Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-11-02
hlr. CuShing'S Splendid Mansion.

Mr.. Holden, of the Philadelphia Saturday
K Courier, ip the last number of that paper,
completes his description of Mr.. J. 7. Cush'
ing's prncely mansion. at Watertown, near
Boston, as follows:
Il In our last letter. we were proceeding,
with the reader, through. the most ex'roord.
nary house on this Continent. Mr.. Gushing
started with the idea TINT he would build a
house, which should not be affected, summer
or winter, by external air. Tins purpose he
has most admirably accomplished. Il's fu.
lure dwelling place is properly TO be descrb-
ed only as double house, or house within
a house. The walls, roofs, windows aud
doors, are double throughout the house. The
windows and doors beings all Of plate glass,
inside, they are so constructed that they can
bc nodeslly inserted in the walls !. and then
there ia no show whatever Of mirrors. To
make All affected display, which is much too
often seen in houses where the proprIeiors
not unfrc9uenlIy show tina, they have more
money, prrchancc, than they have propcr
taste in the adornmept Of their dwelling
places.
The whole contour of MIR. Cushng's new
house is that Of extreme simplicity. II IL
predlcatcd upon Grecian a.chliecture-Park
Benjamin of Boston, being the professional
architect; but The prevailing taste is that of
Mr., Gushing himself
Ii appears to have been prime object with
Mr.. Gushing to essay the construction Of q
house which should, if possible, combine all
the discoveries and advantages that skill in.
gcnn,y, originality, or ample means, could
produce. In this there has surely been an
employment of n portion OF his princely
wealth, IN The endeavor TO do good To The
age IN which he lives. Health, comfort and
happiness, by oil sensible minds, will always
be sought at home and around the altar Of
the domestic affections. Ii is with such "A
purpose, most obviously, that Mr.. Gushing
has spared neither pains nor means, to make
sure that no possible comfort should he omit
ted in his abode at Watertown. For IN.
stance, every room in The house (about SOY
is arranged with neatly concealed spring
in the ceiling, by which It can be in u mo-
mcnt ventilated from the roof and also with
valve, by which in d second, the heated air,
which comes from below. may be regulated
To suit The health and feelings OF those who
occupy them.
But perhaps one of the most useful i'm
provemrnls in The house, will be the iurna
ces in the cellars. They are what are called
"Dcxter's Furnaces" Of Boston now they
have been improved in an imporlan, paric-
lar ln Mr. Cushlng's house, they nre So
arranged that the heated air comes from the
sides of vessels filled with moderately warm
waller. The purpose Of this arrangement is
to keep upa uniform heat, and oboye all to
supply the great desideratuip Of heating
dwelling houses with healthy air. II is too
wcii known that the furnaces. which have
been heretofore used in our cellars, give out
often very vliaied and drslrpctlve s,mo-
sphere, which our families must breathe. The
air Is dry, gaseous, and indigcstivc. We
have been OF The opinion, for years, that
much of the dyspePtic trouble, which has
been making such rapid strides, especially in
our large CITIES lg;ierly, is very much owing
To The miserable arrangements ~ cellars of
dwelling houses. called hot air furnaces.
Now, II Mr.. Gushing has found opt a rem
edy for so great on evils portion Of bis i'm
mense wealth has indeed been employed toI
great good, IN the rearing OF his princey
dwelling at Waiertown Such u benevulen,
purpose. to a great extent, appears to US to
have been leading motive ~ the genera
arrangement OF his house. This is u good
that rich men can afford To do for the com
fort of SOCIETY but how few rich personages
ever think Of doing anght to add to the com
fort of other people. is most evident that
John =. Gushing does. May he prove un
example In Others.