The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-19

the scene. rev years age, 0ept0ra~
BILE tragedy-an incident. 10 fact, no lees
daughter OF It's owner, Judge Hiilysf.
| from whom Mrs Townsend bought the
property recsnsiy. The romantic history
and tragic fate Of pretty Bessie Hillyer,
who married for love against the wishes
Of her family. make one of tle saddsst
chapters in the social records OF the nat
ionai capital.
By curious freak of circumstances,
Mrs. Townsend. anxious 10 escape the
operation OF a hoodoo has selected the
dwelling in which this frightful tragtly
occurred a. her future home in Washing
tor. The process BY which she Is con-
We ting it into the nuest mansion at L. 0
capital. consists In widening the origins l
stfucturaand adding thereto two great
wings and q huge back building. TIE
front will be OF Indiana limestone, hnyir q
much the same effect as white marble,
quarried at Bedford In that Stats. There
will be four stories and the entire west
wing will be occupied by ballroom-by
far the finest that has been seen In WASH
inRton up to date.
William q. whitney, when he mas Sec
Rotary Of ths Navy. built, as an addition
to his house on street. a ballroom which
was much admired, and that eminsntly
comfortable establishment the British
embassy, rosssssessa better one, thor
oughly adapted to all the requirements
OF such an instrument OF entertaining:
but neither of these can compare for
mom ent with that now In course OF con-
struction for Mrs. Townsend. Mr.,
Townsend Is now at Bar Harbor, and not
until her return from there will she de-
cide upon the details of decoration for her
ballroom.
Only one thing has bsen determined
namely, that French artists will bs em-
ployed to finish the interior OF the ball
room. or recent years In New York city
whence Mrs Townsend has derived her
ideas on the subject, the French style in
bathrooms has been considered he only
style; all Others nre out of date The
decorations may be in white and gold,
or otherwise, but they must be 10
Parisienne. Tbs ballroom Of the new
mansion will be the fret In Washington
Of the really French kind. and there is
reason to expect that II will be an eduoa-
ton TO the fashionable folks Of the capi-
tai In terpsichorean architecture. Its
size, too, will be remarkable, the plans
calling for an apartment sixty-eight feet
long by hirty-six fset in width.
Entering the great house. one will find
himself In an immense stair-halI, forty
six feet long by thirty six feet wide, on
the left OF which will BE spacious re-
ception room and q biliiard-room with
two tables--one for ordinary billiards and
another for pool. On the right will be
MIR. Townsend's own particular den, In
which he might work If he were Obliged
TO do so. As a matter of fact it will be
HIS piayroom. All the rest Of the space
on this floor will be devoted to servants
hall, men-servants' rooms 1.-THE maids
will be quartered upstairs,) chefs cold
room. laundry, drying room. etc. The
establishmene will employ about thirty.
superintend the commissary department..
Without explanation, 1t should be sunder-
stood that the col broom Is for making
ice creams and other dishes which require
low temperature Incidentally to their
manufacture. One large room In addi-
ton VIII be devoted TO refrigeratiug pur.
poses, being lined with closets chilled by
Toe stored above. There will also bs q
large wine-closer. filed with bnttled
grape juice of choicest vlntages and COM
municating by a small Gift" with the
wine-cellar below.
So much for the first floor. The second
floor will have It's rooms grouped around
great furnished hall, sixty-one feet long
By eighteen feet wide. Reaching this
hall by the main staircase, ons viii find
on his left a sslon and q morning room,
and ON his right large library. At the
bnck OF the HOUSE viii re the dining-room
-aE apartment of suoh enormous size
that Its bay window will be arranged so
as to be curtained of when desired form
Ing an eating-plac more suitabls for
few people. This will be csllsd the
'breakfast- bay," and here the Townsend
family will take Its ordinary meals.
Even the servants in this establish
ment Will enjoy every luxury. Eaoh of
them will have room TO himself CT
herself. with running water, and their
bathrooms will he reserved for their own
exclusive use. In all there will be fiftes
bathrooms in the mansion. There will
be an elevator, operated by electricity, 10
that nnhadv all FOL ur,la
SO inclined. The apparatus, indeed. will
be automatic, SO that person will only
have to step aboard, touch the proper
button. and find himself in moment at
the floor desired.
Each member of the Townsend family
will occupy separate suite of rooms.
Miss Townsend. for example, will have
her bedroom, her bath and DRESSING
room s, and her study-all devoted to her
own exclusive usss. She will share, be-
sides, q boudoir with her mother. Mr..
Townsend will be as independent as a
bachelor, with his own set of apartments.
On the third floor will be four suites for
occupancy by guests. each with its bath
and dressing from attached This bath
rooms, by the way, will be Toured and
lined with white marble, and the tubs, of
course, will be Of porcelain.
The stable attached to the Townsend
palace Will be wonder In itself, afford
Ing accommodation for ten thoroughbreds
In one end of the same building will be
housed the heating apparatus by which
the whole of the residential establishment
Is TO be warmed in winter. Air, heated
In the cellar under the stable, win tie
communicated to the dwelling through
pipes, and the management of it will be
so perfect that, even In the coolest
weather the temperature Of the mansion
may be controlled within o degree
Fahrenheit. The house is two blocks
west Of Dupont circle, and only few
doors away from the residences OF Mre.
U. 5. Grant. II As directly opposite the /
mansion Of the millionaire Patten sisters.
RENE BACHE.