The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-16
A IA RICAN VILLAS.

The shores Of the East River-Scenes "a Rus
tic Enchantment-The Works of Nature and
Art Combined-A Beautiful suburb.
Nature Is invariably in state Of equilibrium. The
rugged mountain range is Offset with the broad praire
the roaring cataract with the puring brook or quiet
scene OF rural enchanmen and the wild turmoil OF tina
sea balanced with the gentle beauty Of Italian scenery
WHAT is OF nature however also holds good in respect
to arr and man himself Deaths are counterbalanced
with births; the destruction OF war is inevitably fol-
lowed by the calmness and thrift OF peace extrava-
gance of show is relieved with the opposite extreme
Of simplicity, and Of business turmoil
sharpen mems appeiites for the quiet Of rug
tic life and leisure. In the city everything vis.
Bile TO the eye tells of turmoil agitation, rivalry
element and perpetual warfare for wealth. Business
Is everywhere and visible in everything Architecture
is rgd utility overshadows beauty; nature is swal-
lowed up in stern art wild turmoil and the stralnng OF
every faculty toward the attainment OF business ends
mark even society In its mars its drawing rooms and
even in it's churches where the merchant figures up
prospective profits the blank leaves OF his hymn
book.
In this metropolitan existence men have not time for
due appreciation Of life. and speedily drown tho long
ings of their nature for occasional quiet, They have
their amusements but there is no heart in them their
recreations but they bear the formal stamp business
and wildness Of the troubous stream on which they
float toward the end Of life. But all men have
calm after howsoever stormy life There is
poetic period in every existence; and the
humblest being must at some time dream
away the smooth periods OF his poetic pastoral.
Day dreams these with some, castles in the air with
the poor; but with tho wealthy they the sub
stantia realities Of villas and romantic scenes Of natural
beauty One by the successful toiles draw out of
the contest with their hard earned gans and seek the
soothing quiet OF nature to requto them for their
troubles; and 30 We find about suburbs OF
beauty, adornmens Of art in broad contrast with the
stern business magniGcence OF metropolis MIN
thus in his nature offsets, with quiet and camness,
the wild which he has connred up in tho
limits Of the city. This is why the heights at Fort
Washington their shady forest arcades the
dreamy stiffness Of primeval nature surrounds the
powered residences that the steep hills OF Staten
Island, marshain beauteous line along the shores
beside Fort Hamilton. II is the perfect equipoise OF
nature, the oseting Of the extravagances OF art the
perfect equilibrium Of mans nature that we may see in
this.
Without this equilibrium the world could not run on
Without the opportunity to balance excitement with
quiet. war with peace turmoil with contentment, man
would lose his energy Hence this brad crcled peri
phery of fair villas and of rustic beauty adorned
by art which sweeps about the suburbs Of city, a-
fording permanent retirement 10 the veterans Of the
struggle or places OF temporary refuge for those still
actively engaged in the troubles and trials OF its con-
tracted but eyentfu field This is why wealth is
lavshed on sylvan Sceneswhy art restrained to simply
heghten rustic beauty perches costly castles
tho bills and conceas the beauties Of tasteful villas In the
COOL sequestered shades OF ancient forests This fur
nlshcs the of the broad contrast may note
10 the near scenes Of city and suburban lifehe
stern, rigid and troublous the other quiet mild In its
beauty and peaceful In every phase.
SHORES SOUND
Such scenes has been stated above surround on
been already noted in these columns But the admira
BILE suburban adornments of New York do not prevail
alone on its sea 'front.' Every approach TO the CITY,
especially by water, ia thus abundantly beantifcd The
North river Is closely bordcred with picturesque
sons and scenes OF rustic splendor the bay and It's
shores have their eminent beauties but on the MAIN
land on the Sound sidc and the neat cottages CON-
mandng castles, and stately vaso bordering the East
river. form q picture equally beautiful with any sub
urban view that Introduces the approaching visitor
gradually 70 the grand and solid maenfccnce OF tho
tropolis. On side can one approach great COM
immediate consequence Of that business prosperity
which gives New YORK its emnence this CONT.
nen An the Sound narrows toward tho entrance the
East river country constructed Tor bare
utility and evidently subscribing stern necessities give
p.s: ~ tho . nS .
ass furnIsh TO add romance 20 0cautcous nature
fair s rs . 70 torn y ss9 nor e:
beauties Of and eld conserved and addcd TO-
and the shades Of the sylvan groves remain unren! BY
OF rising knoll or rugged blur deep shade or fair
spread OF smooth green sward, and smiles from the
most rugged works Of nature
on this approach to the city il peculiarly susceptible 10
the oean,fyns Offices Of art urcssn,ing ss does
shady and broad meadow land sweeping rich aud
luxurant to the waters edge. Every eccenircty pocu
romance Of position and surroundings render
the villas which nestle in the luxuriaut vegetation
of the river banks extraordinarily beautiful beyond their
claims in point OF architectural show and harmony of
design Villa sites Of the utmost beauty found on
every side of the visitor. Rugged hiiocks bluffs
dominating the narrow sreams suggest 10 the romantic
minded the erection Of castles OF tho medieval style
that the pictured suggestion may be carried out In the
show Of those eudal times when roboer barous from
their sturdy bal;lements laid tribute fleets Of the
romantic Rhine. Fair groves and siopng lawns suggest
the modest villa which half conceals s'f behind as
waving Of foliage but adding to It's beauty BY its
half concealment, as the laughing eyes OF Spanish
b. aates enrapture most when peepng half concealed
and gentle beauty hero ind their suggestive media and
most have already found art site we'll a. natural
10 me me .hn' asorn me ver rank
cleared forests that sweep far back from bank
and bun and wa'erside, forming most ad-
mIrablo retreats for romance 70 dream ia I'M
disturbed, or for the toiler In the strife Of life
TO find refuge against the rnmors and exceIncnts of
evsntfu NE Nowhere else oaid liner sites Tor suburban
salient points OF beauty 20 the improving hand Of art
than along the shore Of tho East river between Fort
Schuyler aud the Harlem. Many Of those advantages have
been seized upon already and the picture presented 10
the spectator he sails along on tho bosom OF the swift
flowing river one o. 9ss1 rI,as o. ~. ere
adornmens have not as yet developed the minor
beauties toned down the rugged features Of nature
To form an idea Of the complete beauties OF the scene
however must penetrate the shades Of the thick
groves He must wander through the ntrcaccs Of the
ieafy labyrinths, stray among the flower beds,
smooth lawns and along the graycled paths that twne
among the giant trees OF the broad domains; and.
finally he view the picturesque beauties OF field
and forest and the soft flowing silver stream with It's
dashing craft
rHI
which form the subject Of the present article lie and
near the banks OF the East river between the Harlem and
Fort Schuyler They cluster on high blus about toe
fort, on every highland Of lputlan capes, and line
the shores Of tho miniature bays and covcs which in
dent the fairy land The wcschescr road, which runs
parallel with the OF the Fast river al this past
although u does not command view Of the river the
beauties OF It's fair banks affords the best course for the
visitor TO the locality for any who may desire 70 view
the finest architectural patura beauties OF this
suburb Of orr city The Old Boston road makes very
fine show OF grand villas s borders but they by
means ~ numerous the facilities for landscape
gardening as great a. presented In the splendid tract
limited a. we have above stated and lying on the sdes
OF the wescheser road and between and tho navi-