The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-08-16

! anu out>Hou>eS, 10 NC III Il StyIe vi STedt Sl
egance. The architect perfectly under
stood his man. The plan. when ready, wa:
submitted, and at once captivated the eye
of the retired merchant. The estimate Of
the cost for the main building was put down
at twenty-five thousand dollars, but might
go little beyond that sum but certainly
to no great extent The mere accessories
of a country seat were of too little impor.
lance, so far as expense was concerned, to
require any very close calculations.
In due time splendid edifice began to
show itself, white and pure as snowy marble
could make 1t.
You see have elaborated our plan lit.
tle,' remarked the architect one day, as Mr..
Maurey made his regular visit to the scene
of operations.
so see, and with vast improvement
in the original design. 1t will, of course, re-
quire heavier outlay but no matter, while
The thing is doing, it might as well be done
WE'LL
| so | thought. A simple Doric portico,
as first proposed, | soon perceived would
not truly express your wishes. | therefore
changed my plan, as you have seen, sub.
stituting the richer Corinthian order, and
laying ground plan for series of columns
extending entirely around the building
Columns entirely around
Yes, sir. A simple portico-front does
well enough, if YOU can always stand in
front, as in city, where your view is from
the street; but, for a country residence, |
never admired it. As seen from distance,
or as approached, there are always a hum
dred chances TO one against direct front
view, and the eye falls upon mere dead side
walls, instead of against row of classic
columns
True. very true
Here is a plan of the building as now
propose TO finish it,
And the architect exhibited a Grecian
temple, the pure embodiment of all that is
chaste and beautiful in architectural forms.
Exquisite = exclaimed the merchant
Let it resemble that precisely, without any
regard to cost
: | shall now do your taste and my own
skill justice the architect said, with enthu-
siasm. 'One thing is certan-when CON-
pleted, YOU will possess the most beautiful
residence within a hundred miles of Phila-
delpIia.'
Time progressed. Mr.. Maurev, with no.
thing TO do but TO think about his villa
which he visited four or five times week,
and to plan new Improvements, soon had
one of the most beautiful residences with
in hundred miles of Philadelphia But
what, then Payday came, and it took
every cent of one hundred and thirty thou-
sand dollars TO meet the bills, while 1.-THE
of the contemplated improvements about
the splendid edifce. with IFS numerous out
houses, all in classic style, had not been
commenced.
Fifty thousand dollars he had felt willing
TO exhaust for then about hundred thou.
sand would have remained at interest. yicl
ding him an income sufficient TO meet all
his wants. But nearly every dollar of his
handsome fortune locked up in a magnifi-
cent building. with the grounds unimproved
to any extent, left him without single lin
geriDg interest in that building, or a single
wish 10 enjoy it. To make matters worse,
an institution in which the balance of his
means were invested, suddenly failed, swce-
ping away every dollar that remained, and
so throwing him entirely dependent upon
his son, whose business had turned out by
no means prosperous.
An effort was next made to sell the Gre
clan temple which the architect, who had
thought more about clarifying himself, in
the production of a magnificent specimen
of art, than of acting honestly towards his
o,o,1lor-or ha1 oro,fal i,,f ha plaro IF
handsome family residence; but 70 one
had ever two-thirds of its cost to lock up in
so unproductive piece of property. Near
" year was spent in the effort TO dispose
of the temple but in vain, when the fail
ure of his son, young Maurey, and the in
slant recession of all means of support, rem.
dered it necessary 20 force sale, in order
to realize capital, with which the man
could resume business.
The property was accordingly advertised
for sale, at the public auction, at the Ex-
change, in Philadelphia. When the day
of sale came, there was but single bidder
who felt willing to purchase, and his name
was Felix Lester. To him it was knocked
down for fifty thousand dollars, one half in
cash, fourth in six, and the remaining
fourth in twelve months.
you are going to retire, now, suppose,
and spend the balance of your day in luxu-
rious easeP remarked fellow-merchant
to Mr. Lester, after the purchase had been
made.
Not by any MEANS was the smiling re-
ply.
why then did you purchase Maurey's
Folly p
Il am going TO 1--we there
Then you will have to give up bust
ness
NO that does not follow
'How can you attend to business in the
city, while you live twenty miles from it 2
Il have son, you know, who has been
connected with me in business for about
two years. He is thoroughly acquainted
with every branch of it, and fully able TO
conduct it, only that he requires my matu-
rer Indictment in most lmportant onerafions