Italian castles and country seats . e distinctly Norman type. He was most kind inhelping me to take numerous pictures of his wonderfulpalace, and explaining to me some of the peculiaritiesof its decoration. I think nowhere but here, exceptin the palace of Versailles, is to be found at the presentday the use of candles in beautiful wrought-bronzeholders over each door of the great reception salonsof a palace. The great soft square cushions placed in the centreof these large rooms and covered with beautifulembroideries are another French feature of this Sicil-ian palace. One room is hung with lo
Italian castles and country seats . e distinctly Norman type. He was most kind inhelping me to take numerous pictures of his wonderfulpalace, and explaining to me some of the peculiaritiesof its decoration. I think nowhere but here, exceptin the palace of Versailles, is to be found at the presentday the use of candles in beautiful wrought-bronzeholders over each door of the great reception salonsof a palace. The great soft square cushions placed in the centreof these large rooms and covered with beautifulembroideries are another French feature of this Sicil-ian palace. One room is hung with long, broad panels,which at first glance seem to be tapestry, but whichon examination proved to be the most wonderfulSicilian embroideries done in colors of silk in the Sicil-ian stitches which we know as Kensington, and with afineness and perfection of form and color that I havenever seen before. They far surpassed all the em-broideries in the Museum. It is useless for me to tryto tell you of the numerous and varied porcelains,[484]. AND COUNTRY SEATS rare Chinese vases, and no end of wonderful piecesof bric-a-brac that decorate this treasure-house ofPalermo. I have never met a European gentleman who speaksas perfect English as Count Mazzarino, who has justsent me a collection of books about Sicily, which willbe invaluable to me. I send you a picture of the greatentrance hall of his palace, which is so divided by thearrangement of furniture as to seem to be two or threerooms, and the great Minerva presides majesticallyover the whole apartment. I must say I love the bigspacious rooms of these great old palaces of are so high, one is never lacking fresh air, andthe question of heating has been solved by the Frenchcalorifer, so that once these great stone houses areheated in the autumn they never get cold again untilthe fires go out in the spring. Count Mazzarino told me that King Edward andQueen Alexandra were most gracious, and seemed muchinterested in the wonderful c
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectitalydescriptionandt
