The Washington times., 1902-10-12
VERSATILE R=plN3LCN PRINCESS PALACE In WASIINGTOl
The New Home Of Mrs Van Known Literature the Pym
of Julien GdonA Dapad Old Mansion Chosen by Her for Residence
Transformed Into Fairy dbtdhoRNow Filled With Rare Art

TN one Of the oldest houses in Wash
ington there lives a woman known
i to the social world as Mrs. Van
Rensselaer, Cruger, to the literary
world as Julien Gordon. and to her
neighbors as the Princess.
AS Mrs. Van RensselaersCruger and
Julien Gordon she is too familiar to all
to need discussing, but as the Princess
she plays. new role. Her neighhors in
the old. questionable part of town in
which she lives. call her by the name
because she is the only one Of her class
and distinction living there, far from
the part of the city frequentedeby the
members of the smart set.
An Atmosphere of Romance.
She would not be julien Gordon did
she not surround helrself with an at
nospherc of romance. go that when Mrs.
Cruger came to Washington last fall.
instead of selecting house In the fash
ionable portion Of the city. she choose
q shabby old mansion on the corner of
Twenty-fifth and X Streets. 1t was
weather beaten and worn and quite for
lcrn In its aspect, but It had history.
The house and its garden belong to the
old Peters estate, and this old mansion
was the first British legation in the
Capital
A Century Old.
It is over a hundred years old, and
within its walls many scene Of dip
lomatic and social interest has been en-
acted. for in its day It had no superior
in the splendor and elegance OF the en-
tertainments which went on under it's
roof. A memory Of those days seem to
cling to 1t still. Mrs. Cruger found it
dilafidated and apparently untenatable,
and though she has made 1t an ideal
home, she has not made it modern. It
still retains Its air of quaint, old-time
srlendor and dignifed conservatism.
The Drawing Room.
AS one sits in the beautiful small
drawing room on the ground floor, and
sips a cup of tea with the gracious mis-
tress Of the mansion. 1t is almost I'M
possible to realize that when she first
took possession Of 1t was all SO
that even the neighbors'
chickens wandered In and out at will.
And one can quite sympathize with her
as she tells Of the various discourage
ments that met her at every turn. Small
wonder that when the chickens came in.
unbidden guests, she sat her down on
her packing cases and wept. Her pluck
and her perseverance won the day, how
ever. and now she has one Of the hand
soonest homes in Washington.
The Finest Rooms.
Undoubtedly the. finest rooms are the
small drawing room and the dining
room. Both are filled with old carved
furniture and art treasures and curios
brought from various countries the
world over. Most OF her treasures. how
ever, Mrs. Cruger inherited from her
mother. The furniture in the dining
room Is all that was saved from Mrs.
Cruger's home near New York. when 1t
burned. 1t is of the richest old carved
black oak These two rooms are on
he ground floor. as is also the library.
Quaint Staircase.
The long hall with its quaint stair
Ease. surmouated on the top landing by
IN old grandfather's clock, ia particu-
arly pleasing as you enter the front en-
rance. The door is opened for you by
/ little page in uniform. resplendant
With brass buttons, who ushers you into
he drawing room, where Mrs. Cruger In
ong trailing gown of clinging silk |
,reets you. She has so much the ap-
,earance and manner OF the grande |
ame It is no wonder her neighbors call |
Ter the Princess. In this room Mrs. |
Iruger Is nearly always to be found OF
n afternoon presiding over her hand
omely appointed tea table. If you do
ot care for tea. she will give you
lass OF rare old madeira. very old and
cry rich costing no less than $40 a
ottle, a relic of her husbands wine cell
ar
II you are interested in the transfer