year.
The exceeding usefulness and beauty of the
private elevator has never been more clearly
demonstrated than In the great Aston mansion
on Fifth avenue. especially when an elaborate
entertainment Is in progress. One OF the chief
staircase, that sweeps up from the very doors of
the marble vestibule to the great hall opening
and candles shed alternate light and shade
along the crimson carpet. silver rods. and
carved 6alustrade. this is the very choicest spot
Therefore, when the women in their wraps and
fur boots are set down under the porte %cochere,
they are led to one side of the vestibule. a grilled
door slides back, and six at a time are ushered
into the snuggest little elevator ever seen.
Its floor is covered with a velvet carpet of the
warmest cerise tone. and. being octagon shaped.
four of the sides are made OF plate glass mirrors
framed In gilt. and four sides are panels Of
iron, wrought in odd shapes and partly filled in
with rose.colored glass: over which a spray Of
rior Of tie car is filled With a tender. becoming
glow that every woman keenly. appreciates, as
vator contains and the fact that she was saved
the necessity of .paTadinG in her wraps like a
chrysalis up that splendid stairway.
A solemn young man in powdered head and
court livery guards the ELECTRIC lever and tho
travellers IN the elevator all Of whom are
cred into a dressing room, wraps are removed,
toilets touched up, and the charming butterflies
are ready to meet their male escorts and Join
the gay procession moving down the great
Mrs. George Westinghouse. however, who
owhs one Of the most gorgeous homes in the city
of Washington, has gone Mrs. Aston just one
better in the completeness of very up-to.datoc con-
tufted satin elevator on both sides. One is used
to carry guests up, tho other to bring them
down, and gilded baskets attached to the cor
ners OF the elevator hold the programmes of the
dances, music, or whatever especial entertain
ment 10 provided for the evening. Though 80
exceedingly important on occasions Of festiyity.
the private elevator Is not for such slight con.
yenience alone, and 1t Is u commentary on our
American civilization that, eight out Of ten OF
the private elevators have been put in at the
commando OF the family ply s.cian. There is
one New York woman of, wealth who boasts
that in twelve months she has not walked up or
down not only her own stairway, but that OF q
a friends house. since she only leaves cards at
those places where no elevator is provided.
OF course 1t all depends upon circumstances
whether the private elevator shall DO a costly
or inc xpensive addition to the modern comfort
able house. SINCE electricity has come so
rapidly into use as u domestic servant for light.
Ing and heating. a small elevator. capable OF
holding three persons. can be lifted into a house
at an outlay OF about $500. II IS ~maneuvred
elaborate interior decorations come for this
price, as, for Instance. will be found in tho ex.
quisite little basket affairs that some women
use in journeys from floor to floor of their
homes. These are wicker cars. and hold but
the owner ana a couple of friends.
On stepping inside "A wicker elevator, the SEN
sRtion Is OF having entered u gorgeous, gigantic
wastepaper basket. The walls are OF rattan
treated with gliding, and enamel paints. tho
floor covered with u white goatskin rug, against
the broad seat upholstered in delicately tinted
china silk, pillows are heaDed, and the roof is a
prettily woven dome Of wicker, with n cluster OF
electric lights falling from the centre.
In the rear of the majority OF the new houses
one large elevator ID arranged for tho service OF
the domesiios, and to carry up all the coal, lug.
tress. runs In a shaft that extends from the eel,
lar TO the garnet. BY this means she Ia able
every day to 60 over every floor in the house il
At regular intervals these private elevators
are all most carefully inspected. and though
among the wealthy their contribution to com.
fort is Invaluable. 1t is the women OF moderate
means who lind the growing popularity OF tho
little elevators absolutely destructive to their
domestic peace. Not a whit less luxury loving
having once lived In a house whore the stairs
are scarcely moro used than the fire escapes,
not only resents. but fatly ref ses to hire out IN
what she calls the oid.fashioned inconvenient
homes. This complication as much az anything
else has forced the fitting up of elevators in
dwellings. the Undetermined owners of which
believed until recently were the very models of
scientific luxury.