Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26
NEW FOURTEENTH NORTHWEST
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Venetian life. and they vary greatly In tone
and In coloring.
Many of these papers were brought Into
America at the time when the wharves were
busting scenes of unloading and shipping
cargo; when the great East Indiamen Ia
oored into port under clouds of canvas. In
the halcyon days before the tide Of COM
merce ebbed away. Then the holds of the
ships were filled with rich stores-pictures.
furniture. silver. curios and these pictur-
esque wall papers. Some of these were made
In foreign lands from designs of American
merchant princes. One in particular adorned
the parlor of palatiai mansion on Derby
street. in Salem, Mass. It Is a representa-
ton of scenes illustrative of the owner life.
commencing with his humble birthplace and
ending with the home of that day.
Only a few of the originals to be found
at the present time. These are scattered
here and there throughout maritime towns.
homes, for decorators all over the country
are endeavorfng to produce these old land
scape papers. One of the best preserved of
these wall hangings Is to be found in
home in Newburyport, Mass, which Is
cupied by Mrs. G. w. Perry. This Is known
as the Knapp mansion, built IN the middle
of the eighteenth century by a revolution
airy hero. 1t Is a large, square, colonial
structure, standing back from the road and
facing the principal residential street. At
the left of tho wide hallway are shown two
large rooms, separated by folding doors.
These are hung with remarkable, old-time
81
red, peacock blue and soft white. Follow
ing the lines of the room. one recognizes
scenes taken from ShakeSpearSS TEN
pest 1t commences with the shipwreck and
follows the story. In the room adjoining
are shown many interesting phases of for
eign life. This paper is as fresh In coloring
as the day 1t was placed on the wall, and
bears no marks of the ravages of time.
In the same historic city are two more
noted wall papers. differing in pictorial eff
feet. One Of these Is In black and white
coloring. It shows woodland and glade, with
pastoral scenes; here and there tall poplars
rear their stately heads. stiff and uncompro-
missing as were our Puritan ancestors. In
the chamber overhead Is another of these
old-time wall coverings. This Is finished In
sepia tints. 1t represents pictures of for
eign lands. We find here the peasant en-
gagged in the arduous duty Of the weekly
wash, while from the opposite bank a bash
full swain contemplates the domestic scene
while he pursues his occupation of fishing.
There are a multitude OF effects in these
old-time papers, brought from Venice, from
Holland, from England and from Germany.
In an old house IN Salem Is seen one of the
most unique. 1t extends from floor to cell
ing lining the spiral stairway. Waterfalls
leap over preeipices and run the busy mill.
situated on the bank below. while startled
deer peer from the underbrush. aroused by
the step Of the huntsmen seen in the dis
lance.
Facing Washington square In the witch
city Is colonial mansion with stately Co
riuthian pillars, said in the olden times to
have been packed with salt to make them
retain their position This was the home
which the war governor, John A. Andrew,
always coveted. In a chamber IN the upper
story Is a most interesting hunting paper.
In coloring, red, green and light ttntS are
shown. Commencing In one corner, we
watch the huntsmen and women starting