The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-24

and the windows are so screened that
a passerby cannot obtain even a mo-
mentary glimpse of the interior.
In spite of this vigilance a passerby
entered the palace a few days ago and
learned the following interesting facts
about it:
There are two main entrances. One,
near Huntington avenue, leads into a
narrow corridor, from which opens a
long and spacious music hall. At the
further end of this hall is a stage
which is said to be large enough to
seat the entire Symphony Orchestra.
On either side of the second entrance
are reception rooms and beyond them
is a corridor with arches of red brick
and red tiled floor.
Beyond this arched passage is the
courtyard, which occupies the center
of the palace. 1t is 80 by rs feet in d.
mension and is covered with a roof of
glass. Around 1t on the lower floor is
an arcade with beautiful Corinthian
columns of white marble and opening
on its four sides are large square win
dows on the three upper stories.
On three sides of the courtyard, on
the lower floor, are some wide corri-
doris, in which many rare art treasures
will be placed. Some, indeed, are there
already. One is an old and beautifully
carved marble sarcophagus, which is
valued at S65.00O. and on which Mrs.
Gardner paid duty of $4,000. Anoth-
er is an ancient shrine of ST. Joseph.
Set into the walls along the corridors
are beautiful bits of bas relief and
carving, and at the end of the vaulted
passage leading to the courtyard stand
two great lions, one of red and the
other of white marble.
Staircases of marble lead to the floor
above, and here across the front Of
the building, stands a large room,
which presumably is to be used as a
picture gallery. OF this room the most
notable feature at present is the SPLEEN
did ceiling, which was taken from an
italian palace and set here in it's orig
inal form.
On this floor is also a Dutch room.
with an old-fashioned fireplace and
ceiling of black oak, and with its
beams so arranged as to form Is square
panels, in which are set paintings by
the old Flemish masters.
On the third floor is a companion
room to the picture gallery, in which
Mrs. Gardeners collection of rare old
books will probably be kept, and near
IL Is GOtnlC IOOns WIN one large rose
window, and others, smaller, of STAIN
ed glass. IT is supposed that Mrs.
Gardner intends to use this room as
a chapel, for 1t is fitted up with carved
settles, and a space has been left for
the altar.
In the upper story are Mrs. Gardeners
apartments and the servants quarters.
Mrs. Gardners suite extends across
the front Of the building. and consists
of a boudoir, a bedroom and a bath
room. Across the rear of the building
extends a large dining hall.
The walls Of the boudoir are hung
with red tapestry. the bathroom is
tiled IN white and there are Latin in
scriptions on the walls, and in the
sleeping room is a carved marble fire.
place, which was formerly in Mrs.
Gardner'g Beacon street home. The
servants rooms are comfortable and
spacious. and there is no lack Of closets
and pantries.
The palace will be lighted by cleo
tricity and heated by hot air; indeed.
Il will contain all the modern improve
ments. but these win be so concealed
as to In no way mar the beauty OF the
architecture or seem incongruous with
the Venice Of the middle ages.
This palace, 80 beautiful even I'm it's
present unfinished condition, will surely
be when completed, IA many respects
the most superb edifce Of the kind that
has been erected Ia modern times.