The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-09
EVOLUTION OF
THE PALACE CAR
One of the Most Striking Features of
American Progress.
AN UNPRETENIIOUs LUXURY.
Plain Polished Surfaces Have Succeed
ed the Elaborate CarviDgs--There
Is An Absence of O!d-Iime
Han.in.s and Frin%es.

The November number Of the Fine Arts
Journal. a Chicago publication devoted to
literature, art, music, travel and decorH-
tive art contains an article on the de-
yelopment of the American sleeping car
as one Of the most striking and remark
able features&of American progress. L ne
Illustrations accompanying this article IN
clude views of the interior of the Puit-
man recently built for the President" OIL
Mexico. There are also views OF the nrSt
car ever builtby Pullman and of the last
one from those works. In the first can
be seen the upper hunks, which are COW
cred with oilcioth and whiCn We're pushed
M to the ceiling when not in use Inc
Fine Arts Journal says:
Ours is a country of long distances. and
these invite the traveller to be generous to
himself in the matter OF comfort IN trdV--
cling. Generally the best OF anything. is
none too good for any American who has
the money to spend for it. The populariZ-
ing of the luXuries of travel in this coun-
try early built up a great Industrial inter-
est and stimulated enterprise in the IN
vestment of capital The history OF the
Pullman Company is interesting us an Il
lustration of the possibilities in the field
of American industry and what may be
termed pure abstract sentiment has
played a greater part than IS commonly
known.
Mere cost and splendor are not matters
Of wonder in any great interest which
contributes to the enjoyment of the peo-
r,e Our hotels vie with the palaces OF
royalty in magn!licence of architecture
and decoration Our public libraries are
distinguished not only for their great col
lections Of BOOKS but also for the dignity
and magnitude of the buildings prepared
for ihe1n The real wonder IN respect OF
the American palace car is that Its eVolu-
ton has been in lines of good taste and
not of barbaric display. 1t might have
been apprehended that SO RAPID devel-
opment of the moving palace, and so gen
erous a patronage as it received would
present the temptation to supply adorn-
nents more conspicuous than artistic.
Fortunately, the management of the pal
ace car companies has been responsive,
from the first. TO all .he suggestions of
artistic taste which have influenced the
architecture and furnishing of the present
age.
PALACE CAR LEADS.
Never before have the details of build
ING and furn shng been studied in the
light of true art. and subjected to critl-
cism so searching as within the present
generation Ruskin revealed to the people
the real foundations of art. William Nor
rs applied to the furnishing of interiors
the canons of good taste Eastlake con-
I
mosphere of unpretentious luxury, of
richness without vulsarity. of solid sub
stantial worth, pervades the homes OF the
wealthy and cultured here, as in the most
favored seats OF the nobility of Europe:
and in al the progress, that has been made
the palace car has led, rather than fol-
lowed.
One Of the rigorous rules of modern
furnishing is the avoidance of shams, and
even the appearance of shams. The cheap
table of old dnys was required to be hid
den from sight by rich covering. The
genuine mahogany Of the present time
does not need this. and will not tolerate
=concea lment. Brick is no longer painted
to resemble marble, nor is soft pine
Grained to look like hard wood. and the
materials of the palace car Ire what they
annear. TO be: they are genuine.
4 feature OF the Italian Renaissance is
tho simplicity of its lines, and the elinli-
nation Of much ornament which was
fo,,nd to be obstructive to light ind air.
sness The palace car of to-day illustrates
.th's STYLE in its general outlines and in its
details.
elaborate carvings. But for its perfect.
nolished surface. the wood work remains
ar, natl,re in appearance and simple in
its contour.
baneinss and fringe:s which proved un--
.,,,tah,e as to material and were obiec-.
t:onabIe for many reasons Practical COM
n,nn sense suggested the change. The
r1esert day toierates nothing that accu-
tn,,,ates dust or that neeedlessly obstructs=
tha circulation Of air. Tie heavy wool
,ans of the old portieres, like the flutings
*, the old mantels, and the huge cornices
- 80 $40 old windows, poisoned the air with
thair accumulat.ons To-day the palace
anr has liehtest of window curtains and
innings 70. the doorways, small mirrors.
nth unpretentious frames-all are hy-s
s,enic as well as artistic.
RICH COLOR EFFECTS
rho effects Of color are among the most