The Republican journal., 1903-02-05
the number and variety Of structures dis

found that our party had been augmented
by three more Belfasters, who had arrived on
the morning train during our absence.
After dinner the party adjourned to the
Senate Chamber, where the literary exer-
cises of the Association, which are open to
the public, were held. The Press members
had turned out in goodly numbers, and to-
gether with the spectators crowded the
room. The Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath of Au-
gusta gave an able and fOrceful address on
ssThe Law of Libel in Maine" and Howard
Owen kept his audience in roar with his
witty paper, "The Ups and Downs of q
Newspaper Man," which was delivered in
his inimitable manner. Frank Fl. COlley,
former Belfast boy, now of Portland, deliver
ed fine poem entitled "America," which
will appear later in The Journal. Dur
ing the fifteen minutes intermission fol-
lowing the exercises an informal reception
was held, while few went in to the House
to listen to the woman's suffrage hearing.
When the meeting was again called to
order various business matters were dis
posed of and the usual resolutions passed
thanking those who had contributed to the
success of the meeting.
On adjournment the members separated,
some to attend the suffrage hearing, but the
majority to return to their hotels to rest and
prepare for the great event of the season
the Governors reception The invitations
were given from eight to eleven, and the
Belfasters chose nine o'clock as suitable
hour. The guests were the members OF the
legislature, the staff and executive council,
the heads of State departments, and ladies,
and the members of the Maine Press ASso-
citation. The mansion, designed by John
Calvin Stevens of Portland is not far from
the hotel 1t is said to be the finest private
residence in the State and some people call
it the finest east of Boston. 1t was begun
in 1901 and first occupied last December.
The area of the lot is about an acre and
half, and to procure it the Governor was
obliged to buy four houses and lots. The
house is of colonial architecture, and is
built of St. Louis gray brick. The notice.
able feature in front is circular Grecian
porch at the main entrance, with four pill
lars of white Hailowell granite. On the
Green street side is a carriage porch with
pillars. On the south side is terrace ex-
tending the whole length of the building
with a slight swell in the center. In the
rear there is piazza.
A line of carriages was drawn up before
the brilliantly lighted mansion, and the
door was opened by negro servant, who
directed the guests upstairs. The walls of
the broad hall were covered with tapestry
of dark green and brown tones, following
closely the old-fashioned landscape paper Of
years gone by. The woodwork is white,
while overhead the great beams stand out
in relief The striking feature of the nall
is the staircase leading from the graceful
pillars at the base by broad stairs to the
first landing, where an upholstered seat
makes tempting resting place and affords
a good view of both upper and lower halls.
Making our way slowly through the crowd
we reached the dressing room, which had
pink for it's color scheme, and was evidently
Mrs. Hills own apartment. A colored maid
relieved us of our wraps and we made our
way down stairs and into the library, to be
graciously received by Governor and Mrs.
Hill, to whom we were presented by Private
Secretary n. S. Purrngton. Mrs. Hill was
charmngly gowned in dark blue velvet and
thread lace over white silk, her cordial man.
ner and stately appearance making her fit
mistress of the magnificent mansion. The
library, the largest room in the house with
the exception of the ball room, has a fire.
place of green malachite. The woodwork
is dark oak and the walls are covered with
green velour with frieze of tapestry in the
soft colors. Book cases, four or five feet
high, surround the room, and the pictures
hung above are delight to an admirer of
art. The furniture is of mahogany, uphol-
stored in green leather, and the furnishings
include a massive writing table and two
pianos, an upright and q baby grand
Across the hall from the library is the
reception room, or parlor. The walls are
covered with yellow satin damask and hung
with beautiful pictures. Across the hall
leading from the side door is the dining
room, where the mahogany rafters and
harmonizing furnishings, including a
unique electrolier, make most attractive
in which deep red and green tones
prevail.
Weber, the Boston caterer, served a de-
licious supper, the menu including salads,
scalloped oysters, rolls, ices and frozen pud-
dings in fancy shapes, all kinds of fancy
cakes and bonbons. Outside the dining
room door and at the head of the stairs
leading down to the well equipped billiard,
pool and ping pong room, was an enormous
glass punch bowl from which lemonade was
served. Across the hall from the dining
room, in the rear of the library, is Governor
HilPs "den" and private office. Red burlap
covers the walls, and an artistic Grecian
frieze is formed by large-headed brass
tacks. The furnishings are of Flemish oak,
upholstered in red leather. The business
like air given by the roll-top desk and desk
telephone is subdued by the pictures and
and by the books in the low
case, among which was noticed "Alice in
Wonderland"
On the third floor a glimpse of typical
boys room devoted to poster art was afford
ed us. Gibson, Pierce and Cristy girls
smiled down at us from the walls, which
were covered with souvenirs and like treas
ures. The ball room occupies one side OF
the house in the third story. The walls
are covered with a delicate gray paper of