Evening Star Newspaper, December 17, 1892, Page 12

= ‘AR: WASHINGTON. D. C.. SATURDAY, ll THE EVENING S' House in New York city. Some mirrors country, when the colonies were still young, « | = a A HISTORIC MANSION. |snsreamsnuttinc-c S'trur(CITY OF LA GUAYRA.|isie sie ncaees DINNER PARTIES. |itsentencc ‘ Ddeauties of their box in that home of song. much used than the mule trail. Ite aban- are women at Be hank ‘TOE LIBRARY, ss doned grad‘ents are ee, of old- | het “ata ane’, o en oe vet The Corcoran Hi the Tes-| which bas = bayistsdew extsmsica on It strwst, so as time methods, which suggest ‘American : much fun to most men as the merri- eg Aajine the Yellow parlor, The: wood work is A Description of the Principal Sea- Aborigines had takmasters as severe ne those hs Ditieencs Between These of the | cosy Os Sin sen, ses Sos os aes oppressed Hebrews. Every foot of twelve miles was beautifully pa idence of Senator Brice and Family. them out? If a man i bright and gifted port of Venezuela. - 1 find the: SEER _wepasvannes LER eee Se Se ota same ‘8 silver pat 5 Ly ween jie] ited of ° omen & ig nv eoe hs | Degas lame 6 gaa fistnres on sither side of the | A LOPTY: RAILROAD: RIDE. | Cobble tone tet on eign, Cro ines of stone | CUT-A ND-D RIED DINNERS. | pbk storie ths nomen nad cro he with A ——. - «| carved ma felpieee Satan the ratlier vies 2) Jwere then ‘set up at intervals‘of three feet, so} _ Tt ix unfair to sa: ate les sclfich bens: sanasctoe Ine ote, Aisareal Adoaiobees pe ae itecthte® ‘for: which . ._| "| that the entire roadway is laid out in regalat 2 apry Bap eae than men. At any rate the question is too wast but the Intorlor Has Been Brightened and | famon "Mr. Brice -has arate soliechon ot} fee eee, cma pnd Across the Highs three ‘agonal lines of Gobble louse, eine | MOT OWT Ancestors Entertained Thetr | #21 many silled to be dn caput caus Beantifully Decorated and Upholstered— | books with which Yo flll the casos lining the | Trestle In. the World—How the City Came | 21°) "oie & Friends—When the Hostess Did = Good - all impartial observers to Be Bullt—Recollections of the Days of the Pirates. that women are lew eeitiah in tuon than men, and that around the ditiner table do. These remarks hel polite con verna- give and take ore than vag meeee a REMAREASGE BARLWAY. ‘Share of the Work—Dinner Invitations. The third route to the capital is over the re- markablelittle narrow-gauge railway which starts only two feet above high tide level and reaches an altitude of 5,128 feet in‘ less than fifteen thes THE DINING ROOM is spacious, The carved wood work has been painted to resemble old ivory. The walls are covered with leather in « blending of rich colors, seen at their best when the room ie Seek ae ‘Written for The Evening Star. ¥ DEAR MR. BLANK HERE IS PROBABLY no private residence at the capital so interest- ‘From The Star's Traveling Commissioner. THE P A LM GA Rk D E N. La Guarana, Vewnzcens, Nov. 9, 1892. nd has already become known in = OMING DOWN TO | Miles of tortuous climbing, crossing ravines on We have asked a id, unless, per 4 . ~ ay | thirty-five, ing to the general pub- | brightly lighted. ‘The arched effoct in the side s high trestles, piercing ridges by innumerable Foung people to dine | wicked. Men, that » bo are grown up IC IN GER MAN Y., | Extoretnt Amerion for his peculiar style of i ie 0 walls is brought out better than ever. It has this port from the | tunnels and winding around lessor peaks in the With ue on Thursday | ¢hd have a good opinion, of themselves are met SJ UBRMAL + | composition. D’Albert comes and plays in his He as the | Corcoran | always been much admired. north in one of the | most bewildering mauner. Though Caracas is an e 7 ectock |S dinners in a war that own inimitable way on the piano, and Pade- house, which Senator t6 BEM ion dhatbuw ORiiCs many coasters that ply |.only justsix miles from La Guayra “‘as the crow a a ox if they overboard - | Teweki wins the hearts of all by his interpreta- Calvin 8. Brice of Obio| a. west eide of th taht Gaia the Caribbean sea for | *e%;"" it takes twenty-three miles of railrond and we would be do- | them, and itis to be boped thet the “detes™ a n tion of the old masterpieces of music. Famous tath—umis the et oa eee ee track to connect the two places. Within a mile lighted if you would | at a lunche eq anlle discreet. How the People in Frankfort Enjoy | violinists come from Vienna, Dresden, Leipsi fhe next fre | ith porticoes. The gates in the stone wall on hundreds of miles you | from ite starting point the road crussos a tre come. Do any sea, ° | and Berlin. David Popper, whose gray dence for the next five | Connecticut avenue open on a pathway leading are never out of sight | mendous crevice made by the earthquake of Pune atecerely Hr Rare Concerts. keeps time with the music of his ‘cello, plays years, The extonsivo | to the bread veranda steps. Visitors te Sen. of huge red mountains | 1812. The ravine thus opened bas been filled — | his own compositions and brings tears to the scheme of improve-| ator Brice’s office can reach it without going that seem to rise | With adobe houses, and over their tops and ‘tq. | THM Giving the Seeretary of the Vreasury . - eyes of the rudience with the sweet strains of ments which has been | through any other part of the honee.” Th through the cocoanut groves the traveler Such was the invita- aval of A Ooms ie cence | ‘*Traumerei.” Among other celebrities who are ; tice at the cad’ of the: back building. It straight ont of the | catches a glimpse of thecontonr of the “roast,” tion that one young | yt Aswiheancttoney ORCHESTRAS OF SOLOISTS. | expected here this winter we louk for Joachim, in progress since the) boo oeneto be the room where Mr. Corcoran water. At La Guayra | and from that point till the summit is rexched, tmanthewedenctherths nena oa the great violinist. house was leased last | spent the closing days of his life and whore he you stand at the north” | fifteen miles up the mountain, the sea is never Cher day and pro er ree. im his annasl se — Ail this may be heard for from @8_ to 37% | spring has not materially changed {te outward | dled. A‘bay window gives n fine view of the iczeoet | exinemntiy 0 Seek eens en es BS WS OE nestle bbin peck bea: | eee cents. No wonder that near! FMANS are ands. Itis handsomely fitted up and few H tunnel. There is a “loop” on this line whic 2 he Many Evening Concerts Enjoyed by | fin tier with classical masa. Who in America | PPecrance. gro} mely Pp that vast cordillera Paaxaront ax Marx, Nov. 25, HE SEASON OF CON- cert going has begun. All Germans who can afford it are enjoring to the utmost the won- derful music for which their country is 0 Justly famed. Frank- fort ia not bebind other German cities in ite musical advantages. ‘Two good conservator- fesand a school for vocal music attract many from the surrounding towns. Frankfort Soa frequented by the English, but i are also quite » number of Americans ‘Three sets of subscription concerts are given October to April, One of these consists “chamber music evenings” every other Fri- SS heard Paderewski last year or D’Albert a couple of years ago for 37g cents? 6 concert 1s over, the carriages are waiting n@ the footmen and ‘maids carefully wrap up | their young lady charges. The humbler indi- viduals wend their way through the wet and rain (it always rains on concert nights) to the hony concerts of high horse car. Another series of symp Frade bas been opened in the Opera House. same conductor leads these and they afford great advantages for the bundreds who cannot obtain tickets for the Musoum’s concerts. SINGING soctETIES. ‘The Kuhls'chen Verein is very similar to the Damrosch Oratorio Society. They give only sacted music and have about four concerts « season. German orchestral concerts are very fine, but for some reason the chorus singing and many of the soloists in the oratorios aré much inferior to those to be heard at home. The Caecilien Verein is a very old singing society, and it was for them that Mendelssohn wrote his beautiful oratorio of St. Paul,about 1834, ‘They sing a great deal of Schumann's music, which is very favorably received in Frankfort. There are any number of other male quartets, male choruses and concerts at the conserv- atoies, enough to occupy every evening in the week if desired. Very many of the best concerts are given on Sunday, which is very inconvenient for the Americans who cannot stretch their consciences enough to attend them. As Sunday is the German holiday large audiences are always ob- taiuable. At the overa at 3 o'clock there is a ial matinee, aud the finest are given then nnd in the evening. Sunday evening is a time for enjoyment and merrymaking. ‘THE OPERA HOUSE is said to be the finest in Germany. It ina large building in a handsome part of the city and was opened in 1880. The interior is beauti- fully decorated with rare marbles and the fres- coes arg fine. Wagner's operas are given most ently, but “Martha,” “Don Juan,” “Fidelio” ‘and the favorite “Cavalleria Rusti- night. Each member of the quartet play- ng stringed instruments at these concerts is a YBne soloist and would draw large crowds of en- Mrasiastio admirers in America. They play se- Yections from Italian, French and, principally. German compositions. One learns more and to appreciate the superior talents of the $eacy rest composers whom Germany has pro- In imagination we sce Beethoven's yhead and rugged features bending over work as he composed his symphonies and concertos, not one note of which can he ever Dear, for his ears are closed to sound: or Mo- wart, who, in his poverty-stricken home in gave sweet strains to the world, the [leds ce dence of which he was destined never realize. Schumann and Schubert come be- fore us, whose lives were ended #0 soon, and Mendelssohn's pare and intellectual face is typical of beautiful and harmonious music. OPERA w ‘These concerts are given in a comparatively email hall and are always well attended. Not Yong ago Brabme, whose compositions are very popular bere, led the musicians and accompa- ‘Tied them on the piano, in one of his own con- corton, He i# « fine-looking elderly man with a Jong gray beard and benevolent countenance. LAMA SCHUMANN. ‘The chamber concerts are under the patron- ege of Frau Clara Schamann, who, as Fraulein Wieck. the famous pianist, interpreted the com- of Robert Schumann to his great satis- tion, and as his wife continued to bring his work before the public. On account of au in- Jury to one of his fingers, Schumann was never able to play much himself. Together they vis- ited the various courts of Europe and were Bighly honored. Since her husband's death Frea Schumann and her daughters have re- gided in Frankfort, and « Soe bave been privileged to come under her instruction. ais gees citer Misedioon Gat chose pon to play publicly. When she consents, such is the demand for tickets that unding room can be obtained. It is © pretty picture that the old lady makes, as, drewed ina bieck silk with a black lace Senet plotamseqnely draped over her white bair, eho at the piano. She plays with all the fire touch fe to Gelicate co that of ‘@ young girl 11 is not strange that she won the Beart of the youthful composer. MUSECMS O8 PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS. On the alternate Friday evenings the muse- ‘eme concerts are given in the large hall, which ‘te directly apposite the small coucert room. ‘These concerts have been established for many years and itis very difficult to get tickets, as most of them are taken by subscription and ‘Aept in families for generations. Through the Musicians, however, it is sometimes possible to ogteaies. Site prsmeas exe Seed to at- the rebearsals, which are not exactly coun- cana” are also very popular. The concerts nnd the opera afford the best opportunities for hearing classical music, but this is not, by any means, the only kind of mu- sic that may be heard here. Frankfort possesses two large gardens, or parks. One, the Zoological Garden, lies at the eastern end of the city. It is comparatively modern. As lately as 1870 all this land was oc- cupied as ® hospital for soldiers who had been wounded in Franco-Prussian war. The garden has been prettily Inid out b: scape gardener and contains a fine collection of animals. Music of a light character is given here every afternoon and evening during the year and a subscription ticket is obtained for a small sum. On pleasant afternoons the garden is filled with small children, who, with their nurses, enjoy the music and fresh air. The evening concerts aro well attended. They are not of so high grade, however, as those at the Palmen Garten, which is at the extreme west- ern end of the town. In front of the Palmen Haus, which contains a concert hall and restaurant, as well as = beautiful collection of palms. there is daring the warm season & very ine display of flowers. As soon as the blossoms yrither they are replaced by, others from the hot houses in rear. The early spring pansies are followed by roses, begonias, dahlias and numberless other varieties of flowers, until the season closes with @ gorgeous display of chrysanthemums. the weather is warm tables are spread out of doors and it is the habit of many Ger- man ladies to come out here with their children to hear the concert and drink 4 o'clock coffee, ‘and then, being joined by their husbands, re- main to cat supper in the cool of the evening, during the second concert. Frequently there are two bands, which play alternately. DURING THE INTERMISSION the people promenade back and forth, or wander off to other parts of the garden through beds of cacti, or of roses grown as small trees, carnations and other beautiful flowers. Then, passing around by the fine lawn tennis courts and the open field where “Buffalo Bill," or “Bufel Wilhelm,” as the Germans called him, held his Wild West show a couple of years ago, they wander through shaded paths and over rustic bridge which crosses a lovely little lake. In winter there is much skating here. A little jer on are the children’s play grounds, well provided with games and swings. terparts of the concert. although the «ame pro- ia given, but are genuine rebearsala. ‘Not tly the leader strikes with his baton and, bringing the orchestra to a full stop, presses himself in strong but forcible German, and the entire piece mast be repeated. Ladies, @entlemen of leisure and many children are ‘even bere at 10 o'clock in the morning and sit through « three hours’ rehearsal with mach ea ‘The galleries are occupied by pupils the conservatories who are presented with | tickets to the “Probes.” ‘their «mail band bags rolls, which they calmly | est. On account of the light breakfast of coffee | nd rolls it is almost s necessity ty have some sort of «lunch before the mid-day dinner. [6 fe not a difficult habit to acquire and one is not | prepared & the music unless the ““brod- | hen” is near at hand. } EVENING Coxceats ‘usually begin at balf-past six, and from No. Ber until March it does not seem early, as it is @ark ot 650. About 6 o'clock the street cars ere filled with ladies having large warm wraps about them and « soft silk scarf or charming “faactnator” over the bead. It is the universal Custom at the opera oF concert to remove the | Bats, and roomy cloak © provided for them on each ttoor daly taekoted auc kept in safety On the evening of « museums concert a nar- Fow street on which the hall st fed with carringes of all the Alegent coupe in which rides in full dress, ready for n in one of the boxes, to the humble dro ceupant, in plain street drow, m: the very top "gal lery and thoroughly enjoys all the music, fol- Jowing it with the score which she bolds on ber lap. ‘The sidewalks are thronged with people hurrying slong for fear they will be too late end will mise the Srst piece is an absolute law that ne one wed to enter the room Until the piece fe greeted with © bins arried on by meany « . Dnt the young Indy almost inevitably turns out to be au American, who is always herself. even ios foreign country. The eves of the German Maiden tarn pot to righ! nor to left as whe site by ber ctygnitied mother or chaperone, The orchestra ix magnificent. Each inetra- ment ie in absolutely perfect harmony with ite neighbor and the leader | who sit near them ver; IN THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. In the winter season the concerts are held in- side the house, and when there is a large crowd of an evening "the fumes of tobacco are almost It is the custom of a party of six ladies to come nearly all wear their hair plainly combed down over the ears in the old fashion. Each one orders her favorite dish and when that is eaten they knit vigorously on some work taken from their handbags. During the inter- vals between the pieces their heads come very lose together and they nod earnestly, evidently discussing the latest bit of gossip. Near by ts a group of officers who are sipping teir beer and eyeing a couple of pretty girls demurely with their parents. ‘The Palmen Garten is an excellent place to observe German life. OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT. Besides these two large gardens there are any number of small ones connected with res- taurants, where music may be heard nearly every fine evening. Sometimesitisasingle violin,a flute or cornet, or a band of Tyrolese singers. who, dressed in their native costumes, are singing the wild mountain airs, The people sit very quietly at the tables, drinking or smoking, and at 10 o'clock all disperse and the garden is dark and deserted. that no public entertainment, an evening party with music, or even piano playing in a private house, can continue after 10 o'clock without pecial permit from the police. This ix Jessing in a city of apartment i insures peace and quiet at an early Although Germans spend most of the houses a hour. are, asa rule, a people of early hours and reg- ular habits, Tavxes. ee Nauticel. From Puck. One of the laws of the city is | Mr. James Renwick, the architect of the Smithsonian Institution and of St. made the house for so many years the lar and most imposing private residence in Wash- ington. A MISTORIC MANSION. ‘The house is one of the list, none too long now, of Washington homes full of historical memories. Unlike most of the rest these same memories are records of pleasant dayr and doings. It has sheltered happy households. The most distinguished men and women of the age have been entertained there, and some of the notable hospitalities of the early part of the last half century have taken place under its roof. The house is said to have been built originally for Mr. § torney under President’ John Quincy Adams. foliowing him Daniel Webster purchased the property and made it hishome. At that period the house was small, compared with what is man nuwadays. ‘MR. CORCORAN'S MOSPITALITIES. When Mr. Corcoran bought the house from Mr. Webster he added the two wings and the L addition and made it the commodious house it is today. Mr. Corcoran entertained very luy- ishly and his name over the world. While he was traveling abroad from 1862 till 1866 he rented the house to the then French minister, Marquis de Montholon, who kept up the eamo style of hospitalit After Mr. Corcoran’s return the house had ni other occupant than himself and family until his death. H. ldren have made but Uttle use of it asa residence excepting at odd riods since, and have at any time been will- ing to lease the property. THE NEW OCCUPANT AND HIS PLANS, It is understood that Senator Brice’s long lease and the extensive improvements that he has placed on the house and grounds gives him the option of a final purchase if he should so decide. But be that as it may, he has undoubt- edly provided # magnificent residence for the coming half decade, and if he decides to re- main any longer a householder all the better for Wa hington. THE EXTERIOR. The only change in the front of the house, excepting of course the prettily draped win- dows and other unmistakable suggestions of the renovated interior, is doing away with the familiar stone porch and making the main en- trance under the old porte cochere. ‘This turns the old doorway into a broad window. On the stone pedestal ot the lamps at the poste cochere entrance ‘Corcoran house” ap- Pears in gilt lettering. The venerated owner will not be forgotten by this generation at lenst. On each side of the drive ix a narrow pathway and visitors in carriages or on feot will all en- ter the house by the same means. The porch across this end is all inclosed in glass, and from it is a fine view of the court yard and car- riage house. ‘As @ person enters this commodious hallway the portrait of Mr. Corcoran, with bas reliefs of his daughter, Mra: Eustis, aro the. most prom inent objects hanging in against an arch in the ceiling. The long French windows in the din- ing room, drawing room and hall open on this corridor and almost at any point there is a splendid vista of the entire floor. In this cor- idor, and, in fact, throughout the whole house, the idea of the beautifying has Leen TO LIGHTEN AND BRIGHTEN what was before so dark and dull. The wood- work of the corridor is ina deep ivory tint, which, with the bright scarlet of the carpets and wall hangings, restores the vivid contrasts that were always the feature in the decoration of houses built in the samo period as the man- sion. COLLECTION OF BRIC-A-BRAC AND ANTIQUITIES, Many of the pictures, the-b-onzes and statu- ary, and some of the fine bric-a-brac that were familiar to visitors in this house twenty-five Fears ago are now prominent aguin in its deco- Fation. The cellars and garrets were ransacked for them and everything found. unique and beautiful, has been utilized. In this collection of antiques there were many fine old bronze and marble clocks, portraits, candelabras, table and mantel ornaments, old-time lamps and such that were in many cases presents made to Mr. Corcoran by distinguished persons. Old- fashioned cabineta and settles, old brocaded hangings and other pieces of furnishing have all been brought into use. Many of these things were in Mr. Corcoran’s villa at Cannes when he lived abroad. It was really the home of his daughter, Mrs. Eustis, and everything in it was always associated with her in her father’s mind afterward. oF GENuIxe RELICS there are quite a number. On the wall near Mr. Brice’s office are portraits of Daniel Web- ster, with his autograph and date, Washington Irving, Humboldt, &c. In other places are concave mirror once owned by Thomas Jeffer- son, two fine gilt candelabras—a gift to the Empress Josephine and bought by Mr. Cor- coran—and an arm chair once in the posession of George Washington. DANIEL WEBSTER'S SITTING ROOM. The first room the majority of visitors will enter from the corridor is the second drawing room, called the red parlor. It was Daniel Webster's sitting room once, and a marble bust of tho statesman is on the cabinet. When lighted up the room is very effective. ‘There are panels on the walls of rich brocaded staffs. front drawing room is all in yellow. The furniture is covered with canary colored satin and moire striped brocade. ‘The whole effect is aa soft and as delicate as the first ray of the morning sun. The wood work has the rich ivory finish, with just a little gilt introduced here and there. ‘The electric light comes from a bunch of white rosesin the center of the ceiling. One corner of the room is devoted to miniatures. A gilt frame filled with them bangs against the yellow satin brocaded panel, and under it isa table with a glass top, wher more odd and beautifal things are displayed. A TEA ROOM. Doing away with the old entrance has made it possible to utilize the hallway as a tea room, ‘The door space is filled with a stained glass indow, the fleur de lis pattern of which is re- peated ‘in the banners of tapestry that cover the walls of this cozy corner. Shere is a pretty little tea table, of course, and Gi hing- | ton's arm chair has the place of honor in the corner. Its heavily carved oaken frame looks as | solid as the Constitution. The covering on least sound | evenings at some place of entertainment they | the seat and back is of a soft-toned silk. The corner seats are heaped with pillows, the cov- ering of which is of materials that will quickly interest all lovers of mediseval art. The casual observer sces it now as it looked after Mr. Corcoran’s purchase in 1842, when Patrick's | Cathedral in New York, planned the altera- tions and additions, which, when completed, rgext ‘wan, Who waa district at- After that an English minister lived there, and | considered a suitable establishment for a states- nd house were known all | Senators have a more comfortable working office. The halls and stairs are carpeted in crimson and the walls of the staircase hung with crim- son brocade all the way up. ‘The band rail and banisters are pure white. Fine mirrors nearly cover the walls at each landing. THE UPPER FLOORS. The front chambers on the second floor are occupied by the Senacor and his wife. Mrs. Brice has a boudoir adjoining hung in rose pink silk, The farniture is covered with rose-col- ored satin, and nothing prettier could be ever dreamed about. Back of these rooms are clothes and dress closets, where a hundred gowns could be hung crushed. Guest chambers and the rooms for the young sons of the house aro in the back wing. ‘The third floor is devoted tothe young ladies, Miss Helen and Miss Katie Brice. One bas chosen white as the color for ber room. The other room is almost ns dainty and is in pale blue. The white room has its wails covered With the fluted folda of dotted white muslin, All the furniture’ is white, the dreperies white, and even the carpet is white, too. In the blue room the color scheme is carried out with the same fidelity. The ceiling is like a blue eky with ¢ fow clouds here and there, One room, a very large one between these two, is the joint boudoir of the young Indies. is all yellow and i# about aa dainty and at ame time as cozy a snuggery as can be im- is an upright piano and a small nosen books. ‘The furniture is le yellow silks and satins and arpet is ouly a shade deeper upholstered in the thick, velve in tint. A guest chamber near by for a young lady is | papered, and the pattern is just the same as that in the cretonne with which the furniture is covered. ‘The furniture is old carved ma- hogany and the room is thoroughly “English.” The broad landing upon which all those four rooms open is furnished cozily also and really makes another room. Five comfortable chambers on the top floor arefor the women servants. The housekeep- er's room isin the wing. The men servants have a suite of rooms over the porte cochere near the pantries. and in fact all of them are as comfortably housed as of the guests in the hotels in the neighborhood. THE BASEMENT FLOOR is well worth inspection. It is just as neat asa pin, A good many thousand dollars have been spent in it in the introduction of the newest lumbing, furnaces and laundry facilities. The , Hitchen fs swsarly os bigs tho teat rooe in the White Honse. “wo French chefs are in com- mand. The store rooms, the pantries, the ve etable cellars, the game house and the wine cel- lar are all interesting features of the “‘life be- low stairs.” In the wing is the servants’ ball. The plumbing all over the house is entirely new. Every piece of furniture has been reup- holstered and repaired in some way. The house is lighted by both gas und electric lights. WELL ADAPTED FOR ENTERTAINING. For entertaining the house is scarcely unsur- passed in every detail looking to the comfort of a large company. The large court yard gives ample space for several carriages to turn around to drive out again under the porte cochere. When the number is too large for that a better exit can be obtained by driving out on 16th street through the private alley- way. 2 THE GARDEXS have always been greatly admired, and many a person who has never seén behind the tall brick walls bas tried to imagine exactly what they did look like. Mr. Downing, tho landscape gardener who laid out Lafayette Square and the Smithsonian grounds, was employed by Mr. Corcoran to design his garden. While the latter lited the garden was his delight. It is only within the last ten years that any part of the grounds was sold, “They used to cover nearly the entire square. The I street front has now three houses on it, the United Service Club being the largest and Inst built. There is plenty garden left yet, however, to keep up the thoroughly English appearance of the house and grounds, and to add very materially to the enjoyment of tho occupants of the mansion, Since last spring the gurdens have been entirely restored to their old-time beauty and next spring will be perfection, ‘The carriage house and stable are on the same old-fashioned and comfortable order as the rest of the appointments. Senator and Mrs. Brice have no intention of breaking up their New York home, which is endeared to them by so many happy associa- tions, and for that reason it is not likely they will bring on many of their pictures or books here. They have also a home in Lima, Obio, and a summer residence at Newport. Tale of a Butt. From Judge. and not one of them be in danger of getting | which extends down the entire western side of the continent, whose southern extremity is | chopped off at Capo Horn as abruptly as on the | Venezuelan coast. Nowhere, hereabouts, are there more than 100 feet of level land between the precipitous slopes and the green waves of the turbulent cea, and in most places, except at the mouth of come ravine, water course or bar- ranca, there is barely ten feet of steady shore. The roadway which runs from town to town along the coast has been cut into the faces of the cliff. sometimes overhanging the surf that dashes its spray upon the passing traveler. ORIGIN OF TEE Tow: La Guayra owes its origin to an accident, or, rather, to aquarrel. It seems that Don Losada, the early Spanish governor who founded racas, the Venezuelan capital, also established the waterside city of Caravaileda for its sea- Port somewhere about the year 1550, For BETWEEN LA GUAYRA AND CAMACAS. twenty years his pet pueblo thrived beyond all precedent until it became the most prosperous in the colony—of greater importance even than the capital—and enjoyed universal privileges of self-government bestowed by the cabinet. But when Losada’s day was done and @ stranger governor came over from Spain Luiz de Rojas by name, a tyrant whose many bad deeds have caused any good ones he may have done to be quite forgotten, his first act wns to cut off all the olden’ privileges of Cara- valleda. Among other obnoxious innovations Rojas arrogated to himself the power to ap- point its jefe politico, alea!di and other local officials, and clapped into prison every citi who dared to protest. In due time the foreign magistrates came in state to Caravalleda—bat they found not a soul to rule over. Rather than id their rights to the will of the dictator the izens had abandoned their homes and ficlds and various avocations and haatily removed to other portions of the coast. Th's made mat- ters extremely inconvenient for his dictator- ship, for in those days Caravalleda was the only port of entry for Caracas, and the deserted city soon fell into ruins. However, Rojas’ regime was short. His successor in power en- deavored to persuade the people to return, but in vain, and finally the sito of La Guayra was fixed upon asa sort of compromise between the government and the malcontents. THE DAYS OF THE PIRATES. In the days of the buccancers, when “pirate kings” were forever cruising the Spanish main, La Guayra seems to have been a favorite fight- ing place, for galleons came here to load up with treasures on their way from Carthagenia to Spain. Upon a high bluff overhanging the town is a long, low rambling castle which served for many years as a residence for tho captains general of the Spanish colonies. A WAYSIDE SHRINE. Report has it haunted by a lively company of ghosts of both sexes and many nationalities. and all manuer of romantic traditions are rife concerning it. Those wlio have read the Rev. warles Kingley'a incomparablo novel called Vestward Ho” (and who has not) will be intereste to learn that in this very casa the Rose of Devon dwelt with her Spanish lover, panish | throws into insig | Mexico. opposite side of the canon. from one to the other, and yi motive has bad twenty minut to traverse them. | mile away other, sta strong run overhead, t the little loc: Across the ravine, half oks like a mere thread of silver. | bottom of the ravine which debo | the little village of Muguie [enderas (wash women) ma | beating clothes on the rocks and ritising thei in the stream, as did hundreds of ta and bushes that fringe the creck wre white wi drying linen aa with huge snowflakes. A REMARKABLE VIEW. | gine stops for a few moments, as if to recov | br steamers of the Ti steamers English, German and, French an Venezuelan warships, tain on the island of Curacoa is ba y viribl of Las Rogues and Orchillo. the rear.’ Here the cliff drops straight dewn boulders. The rocks above are g: son and purple flowers and aw ‘down belo: the foliage, but none THE OLD SPANISH HIGHWAY. world, its timbers extending downward 980 feo! so many lines and- angles. From this point we win downward along the mountain side toward th smiling valley where the Spaniards founde: their capital three centuries ago. hardly a foot of this road that did not have t haveabed cut for it outof the side ot th long and all cre so narrow that there is barel room for the train to squeeze through. Trac] is to be constantly on the move, for there is 1 telling when a rock m: side to the track. walkers find on an average from thirty to fift, train be belated on the mountain after sun- down it remains sidetracked till next day- break. to its locomotive, exch car having a ten tons, Some daysas many asth pacity of ¥ arich harvest, Fannie B. Wann. SQUIRT CLAMS AND THEIR HABITS. A New Discovery Which Will Render Theil: Transportation Easy. delics and here she was found by Frank and Aymas Leigh. Tho author states that “the castle stood under the shadow of a gloomy-looking fortress.” ‘The latter, which looks more like a gigantic mud wasp's nest clinging to the dark red rocks, is now in ruins, and tie four-mile- Jong tunnel, which formerly connected the two by an underground passage, has mostly caved in. The ancient abode of love and tragedy of Spanish knights and captive maidens is now- adays utilized as tho headquerters of the great American house of Boulton, Bliss & Dallett, who control Venezuela's coffee trade and send aship load of that commodity every ten days from this port to New York. BULL PIONTING STILL LIVES. La Guayra is also celebrated as one of the very few places in South America where bull fighting is yet carried on near the close of this nineteenth century. ‘The other places are Mon- tevideo, Bentos and Lima, and ineach the bull ring is ured only once or twice a year, when some strolling company of fighters happen to come this way between Cubs and Spain. La Guayra has a neat little plaza filled with dwarf trees and flower beds inclosed within an Ameri- can iron fence. In the center stands « bronze equestrian statue of Guzman Blanco, raised upon a pedestal of white marble. It is said to be a very good likeness of the late dictator- prosident, and was erected by himself in 1880 at great expense, but at the cost of the govern- ment. On the sides of the pedestal are em- blematic tablets in bronze, and at each corner stand huge bronze candelabra, President Blanco was a self-made man and one who evi- dently worships his maker, for in every town and city in Venezuela is at least one statue of him, and in several of the cities are two and three, all erected by himself at the public ex- pense during his days of absolute power. IT IS A DIRTY, DUSTY BURG, No glamor of romance or tradition can hide the fact that this chief seaport of the republic isa dirty, dusty, hot, disagreeable little burg, whose few decent casaa and business houses are one. Up to the present time, mollusks, the adults only have been used. the hardships of a long journey have been successful in obi the rivers and estuaries of California. Clams, ended disastrous!: therefore, that Prof. United States fisly commission at Wood's Holl, found out not lon ago a fact or two which up: setall previous theories and which have ren- dered comparatively easy. It had been sup; soon as hatched, sund, but such is very far from being the fact. objects as weeds or sticks fora number of days, of securing for itself a hole. Namerous speci mens were found by Prof. Ryder suspended on a millimeter to nearly an inch in length. At this ence the young clams can why they should ‘not afford a supply in many parts of the worl the present time they have been unknown. covery'as one having’ the greatest importance. called, are found plentifally as far north as the Aretic ocean, where the seals, wal habitat extends as far south as Cape Hatteras, below which they are scarce. Their spawning season is in Juneand July. In issuing from way into cavities of the outer gulls. There they far outnumbered by one-storied mud huts, hardly fit for human habitation. But the glo- rious mountain La Silla, directly back of the town—the highest mountain in the world that rises abruptly from the sea—more than: com- ponsates for man's lack, | Its saddlelike. top wuches the clouds 9,000 fect from the surf at ite feot, with no lesser ‘or branches near enough to break its grandeur. A drawn through its base would be but ‘i develop into little clams just be seen with the naked eye, when changed by thousands into the water to take care of themselves. ficance that of the Southern | Pacific in California and of tne Santa Fe in New At one point on this South American line you may look below and see where you have just been winding three times round the same peak | bere, and are about to cross on a “hog’s back” to the So close are the two tracks below that yon could almost jump of bard pulling two tiers of rails, one above the out sharply under the light of the while 1,009 feet above another track toward which you are aiming Along the ches bear alvays be een the washerwomen of | ancient times. For two miles or more the ferns When nearing the summit the panting en- th, and you may get out and gaze upon the of all kinds,from the native punt to the palatial ed D line from New York, ‘The sugar-loaf monn- to the northward,and on the east are the islands ‘Two hours from the starting point the train stops at the highest station on the route, where only one building and a water tank can find lodgment, and these are propped up by stilts in thousand feet to @ noisy stream tumbling over with erim- parrots, paroquets and mocking birds flutter in venture to this altitude. Farther on we cross a trestlework, only « hun. dred feet or so tong, but the highest in the timbers that they seem a network of There is mountain, and in the short distance of twenty- three miles there are no fewer than forty tunnels. Some of them are several hundred feet walkers are met every half tile, whose duty it y rolldown the mountain Tam told that these track- rocks every day, any one of which would derail the train and send it rolling down the precipice. So uncertain are the movements of these boulders that no trains run after dark, and if a Freights are high on this line, #8 the ton, and no train carries more than three cara attached y or forty trains go from the seaboard to Caracas, and the English company that built the road is reaping | But, after all, there was a whole-souled bospi- Arrecent discovery respecting the so-called “ong clam,” which is esteemed «uch a precious’ cy in New England, has rendered the problem of transplantation of this species to Pacific or other waters a comparatively easy transplanting Be- cause grown-up oysters are able to withstand those bivalves ning a foothold in however, are more delicate, and their trans- portation for stocking purposes has usually It was very fortanste, Ryder, working for the transplantation of long clams a matter that the young clam, as yaried itself at once in the Instead of doing that, it fastens itself to such until it is big enough to attend to the business | floating timbers, raaging in size from less than three-quarters of iod of their exist- | style than the invitation of a country gentio- transported and | transplanted in indefinite numbers without the slightest difficulty, so that there is no reason ‘table food where up to | United States Fish Commissioner -McDonald speaks in his report, just issued, of this dis- Long, or “squirt” clams, as they are sometimes irus, polar bears and foxes feed upon them greedily. Frez the ovaries of the female the eggs find their companio “Why? said the other. and he drew from his pocket an en: graved card, which read as follows “Evidently the affair is informal,” said his “Why, because she writes roua note. Look United State fring change cuniary bene It fall hon aside the falln oration having the righ rt “Mr. and Mrs, Dash request the pleasure of | Petit mone tote Mr. Straight Line's presence at dinner « ten ‘o- | Thursday evening, December 28, nt 7 rae Vacant place, December 16, 18 ” = .he said, “there is no mi I will get there here will be an envel tray in the hall with my ne the envelope will be a femin | will simply mean that I nm to take the name in to dil A CUT-AND-DR Of course he wag right meant the certaint) m & regular ciit-and-dri ner party: Let us see what a 1 be. There may be a few dishes tha not precisely bit the mark, bat be w th er parties are given w Panorama, which once seen can never be for-| a‘icmon. Thee kewl fons eee gotten. Away to the east and west stretches | tavie when he got in to take ine ceue nee the keacoast, lined with cocoanut groves, the rary i mpegs Dlue-green billows in front covered with craft | S4,HeQseters. are finished a light voup will be eerved in their place. This soup will cases out of ten be a clearsoup n nine Af not bontllos something very much like it. After the sou d | will come a fish, very likely verved in ht i, | Abella or dishes of its own, “Then a pa © | appear: after that a filetde boeuf with t or mushrooms; then the Roman punch: th quail on toast or duck: then something el-e anything will do; th cheese; then ices: then coffee. To ac this mild repast there will be a saut haps; certainly sherrr, certainly champ ® | Burgundy it may be; liqueur without doubt, « frequently » glass of Madeira. Instead of Sauterne e... ct may appear. | There you have a cut-and-dried aj dinner. “Everything is carved at 1 The host and hostess have ing will be on the table plums, ferns, flowers and similar ornaments. IN THE OLDEN TixES. Times change. Let us see what dinner party ‘our great great gra would have given. There would have been a ng to family liv There would have been & meats there, all at the same tim there would have been a game pie or pastry. Your host and hostess would have helved you | as much us they could,hardly takin get half a dinner for themselves. There would have been hardly any courses. The business of eating was earnestly purened in those day There was certainly enongh to eat. The guests did not go away hungry, but on the contrary were more apt to go away with the foundations laid of everlasting gout and indigestion. After the dinner proger there were castards, sillabub and similar sweet dishes. Then the cloth was removed. This is a phrase now, but was at actual fact then. The mehogany table was left bare until decanters aud glasses and the fruit dishes were placed on it. Then the ladies withdrew, and it must be confessed that after they did so our ancestors were very apt to of sack and canary. Sack, it may be remarked in passing, was simply.a dry Spanish wine and amounted to about the same thing as the sherry of the present day, and canary was merely a variety of sack. Sometimes they indulged also in usquebaugh, which was very similar to our whisky. t, id 1d 0 e ™ 5 v THE BETTER FEAST. After all. which is the better feast? Is the neatness and delicate elegance of the modern dinner party better than the profusion and disorder of the days of our ancestors? They ate and drank too. mu can be no doubt of it. ‘The livers of the present day are a very good proof of it. They stayed too long at ‘the table, too, and wasted time. f tality in their feasts that is wanting in our modern parties. The hostess took personal trouble herself for you. She saw that you.were fed, and she fed “you herself, She was not ashamed to own that she made the custard or the pastry; on the contrary she was proud of it. She did not eit at her table like a guest herscif,with no trouble on her mind and hardly knowing herself what the servazts would bring on next, To her it was a great event to give a dinner party, and all went attended with a great deal of trouble: whereas to her descend- ants it ia comparatively an easy matter. If ir you live in n big city and have plenty of money all you have to do is to torn your kitchen and dining room over to a caterer, invite your guests and enjoy your- self. But the result, while it may be pleasanter to the hostess of the present da) ‘that nearly all dinner parties are very much’ alike, whereas in olden times they differed, and each house had its individualities of the culinary art. LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN INVITATIONS, There is a greater difference in tho dinners themselves of ancient and modern times than there is in the invitations to them. Here is an invitation from Gen. Washington to meet Mr. nd Mrs, Lawrence Lewis at Mount Vernon, Mra. Lewis having been Miss Eleanor Parke ‘Custis: “General and Mrs. Washington present their complimeuts to Mr. and Mra. Kamsay Ramsay and Mr. William Ramsay and the favour of their company to dine on ‘Tues- day next with the couple newly married. jount Vernou, 28d Feby., 1793. 1n answer is requested. This is alittle more formal, perhaps, in its man to his neighbor would be at the present day, but there is not much difference. But the two dinners that have been taken here are per- haps tov elaborate and only furnish extreme types. SOMETHING TO ANTICIPATE. Here is another invitation to dinner that « } fortunate man sometimes gets: Dear John: We are going to feast off of ter- rapin on Thursday—come in and help. Yours, Tom. There is something for John to look forward in the dinner with Tom. If be likes the ter- and ask for more. If be does n salad with crackers and xcept a few sugar time to too long and partake, perhaps, too'freely * in those days there | Mrs. | a or it tan th H obliging, w The work were py banking book market fa ~ hack enormous soup tureen in front of the lady of - i artios the house, und she would have helped the Svligly ware guests each and every one herself with departure that fair hands. Then nearly the whole din origtually permi be called tuto existe would have been put on the table by numerous | © attendants, all of them very likely dresred in a contr not be har > comply with the provi dow n act authori cing th ere of national bauks and for which re. her purposes,” amp oF write the to their failure to se ng not toaffend © retarn the false tomarked, and while licers will give the name of « pers presented such note it fre quently happens wea the » to the depositor 4 by th a penalty for th ts abey said act with reference te the the mandat marking of now | Waitien for The I'v | | nat goed ale Latins used to mit the dead”— } Then stam “Of on Our Bi “Nothing ba , ‘Tae pagan sage tna. ‘The quick, or dead Like hungry wo Alas! the sight w In this fair, Christian | Where bitter specs Not rest the lif A Christian p Whiten Chrstiai An tnspiratt: And wonder siti Are not converted at the door Of curses that woul l how Even with some we deen (he worst, Some latent good may plare thew ar One is the Ju With whom we = In iife, or when Ite’s work (« With staners great or sma! “Nothing but good «! Uf nothing godis fr Let your own Shine aweet For fatta, and hope. and charity Abide through ai eteraity J. i Cormeen, eee — A Twenty-Five Cent Limit at Vale, Prom Judge. Prof, Pabulom young gentlemen, having witressed the working out of the for mala for producing primary colere, let me ade what is the equivalent of the blue I bold a—_w Absent-minded Sophomore — “Two reds and @ white, sir.” From Judge.