The Elbert County tribune., 1910-04-22

ognition Mr.. Walsh ha,> most charming and
accomplished wife, She was Miss Carrie Reed
when he married her in Colorado. She had
gone from her Wisconsin home to the Rockies
for her health. and when she met the sturdy
proprietor of the leading hotel of Leadville
an attachment developed that resulted in a
happy marriage. Mr. Walsh was ambitious
that his wife should enjoy social distinction
After he had made his millions he came east
and tried to rub elbows with many of those
who had inherited theirs. Promptly the social
folk busted their clothes where the elbows
touched. The Washes, In their narrow eyes,
were parvenues-new rich-n. g.
why. he was only laborer-an Immigrant
laborer at that" remarked society. referring
to Mr.. w.
"I'll just try a flank movement" mused Mr..
Walsh. So he secured the commissionership
to the Paris exposition. and when he sailed
for France there was no society crush at the
dock to wave good-bys. But after he had
trained most of the European nobility to drop
into his home for sandwich now and then
the American society folk who hadn't been
able to get even passing nod from third
rate count began to understand that the
Washes were really very desirable people
Thus 1t happened that when the boat docked
at New York on the return trip American So
ciety was down there en- masse wig-wagging
welcomes and telling one another about how
glad they were to see "our dear friends. the
Washes, home again.
From that time on Mr. Thomas F. Walsh
and his wife had to screen the house to keep
society from overrunning It, And ever since
then the Colorado Croesus has been up at the
top of the social heap in Washington Newport
and the other places where silken society can
be found at home.
One day after his return from Europe Mr..
Walsh decided that 1t would be necessary to
have a larger house. He had purchased the
old Jenness Miller homestead in Washington
aAd fitted 1t out luxuriously. But It was too
small-too cramped for the entertainments he
desired to give. The Miller house was torn
down and on the site erected by far the
finest house in the nations capital. Washing
ton refers to II "the palace" and no other
designation would be fitting. The building
cost $1.000.000. in round figures. 1t took from
100000 to 100000 to furnish IT, Over 900
people can be entertained In 1t without crowd
ing. There are Ga rooms. Each Of the larger
apartments has distinct decoration, nearly
every known species Of hardwood having been
used in the interior fnishings The floors
alone of several Of the rooms cost 900 each
In the ballroom the gold used in decorating the
ceiling cost $4,000. The building is lighted
system. and automatic electric elevators-the
kind that without conductors-carry the
occupants from one floor to another There
are four immense pipe organs in the house.
and SO well Is II arranged that all Of the
gans be played at one time without the
sound of one penetrating to the zone reached
by the sound of another Specially employed
connoisseurs secured Europe and the Orient
for rare rugs and tapestries wherewith to dec
crate this regal residence and pictures worth
many fortunes adorn the walls In the mag
nifcent Italian garden surrounding the house
there vases and statuary brought from
Greece and Italy. When this house was con-
structed and furnished Mr.. Walsh expected to
entertain King Leopold there. The Belgian
ruler to have been present at the house
warming" But he could not come at that tine
and the housewarming went on Just the same
with most of the notables OF social and official
life of Washington and New York In attend
ance.
Il haven't always had all l wanted, yol
know remarked Mr.. Walsh one day, land /
like to see plenty Of everything for every
body"
He probably thought when he gave voice
to this statement. OF the days when he was
laborer In Boston. Or maybe he went back
along the highway OF memory to the time
when he was a wheelwright back in Tipperary.
Ireland. He born in Tipperary SO years
ago and came to this country when a lad in
his late teens. He landed in Boston and tried