The New York herald., 1867-06-02
AMERICAN VILLAS.
The Adornment Of the City
Suburbs.
Washington Heights and Its
Residences.

limits thers has been plainly perceptble improve
uen the taste Of the people Of all qualities. Rows
Of stately mansions have grown out TO the
Of rural improvement, and gas lighted streets have
tsnded up TO conjunction with the smooth paths aud
OF the pleasure ground Good TASTE too bas
fesered by the artistic development rural beau
ses and the consequence that the upper section OF
city, In all Its stately Gcence, has pree
distinctions OF light aud pleasing beauty the
aod busaess-.e If every portion OF tho
metrapos as it existed fifteen twenly years ago.
Iruiy advancing with giant strides only ex
teoing tue area II our city out growing in appreca.
zion q NIL that Is pleasing ia art beautiful nature
Tho old Dutch models winch our city
begun have been entirely abandoned. The rugged,
sturdy, but uucout dwellings ana business places have
almost entirely disappeared In their stead, in
the busness-worn aud gloomy OF the city,
dnd arti tic taste aud tho march of modern improve
ment carrying all, ren0yating ALL and DeaGying whAe
ohtzng, the narrow Limits OF tho precious ground.
New York trade ono, dwet dreary, dtfken,d novels,
commendable only for their soaity and durability,
~hio unga ally awkward and uacomforiabe In arrange
mert Now, IL make, a thoasagd palaces lis domain-
buildings Of exrcme utiiry o space comfort Of arrange
ment models OF Architectural beauty taste al
men,ation, and OF a sondity ttal makes them per.
o,snent ornam to tne city. Tho study of the
beautiful as well as the useful in art does not stop in the
crowded city ho oSever IL extends tue snburbst
develops the skiu fostering of the BEAUTIES natural
and artistic display cd in the Park, and lar beyond In
che neat suburban residences that adorn the smiling
tAce OF the land and marshal In line along the high
ground OF the nprthern part OF Manhattan ISLAND.
The passion for rural which has prevailed go
greatly OF lato naturally brings INTO notice tho most
romantic and picturesque suburban sites and calls
che attention OF the leonary admirers Of the beauties OF
nature aud art combined those localities where the
in HayO Of de ungt in sneci
1 good taste. Probably city in the world Is more
ravorsby situated than New York wih regard the op
portuncs and facilities offered fer the adornment OF its
suburban regions. The even-balancod irregularities
In which nature delights 10 cater on q grand
ssaio to the enraptured sense Of sight
apparent In rolling hills rugged o stately groves
miniature valleys smooth fields and tangled brakes in
which the out of-town part OF the island 10 mainly
divided. The symmetry In which nature Las moulded
ell these features, and the perfect harmony and
proportion with which every regularity bold fes
OF the torn and tangled landscape, is balanced
make Il peculiarly pleasing to the and inviting 70
tho lover OF semirustc lilo. Tue entire face OF the
country hereabcut moulded miniature, in ita
lion Of the grand spread Of coaine1r, with its
lovely valleys bold mountains, towering peaks
and fertile plains The northern section OF the island
the model OF these bcauile, toned down. sened
sad compressed to . space that presents its entire
cOfnpfonenatDu
spectator These advantages have been observed and
soszed upon BY many Of prominent citizens whose
villas dot the landscape all sides and the
urres and towers OF whose palaia residences the
swelling hillocks hang upon the edge Of the steep
sufn that dominate the smooth lowing river. oh
sal3e wAsHNoros nEIGHv-
especially u9tcsable and in fact long been
iSSsS not Only Tor tho pcturesqaeness OF their loca
ueu and their commanding view. bus sso Tor the com
pssasss Of their artistic and the character
se smbellish with which art has enhanced the
rude beauties OF nature In tie vicinity From tho out
skrs OF Man hatanvic swallowed up In the great
city. there starts rising stretch Of ground which 10
Cd ridge about hundred and eighty fee, In average
hs sbt running along parallel With the river up to
sns Ss ss o. 70 n places eracsd BY nature broad
rugged steps or platforms OF greensward meeting the
nase other points the appearance Is thai OF rugged
blum. snh steep, grassy side sioping proudly and
.svsrsi places on the very top OF the ridge |
itself uphheavais OF the ground appearing very |
ana TAI, ike huge sss,rics on the waics over the
natural rampars devised by nature Along the top OF
the rdse ss broad p,,eau on which the tasteful villas
range themselves In line, facing tho eet and CON-
nsndug The view OF the broad. sweeping river with Its
ssowy ssis It's gliding vessels ana y gallant steamers
Directly opposite are the renosnei Palisades OF the
Hudson, whose rugged towering sde> and gray castle
,se oatemsnis impress the spe taor with admiration
and matter how insens be he may be 10 tho or
dinsry grandeur OF nature The long the
lofty heights close BY the edge OF the river
and concealed from the by the swclng ire
su sweep OF the thick tspsIe of foase and
bounsous iuxurisnce OF vegets ON with which nature
ana art have combined 20 eeautiiy the bold descent
crowrug this long ridge and lying hall concealed amid
,hs outrageous groves that adorn broad plateau on
ia summit peculiarly keeping with tue md beau.
ties OF the locaity As the at of nature so 70 sfeak,
from the combustion OF irregular features with exact
ymmetry, 40 the architecture OF these Zoe residences
oy tbs combination Of tue good points ,f various styles
.tkska Al nta .f
ssgrce OF repose suitable To the and striking dis.
play OF beauty which, while ercc,iye, y bv NO means
obtrusvs dssmiiar to the mid effects OF nature
tho buildings are o. sert Of American composite order
eel adapted to the requirement. q both post
anss, appearance without, ~ addition to comfort
within. In some, however the 9othic Is prominently
affected although this adherence ia the main estures OF
roof and windows docs prevent tho addti OF
sndshs balconies, trenscs ant bsy @iniows On tho
river side beau flying aidi,ors whco wnic deract.
lDs from the rgidlty of the Stern siy,c, commit
srsnco against the eye, but rather soften sni render
uGrs agreeable the effect 81 ihc whole ia conjunction
vth The surrounding work o. nature There : nothing
Or rgidy either the laying cai " the ground or the
frssdom Of style and pleasing atcnde of ,he archi
teclurs q consonance with the requirements OF the
peculiar situation, that sirikc- the observe naNsly
besuuruL The Greek. Gonc Italian md knSllsh cot
s2s styles modified combined aud tnpfofcd up ~, are
all noticeable In the artistic adornnenss 'he breezy
seights
A casion,i adoption Of . detail Of t.s Noor.h,
Chinese other Oriental style also not,csapie for
instance In the decoration IL versndah, orts towering
upward of something like Ssraoenic mnaic': put tue
general en is much more pleAsing ihsn T. the case
~hsre sIsc rSuisms OF styie 90 uUt Jnd fsvnr, and
-hsrs g dy OF do oil itutcs he main merit of The
rvs Ayvro,on ~ rn susars
i lihet by natl 70 he dsp rtusied al The historic
-~niiy Of Fort Wsshinglop .or ~ he tine hvnofed
BiioO,lngdds read, whose sds "a pcrderrd wh neat
snt sruhsd gat~ways, through vhrh oae psscs
On ersyesled and -mocta drves ~ thc emoow
cd resienoes scarcely visible thronsh v-,s OF trees
Further song neat lanes ,ond ~ nom the common
scsd 70 ths depot and dsnosS tae heights,
necuog right snges tbs we'll kept lane, which runs
sOng ths summit o. the rige
rus HgsIDRyCns
Just befors ve reach he budings the right of
ths bloomngdAe rOad-nsit tes respectively for the
bnd and deaf and cumb srr.ve III grounds
sbout Sne residence Of Mr. sheppard KNAPP which "
sntrcy concealed frotn the pass by
rosd by thck mas " foliage Inc hu ding is APP
proaobed thfoush stately avenue shaded with nns /
irees and 70 s1r oundcd with smooth lawns and beauti
AL au~~ ras k.u..