Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-03-14

was a garrulous old man. Juan Primero.
who assured the visitors that he had
known Don Pedro" since boy, and had
! always predicted great things for him.
His servants and advisers are the wise
old Mexicans OF his town, and his closest
friend Is the old parish priest, who sings
weekly mass In his private chapel. Alva-
RADIO is undoubtedly happy in the admira-
ton OF his friends and his clean charities.
Proud as a child Of his wealth, he is the
simplest Of men and apparently without
trace Of arrogance.
! Alvarado's wealth is estimated by gen
erous newspaper correspondents at $780,
10000 He is probably worth one-third
as much and holds sole title to mine
which Is now producing about million
ana q half dollars net profit each year,
| but which, under progressive manage
ment, could no doubt give double, or even
three times that amount. The mine, Ia
! Palmilla," whose ores are gold and sill
ver is a property about ten acres in ex
tent on the surface, which was worked
by Pedro Alvarado. the elder, with the
| help of his three sons.
OF Alvarados wonderful palace little
has been written, though IT IS a remark
able reflection of the man in many ways.
Legend has it land the Avarado legend
has been of most healthy growth In the
past five years. thanks to imaginative
| Pullman portcrs) that he has n piano In
! every room, ana that n million canary
birds render sweet music in tho patios.
| The piano in every room Is not much ex-
aEgerated. but the population of birds
can he safely reduced to n thousand. Al
varado was wise enough to allow a skill
ed italian architect to design his house.
and It Is really a handsome structure
The facade Of native white limestone. IS
deicately carved and inside particularly
In the patio, airy arches and Moorish
windows make charming effect. Five
hundred of the old friends of the owner
the poems Of the town worked many
months on the construction Of the build
Ing, and the carving done by these un-
skilled hands. following closely, however,
the architects designs. is an important
feature of the palace"
The house covers about an acre Of
ground. and is built after the Mexican
fashion, around an open court. or patio,
the rooms opening in the upper and lower
corridors. The various rooms are fur
nishod in lavish style. many OF the pieces
being real art gems. but distributed with
out reference to good taste. Practically
| all the furniture Is OF Moaican manufact-
ure but most Of the bric-a -brac and the
curtains were imported. Apparently, the
| first effort made by Alvarado was to
spend as much money as possible. and a
distant second to make things Comforta-
HE. The dining room Is furnished In ma
tive fixtures built on the general design
of Gothic churches deliberately overdone.
The bare room might, however, be made
pleasing. but for the covering of well
worn oicoth which decorates the table
The chapel of the house, which occupies
one of tho upstairs rooms, which was
evidently not designed for that use. IS
stuffed from floor TO ceiling with church
~ fittings of the Raudy gold and tinse
which characterize the modernized MeXi-
can chapels. The crowding is oppressive
. and the tiny space which Is given for one
e. to pass around the great black funeral
pvre effect which has been erected If
memory Of Don Pedro's wife is incroaCh-
ed upon by the altar. the great candle
$ sticks, the Bishops throne. and the me-
] chanical organ which occupies corner
, The of-told tales of the richness Of this
q room are largely false. although muct
good money was undoubtedly spent or
Z the tawdry fittings
D The bedrooms of the house were evil
"'h'4N Ht1'' "P ny '''l'''' - l'i N'''N a (
= al very elaborate ana not dispensing
= although since the house has been turne'
S over to its master fancy sofa pillows II
r gaudY colors, on leather or SILK nave
taken the place OF the more delicate
j 'shams Wh'ch prooaplN once Gra'e'
0 the beds, Alvarados drawing room IS
q wonder to behold. Some effort was made
$ to turn the long room into 4 beautiful
: reception halI but with the heaNN rec
a velvet curtains an even dozen n1rror
n with mantepieces before them' ana IN
- middle space hlled "l'h gold FURNITURE
|. The ehect is only oppressive ana suggest
= nothing more than some enchahted cavern
l about To close about one In q d"a''
l. clutch. tn" vases Of beautiful silVe
| workmanship, CARVING ghastIy bouquet
r of artificial flowers, the craYon portrait
/ on casels Of Don Pedro's sainted anc"s
q tors, the pipes OF ore from the MN" WhlcI
- I'LL each corner and the lnnumera nj
e trinkets which have been sold to TN
- simple soul by willy travellers, all pro
claim. in this room, The pride of III
" heart. the lowliness OF his origin, and hi
,, desire TO make his house and himsel
i famous for their magnticence. ENt HI
e frank preference for the cellar. WIN Il
q unpretentious honesty, proclaim the rea
|. man and his contempt for the bad tast
$ he does not know enough to rectify.
i