Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-14
Idlewild, the Residence of N. P. Willis

Mr.. Vaux, in his book on Villages and
Cottages" gives description of Idlewild,
from which we extract the following:
"The position selected while it commands
full view of Newburg bay, is on the edge of
wood, and on the verge of plateau that
almost overhangs deep ravine. The rocky
sides Of this gorge are clothed with sturdy
pines and hemlocks, and thus often shut out
from the eye, but never from the ear, tur
bulent mountain stream that roars through
the long, narrow pass, and falls some two hun
dred feet in a series of rapid, successive leaps,
within short distance Of the house. There
is also q quieter brook that winds its way
through the property, and yet another smaller
rivulet, both of which, after fraterniziug with
their more noisy and energetic companion,
dow into MOodn8 Creek, which, almost at tbs
same point, empties itself into the Hudson
The site for the house is therefore very pic
turesque, and is peculiar in many respects
overlooking, as it does, the Hudson and three
or four Of its tributaries. These latter, with
the ravine and inland scenery, lie far down
on one side. Beautiful views Of the bay and
Highlands are gained from the south and east
fronts, and n thick pine wood encircles aad
protects the remainder.
"When the building had been entirely
erected on paper, and before the foundations
were laid, all the lines of the plan were set
out under the special direction Of Mr. Willis,
who seemed to take more interest in accom-
modating the house to the fancies Of the ge-
MUS of the place than in any other part Of the
arrangement And the whole de- ign was 30
fitted among the evergreens, and adopted to
every popularity Of the site, that it appears
to be almost surrounded by tall, flourishing
trees; although broad stretches of distance in
every direction, and extensive views Of the
river and mountain scenery, are gained from
the various windows, each view being a sepa-
rate picture set in frame Of unfading foliage.
The advantageous result arrived at by this
careful study Of the exact position for such
house, although more negative than positive,
is incalculable. The new house vas made to
look not new, points of view were not sacri-
feed, and time was not lost in waiting for
young trees to grow in place of old ones that
q prospect, if less foresight had been exer-
cised at starting. In such cases it is the foot
or two one way or the other that makes or
mars, and when once the contractor is fairly
at work, alteration is next to impossible.
"Mr. Willis's house looked like an old fa-
miliar settler almost before the roof was on,
and it can easily be understood that, under
such circumstances, every subsequent stroke
in the way Of improvement will yield Its full
est value.
From the upper approach road on the
level of the plateau and principal entrance
the house appears to be, what in actual fact 1t
is, a plain, roony cottage residence, comfort
ably sheltered among the trees; but from the
lower read along the river bank, at the mouth
of the gorge, its situation gives it less ordi-
nary effect. High up among the trees, and
apparently on the very edge of PERCEPTIONS
ascent, it seems to peer over the topmost
branches of the dark pines, and to command
the whole valley below. The position is ex
actly such q one as q medieval knight would
have selected for his stronghold, and a little
may easily transmute the simple
domestic cottage into the turreted and battle.
mented castle