The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-21
happier XVI il repeated for
CHAPTER XVI.
WITH THE BARBARIc HOSTS.

variance or stage settings ana accessories
so cunning, that the repetition seldom
bores. and is. indeed. frequently unde-
tected. Thus, the descent of the Barbara
ans upon a decadent people is little tour
de force that has been performed again and
again since the oldest day. But because the
assault nowadays is made not with force
of arms We are prone TO believe 1t Is no
longer made at alias if human ways had
changed a bit since those ugly. hairy
tribes from the northern forests descended
upon the Roman empire. And yet the mere
difference that the assault is now made
with force of money in no way alters the
process nor does it permit the result to
vary. On the surface all is cordiality and
peaceful negotiation. Beneath is the same
immemoriaI strife, the Hfe-and-death
struggle-pitiless, memorable.
What would have been a hostile bivouac
within the city's gates. but for the matter
of a few centuries. is now, to select ex-
ample which remotely concerns US, noble
structure on Riverside drive, facing the
lordly Hudson and the majestic Palisades
that form its farther wall. And, for the
horde of Goths and Visigoths. Huns and
Yandals, drunkenly Keeling in the ftful
light of campfres, chanting weird battle
runes, fighting for captive yestals, and
pickering in uncouth tongues over the gol-
den spoils, what have we now to make the
parallel convince? Why, the same Barbara
ans, actually; the same hairy rudeness, the
same unrefned, all-conquering, animal
force; a red-faced, big-handed lot, imbued
with hearty good nature and an easy toler-
ance for the ways of those upon whom
they have descended.
Here are chiefs Of renown from the
farthest Businesses; they and their curious
households; the ironmonger from Pitts
| burg, the goldminer from Dawson. the
| copper chief from Butte, the silver chief
| from Denver, the cattle chief from Okla
| homa, lord of three hundred thousand
| good acres and thirty thousand cattle, the
lumber prince from Michigan, the founder
| of later dynasty in oil, from Texas. And,
for the unaesthetic but effective Attila, an
| able fashioner of pork products from Chi
cago.
Here they make festival, carelessly, I'M
afraid, unmolested. For, in the lapse of
time the older peoples have learned not
L
the huge and hairy invaders may be
| treated and bartered with not unprofitably.
| Doubtless it often results froI1 this amity
that the patrician strain is corrupted by
| the alien admixture-but business has been
business since as many as two persons met
| on the face of the new earth.
For example, this particular shelter is
| builded upon land which one of the patri-
l.-1I
because it could not be disposed Of Yet
| the tribesmen came, clamoring for pal
! aces and now this same land with some
| adjoining areas of trifing extent, produces
| an income that will suffice to maintain
| that family almost in its ancient and be-
| fitting estate.
| In this mammoth pile, for the petty
rental of ten fifteen thousand dollars a
| year, many tribes of the invaders have
| found shelter and entertainment in apart
| ments of many rooms. Outwardly, in de-
tails of ornamentation, the building is said
| to duplicate the Chateaux Blois, those
splendid palaces of Francis l. Inside are
| all the line and color and device of elegant
opulence. modern to the last note.
To this palace of an October evening
| comes the tribe of Bines, and many an
other such, for triumphal feast in the
abode of Barbarian silas Higbee. The car
riages pass through a pair of lordly iron
gates, swung from massive stone pillars
under arch of wrought iron with its an.
tique lamp, and into the echoing courtyard
thanked by trim hedges of box.
Alighting, the barbaric guests of Higbee
are ushered through a marble walled vesti
| bule, from which wrought iron and
| bronze screen gives way to the main en-
trance hall. The ceiling he.e reproduces
that of a feudal castle in Rouen, will
some trif1ing and effective touches of deco.
ration in blue, scarlet and gold The walls
are of white Caen stone, with ornate win
dows and balconies jutting out above. Ii
one corner is stately stone mantel will
richly carved hood, bearing in its centra
panel the escutcheon of the gallant
French monarch. Up little flight of mar
BILE steps, guarded by its hand-rail Of
heavy metal, shod with crimson velvet one
reaches the elevator. This pretty inclosur,
of iron and glass, of classic detail in tn,
period of Henry H. of Circassian walnu
trim, with crotch panels, has more the as
pect of boudoir than elevator. The deeI
seat is of walnut, upholstered with IA
cushions of crimson velvet edged in dull
| gold galloon. over the seat is a mirror Gu
into small squares by wooden muntins. A
each side are electric candles softened b,
red silk shades. Ones last view before tn
door closes noiselessly is of a bay window
opposite, set with cathedral glass case
ment lights, which sheds soft colors upol
| the hall bench of carven stone and upol
the tesselated floor.
The door to the Higbee domain is of pol
ished mahogany, set between lights of an
J tique verte Italian glass, and bearing a.
! ancient brass knocker. From the reception
room, with its walls Of green empire silk
one passes through a foyer hall. of Cor
doya leather hangings, to the drawin
room with its three broad windows Oppo
: site the entrance to this superb room is
mantel OF carved Caen stone, faced wit
! golden Pavanazza marble with old Ro
man andirons of gold ending in the feur
de-lis. The walls are hung with blue Flor
! entine silk. embossed in silver. Beyond
bronze grill is the music room, a librar
done in Austrian oak with strained burla
. paneled by dull-forged nails, a conserva
tory, billiard room, smoking ROOM Thi
tel with Post Tenebras Lux cut into on
OF its marble panels-a legend at whic
the worthy lessee of all this splendor
wont often to glance with respectful in
, terest.
e The admirable host-if one be broad