The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-29

| barr A os< ccvrmence IN their respendent beau
Ties ul about the vicinity OF Ootn street ana In,s
passes through Finn avenue up the east drive OF the
| PARK to iI0tn street, down Harlem lane TO Eighth
TaSnS tina direction OF this street. he turns
to the Bloominsdale road where the splendid places
! are upOn the elevated ridge, to the ieft
All along the Bloomingdale road the country Is
still In the semi-settled state that t was quarter
OF century ago frame HOUSES a n supPenSnteI by
fragrant henneres and foul kitchens extend each
side. and at short intervals respectable looking
vicinity OF Manhattan the Blo0mn9daie road Is in
dlsgraceful coudition-a conoition moro betting
ban Refinement of New YORK. The road narrows
through all sorts OF curves over rugged and rolling
country, with grand landscapes sweeping away 70
northward and eastward; and the sl0png yet still
steep blun that forms Washington Heights but
lev hundred feet toward the North river looms up
from nature 10 this quarter, showing all tne
curious elements that are found Ia the
cultivated and worldwide English landscape:
Who would not 60 into raptures over the broad
meadows OF fat graziers cows, with every evidence
OF being plentiful producers OF mix; focks OF rare
sheep, playful colts. valuable fowls ditng here and
there, together with the buOyant aud bracing air
rushing through the valley, and the genial warmth
Of q not too hot meridian sum- Who could not DE.
light In the varied ana picturesque scenes that
abound over the whole country 10 eastward OF wash
ington Heights even TO the distant mus OF Long
Island. prospect that takes In every degree or
beauty ana every shade OF the agreeable, from loty
peaks and jutting headlands to the ripping brooss
hand. so profuse are they that 1t seems II nature
ad used too lavish a hand in planting this whole
eS9n Win mns t9 GoH to
reach the vicinity Of Washington Heights II ne
drives through In the DAYTIME bis pathway WAY
1 1aSors q n: Pssy and lighted By
patches Of daylight 10 the foliage II in the night
tune, ct this date the crimson moon lifts Its obate
spnerodai shape above the eastern nills, and its
faco al he " N
''man In the moon" while the katydld repeat their
monotonous assertion, the crickets sound their end
high. soprano notes. Maria, can l get over your
fence ~ The gas posts are always lighted too, and
nred worxmen Win snelr asses, naooos On period.
the smile OF pale Luna, are just visible on the BANKS
and under the distant trees. One can scarcely take
moonlight drive over tins country without meeting
hundreds OF vehicles going to the thousand and one
taverns on the Kngsoridge and Riverdale road, aud
accidents. often Of serious nature, occur IN the
pilgrims % the shrine q Baechfs. Tide magnld.
cent mansions and superb grounds that dot the
Hudson, rom Fort Washington To Albany begin
upon the mountain which Wi be noticed as stretch
ing away 20 the uorrhward far the eye can
reach, covered with luxurant growth OF forest
rraes heroaceous plants thick anruos rendered rug
ged and picturesque by great deposits and ele-
yations or craggy rock In the descriptions which
we give OF some OF the following places thu selec-
tons are not Designed TO be invdiods, but perhaps
only ~ happy IN showing the varied styles OF ground
and MANSIONS, WHICH rise In SUCH samptuons mag.
be Impossible TO give detailed description of
all the villages TO Albany, and we have
taken only those between Yonkers and New
York These comprise the most elaborate. the
most elegant, the most costly and exclusive in
the unlon. AZ works OF art they deserve mitch IN
tue structure of human progress, not meauer than
that allotted 10 the productions OF an Angelo or
Raphael, or assigned TO the Workmanship OF q
Stephenson or k0ebiIng. When the reader comes
to reflect that these Spots now embrace everything
known IN the way OF ornamental either natural or
ARTIFICIAL that they have the most efficaclous and
"
and all maaral producers have been driven from
the soil; that the ruder and wilder phases OF nature
nave been left untouched, while the ordinary and
commonplace have been worked into garden spots
OF incompatible beauty; that the harsh has been
tanned down to the picturesque, ana the glaring
tinted to the mider aspects of landscape gardening;
That sculpture horticulture and intricate archtec
ture exist there as well as along the avenue; that
rare exotlcs fruit ana bloom In strange climate
| by the delicate skill OF the botOnist, and tropical
fruits are plucked IN great quantities at any
! the most perverse seasons OF the year; that,
| miniature. winter ID made summer and sum-
mer winter that trees, plants ana flowers
trste the yastness OF the vegetable s Spvoom us
that these with the legion OF Others parts OF the beau
tul and elaborate whole constitute an effort Of
mind to conceive and gift OF the genius execute
holder than the creation Of COrreggio any OF HIS
! compensate Will but begin to appreciate the tolls
OF wealthy propretors who have labOred Tor twenty.
| tive years to attain perfection in this branch yet
with brilliant success. To visit these mansions 80
as TO obtain their finest views, and be duly Impressed
with their majesty one should ascend the slope from
the river; for TO go In the grounds from the Bloom
lngdae road Is like entering the back door or seek
| ing In the kitchen for the elegance OF the parlor
Yet there some residences tnat have very nnely
gravelled drives leading to their front doors, and
among these can be met none on the island SUI
peror to the lane which winds up the noun
tain and under the porch OF Mr.. W. Hays on
Washington Heights. Turning from the main
road, and letting the eye sweep around
the whole prospect to northward, eastward
and southwark, thcKly studded ridge Of forest IL
There Is q broad expanse OF meadow lands with a
closely grazed green carpet rs laid by the hand OF
nature; there ere stacks o. straw gs!enng IN the
OF intersecting fences shooting out In all directions
while the peucld Harlem pours It's cool waters into
the parched mouth OF the mountain pass and re-
freshes the dropping marshes and river plants faint
Ing beneath the intense heat Of the sun. Toward
the Hudson there ID nothing but blum trees and
shadow, and over aud through this mixed density
the drive 10 continued. Ascending q circular path,
well gravelled, gently graded and Of good width the
direction lies through bower OF cedars and hick-
ores, whose ambitious branches melt in eacn
others embrace and are locked together, shutting
out all but narrow belt Of the sky. To either hand
a. the road points toward the summit, are fine
spruces, hrtrees arbOrvite and masses OF tastefuy
| arranged shrubs. Upon reaching the head, coming
gracefully to northward, through the meaRre open
| ings can be viewed in admirable perspective the
| rich and fertile valley pushing between the noun
talns ike wedge. With clear sky and an atmos-
phere unnnuenced by local disturbance. the vista
from sucn points az these Is as glorious sight
the most enthusiastic student OF nature would care
to behold. TO mention the smiling green and the
radiant foliage. the stolid evergreen and the emer
aid beauties Of the distant hnls with the spruces
l
and the moving fruits, gives but an III picture Of
wha, IL suggested to the rejecting mind. Every
| vicisstude OF life Is up1ed in the unthinkIDg
| trees, In the silent stream and the pretty flowers.
| The willow bends to the ground In graceful woe
and the oak towers to the sky In stately PRIDE; the
waters STILL run deep and shallow, leap In anger;
| the flowers nave language OF their own, hut com
memorate the beauties and harmonles well as
the Ills and discords OF life. This truly Is
| the poets spot, and IL relieved by many
| romantic trees that no one can fail TO
hnger In Its vicinity. BY uniquely wrought rustic
fence the drive Is pursued leaving the splendid val
| ley IN the rear. Evergreens ana spruces, naples
| ana pines now line the road; when, turning sharp
| corner and driving distance OF twenty yards the
| horses bring up under the porch OF
| NIX. W. II. HAYS MANSION.
| Upon this delightful spot situated OF the
most eligible ballding sites upon Manhattan Island
Mr. Hayes has lived as a retired broker Tor 1teoI
years, spending his time In laying out and develop
| ing his grounds, planting them with rare exotic'
| ana developing them to their present healthy matu
| rity. once power In Wall street, where his innu
ence was felt In every movement, he II now KIN,
among the Croesuses OF the Heights. Mr. Hays Is
| oeutipman anna renty about sixty years aye