New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-25

fornia is so like that of Italy that this painted
furniture feels quite at home and behaves &C.
cordingly; but here the steam heat gets % its
nerves and it breaks out in all kinds Of blisten
and cracks and warps, just as the Chinese
lacquer does"
We crossed Broadway and turned westward
81 am taking you to an old house in Wash.
ington Square," said my guide, ITO which a
really clever woman has given really Italian
atmosphere"
On the outside it was one of the typlca
brownstone houses that one sees in the old
parts of the city, but once we stepped inside We
were in world far away across the seas. We
went through panelled hall on to little land
ing, then down few steps into long room
with French window at the end through
which we caught glimpse Of green lattice
fir trees and a stone fountain. One Was i'm
pressed with the Italian feeling Immediately.
This ROOM" Letitia explained, was built
on to the original house and used as stained
glass factory, hence the brick walls. This clever
woman plastered the ceiling, but left the Oh
brick walls and had both ceiling and walls
white washed as you see. The furniture
is all old Italian except the big sofa and
easy chair. but they are covered with Italian
damask, which keeps them in picture LOOK
around as much as you like. u 4 it the mos
Italian thing you ever saw" .
1t certainly was. The door and window
sashes were painted in the old blue-green and
the window shades were of striped linen in m
same green and buff finished with buf-coors
fringe and tassel. AT the window at the en-
hung an old red lacquer bird cage. On one slce
a real Italian fireplace with quaint peaked noGe
had been built and in front of this was an c~
wrought iron screen, with nigh iron holders !"
torches on either end. Il.
The furniture was arranged syinnelfNan!
for the most part-as, for instance, tnls s'oSfl
ing on the side wall. Here was heavy Oia
carved chest, with rush-seated chair on e''l'.
side and portrait of some dead ana t."s
Italian noblewoman hanging over 1t agslhsS
background of blue velvet, with carved wo0''"
candle brackets on either side.
Everything in this room was interesting y
its kind. There was long Italian table 10 Wy
middle with a bit Of old pinky-red dams.sS
thrown across it. This same damask was VIZ
for the covering of the high backed caF,.S
chair and for the big sofa. In fact, tnls IT, ~.
was the predominating color OF the ROOM ias
lamp shades were made of it; piece OF y
hung against the wall as a background 10,
lovely gold framed mirror; it was even useu
cover a portfolio which lay on the ola "'
nut desk. -
The monotony of this coloring was rel's s"ss
by touches of the green which appeared ~ n
and there in lamp or jar and, OF eouisI t;s
the woodwork of the room. There was We. vs'
soft easy chair in front of the hrepiaes' Va. sh
cred with q striped damask, red ana pun va" ~
narrow green lines. There were all sorS ~
interesting tables seemingly set IN Juss
right places for comfort and yet not dsti"'~''
from the formal character of TIE room.
The brio -brac was all ltallan theF w"
water jars from Palermo and Naples, q p re-
Venetian lamp. wall brackets OF painteu w. w.
gold framed mirrors and carved "ovu -
liqua. A priests robe of faded old dainssn al
thrown over the rail on the landing ana ~
gold Venetian lantern formed the newer Es,,.I
An iron stand held big brass oraaieI IN
with green laurel. The narrow man'ei sn'
was Just wide enough for two wooden uihs "a
polychrome which held electric candles. 49, 49,
over the mantel hung an old portrait OF y"
King of Naples. in armor and ermine r9p es.,
Not one Earring note" commented Lf , w.
.ook at the broom on the hearth, maue "
the peasants in Tuscany ,,,. 70
"fhey also make spaghetti" ! meekH ~
marked. Very
Letita laughed. hungry AGAIN.,
well, Luigi's is just around the corner
II you mant TO sec some beautiful era ,:stsd