The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-02
DEPEW LIVES IN
WEBSTER'S HOME
Makes the Famous Old House Synonym for So
cial Pleasure and Entertainment

is here that Senator Depew derives his
inspiration for his "impromptu" after
dinner speeches, jokes, and other per-
sonal characteristics for which he is
justly celebrated. The walls are COW
cred with rare old pictures which
Webster delighted to look upon, one
of the most cherished being a large
medallion portrait of Daniel Webster.
The bay window has an opening into
the garden, and IL is said that Web
ster frequently strolled out into the
garden which is surrounded by a
high brick wall and in the open air
heavily charged with the perfume of
rare flowers and plants derived inspir-
alton for some of his greatest states
man-like efforts.
On the mantelpiece is a rare old
clock which is said to be over 100 years
old. 1t was the favorite timepiece of
Mr.. Webster, and il is in perfect run
ming order to-day.
The most modern addition to the
Corcoran house is the moorish dining
room in the east wing Immediately
back of the library which was added
during Mr.. Corcoran's time. The
dining room is one-story high, illum-
ined from above by beautifully STAIN
ed glass skylight and is also lighted
from above by electric light filtered
through the stained glass. The seating
capacity of the room is for about thir-
ty persons. The decorations are old
gold and silver with a shading of car
dinal between the sunken pillars which
support the roof. The white drawing
room would hardly be distinguished by
that name to-day. The decoration
and furnishings which may have been
pure white many years ago have aged
to the extent that a rich cream color
would better describe them. This
room is located to the right of the
hallway, which runs north and south
through the middle of the house. The
modern library adjoins the white par
lor. 1t is about the same size and
/ hight as the moorish dining room. 1t
is filed with choice books, works of
art and numerous rare paintings, The
most conspicuous portraits are those
of w. w. Corcoran, George Peabody,
who was Mr.. Corcoran's personal
friend and business associate and the
late Bishop Pinkney in his ecclesias-
tical robes. The library is really the
living room of the Senator and Mrs.
Depew and such guests of the house
as they have with them. Opposite the
white parlor across the hall is what is
now known as the ball room, which
was formally built as the private art
gallery OF w. w. Corcoran.
At social functions the host and
hostess receive their guests at the en-
trance to the hall or reception room.
The only decoration on the walls of the
ball room is a. large oil portrait of
Mrs. Depew, seated at a table upon
which is careiessly scattered Ameri-
can Beauty roses. The painting is by
Muller7Ary of New York. On the mar
row end of the grand concert piano is
marble bust of Senator Depew by an
Ttoltn Int d Nal anNI
stored seats are the only other furnish
ings of the room. Opening out of the
ball room is an immense yeranda
which, during Senator Brice's time,
was converted into a Turkish retreat
for smokers or conversational parties.
Heavy tapestries suspended from the
ceiling of the veranda to the floor shut
out all daylight and the ventilation be-
ing furnished by an opening leading
down a short stairway into the gar
den.
During the Civil War w. w. Cor
coran, who had married a Southern
lady, gave his sympathy and his as
sistance to the Confederacy Under
these circumstances he found 1t incon-
venient to remain in Washington, so he
rented his beautiful home to the Brit
ish government for the use of its le-
CATION. 1t was here that Owen Mere
dith wrote his famous lyric, Lucille"
while he was an attache Of the Eng
lish legation.
After Mr., Corcoran died the house
remained vacant for several years
When Senator Brice was elected to: the
Senate he became the tenant of the
Corcoran house, Before occupying it,
however, he obtained permission from
the trustees of the Corcoran estate to
make various alterations at his own
expense. He expended in the neigh
borhood of $100,000 in undermining GER
tain portions of the house. The main
entrance, in the middle of the house,
fronting on H street, was closed, and
covered porte cochere added to the
east wing. thus transferring the en-
trance of the residence to the side, in
stead of the front. The alcove or hall
way leads past the dining room to the
stairway and the central hall, which
leads to the reception room. Just in
side of the entrance stands the mag
nificent chime clock, over-six feet tall,
a wedding present to Mrs. DepeW from
some of her New York friends.
The garden in the rear is beautifully
kept and occupies at present more than
half an acre. There are beautifully
graveled walks, choice shrubs and rare
trees and a fountain in the center.
At evening entertainments, when the
weather will permit, the garden is
brilliantly illuminated with various
colored electric lights, profusely dis
tributed among the foliage, thus at
fording an enchanting and inspiring re-
treat for guests who wish to discuss
1tr~tA