Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-09-26
NUMBER 13.


AZ LuSc"Oou- w. Nhtch i OF much inter-
est not only as relating to the author of
that most charming prose idyl, 4" The Rev
cries of Bachelor, and of those nearly as
charming if more realistic and practical
volumes d" My Farm at Edgcwood." and
% Rural Studies, but also as showing what
may be done to make an attractive home
anywhere in New England, and it Is in this
last aspect that we commend the article. q
part of which we subjoin, to our readers:
In building. Mr.. Mitchell's first consider
atoms have been convenience and adaptable
lty to the wants of his own family. subject
| to the dictates of a choice taste, but with
out special reference TO any conventional
rule Of architecture Hence it has frequent
| ly required a most fixed purpose to enable
him to overcome the prejudices of architect.
carpenters, masons, &c. The house faces
east, has two full stories and a cottage roof
The outer walls Of the first story are built
Of the rough stones found on the farm, the
owner thus putting into practical execution
his published and tavOrite theory that this
material, only too accessible to nearly every
New England farmer, should be thus utili-
Zed. In the present instance the stone IS
from rough powders Of granite, trap, sand
stone, and gneiss. For the windows brick
trimmings have been used. which pleasantly
relieve the dark stone. Over the front en-
trance, in piece Of light Ohio stone. is cut
the owner monogram, d. C.. NJ. The sec
ond story Is constructed Of pine wood, and
Is surmOunted by the somewhat abruptly
receding slated cottage roof. The chimneys
are a combination Of brick and small chips
Of the stones found on the place \ pretty
little ventIlatOr juts up from the roof. from
the different windows Ofwhich those charm
ing views that have made EdgewoOd IA
nous can all be enjoyed. Due east. New
Haven lies on a surface as level as Runny-
mede, while its stately spires climb upward.
and their golden vases glitter in the sum
mer sun. Southeast your eyes sweep across
the level flats that form the boundary of the
farm in that direction, and beyond West
Haven you see the beautiful harbOr crowded
with shipping. while due south YOU catch
glimpses Of the Sound over the trees Of
Maltby Park, and the smoke of the passing
locomotives on the New-lork road l. seen
ten miles away. Southwest and west YOUR
eye follows the winding EisewOod r0ad over
the crest and among the grand old elms and
oaks upon the hillside, while due north
rises West Rock, towering over the little
village which sleeps at its base, and smiling
in the sunlight across the Intervening plain
to it. twin brother, East Rock which guards
the city on the northeast These lovely
views, Of which the eve never tires, can be
enjoyed from the lower stories. and 1t Is one
Of Mr.. MitcheI's greatest successes that
every living room in his new house has at
least one window from which the beautiful
view 10 the south 0fw00dland and meadow.
with the blue waters Of Long Island Sound
in the distance, can te obtained and enjoy
ed. To accomplish this 1t was necessary 20
project the northern section Of the house
beyond the other in both front and rear
On the northwest corner an l. was built
with a side entrance This contains a large
kitchen, with three sleeping rooms above for
servants, whose quarters are thus entirely
by themselves. \ sudden slope of the land
on the west Of the house affords a spacious
basement, wherein Is a laundry and sleep
ing room for the man servant. and gives
ample light to the large and well-arranged
cellar Water Is supplied 10 the house from
a reservoir on the farm. and @ large reserve
Is kept in a tank in the garret. Externally
the house is painted yeli0wi~h brown, wiki
dun-cOlOrcd iacingS.
But we must pass inside O. appreciate
thoroughly the charming character of the
innovations against c0nycntiOnali-m made
by the owner. Pausing a moment on the
little front pOrtic0. We observe that the en-
trance 70 the house Is through heavy door
made in two halves. and composed of chest
nut, black walnut a1d hgtJc-ngt. which,
ike nearly every piece 90 wood Ot any kind
used In the house. was grown upon the
farm. having been carefully selected. cut and
allowed to season under Mr.. Mtcaell's own
eyes. Once fairly inside, You stand facing
west, having on your left large drawing
room, connected by folding doors with a
smaller sitting room. both rooms having
long windows opening on the south portie1,
which runs the length of the house. OppO-
site YOU, at the end Of the hall, j. the din
ing-room, large. high, and with doors lead
ing into a cupboard stocked with beautiful
China, and into a little closet heated by
warm pipes. where the children OF the house
hold dry their garments and shoes as they
come from school, while a long window
opens on to pretty little west portico.
You are surprised as You enter in the hall
to see no stairway nor door to the right.bu
passing down near 70 the entrance TO the
dining-room you discover that here the hall
makes a right angle running 10 the L. and
in this angle YOU discover the hitherto con-
cealed stairway on your left, and the libra-
ry door on the right. By having no en-
trance from the front hall the author Will
escape unsOught visitors and n-I>os when
engaged in his library; and Yet has the full
advantage of the front and south views
from the windows thereof, which reach from
floor 70 ceiling. The favored ones who are
admitted % this Sanctum Will find delight
to their eyes not only m the external views,
but the internal rrangements-the long
rows OF stained pine b0Okshciyes set IN the
wall and edged with Russia leather. loaded
with choice volumes. the pretty little pie
turcs and rare knick-knacks with which the
room abOund>. the inviting chairs and the
most hospitable open chimney-place, lined
with the quaint old Dutch tiles ct which
Mr.. Mitchell has made lavish use IN the
house. When the fire (1i honest hickory
blazes on the hearth you see the word
" Edgewo0d' thereby brought into light in
the background. \ convenient little dress
ing-rOOm opens from the library 70 the north.
In the hall and diningroom 5here Will be no
carpet, the floors being of ash well oiled.
and bordered with slais of black walnut
and stained yellow pine. In the drlwing-
room and sitting-rOOm this same border Is
used to the width of about a ioOtall around
each room, 50 that the carpets-quiet pat
terms in Administer and Brussels, all cut
square. and being fastened inside their un-
der borders with patent screw fitting into
a socket-can be taken up and down with
very little trouble, certainly blessing 10
housekeepers. The parlOr mantle and
chimney-piecc Is like that Of the library, in
being made Of native woods. handsomely
stained. The wainScOtting Of the hall y OF
fine woOds-oak, walnut, ash, chestnut,
and yellow pine, in alienation.
The walls of the hall are kals0mined a
dark maroon, those of the diniug-rO1ms
light brown. In all the woodwork of the
interior no paint whatever was used, except
on the window sashes, which are dark
red. In every other case dark walnut
stain has been used which has taken 50 well
upon the white and yellow pine that they
have the appearance of hard wood. The
front staircase is of black walnut rises,
ashen stairs, the steps wide and ascent
gradual. The posts are of handsomely
carved black walnut, the balusters alter
nate ash and black walnut, the former
twisted like rope, the latter smooth. The
second floor contains SIX chambers with ac-
companying dressing and bathrooms, etc.
The arches over the doors TO the chambers
are Of stained white pine with Dutch or
maiOlica tile set in the centre. In many OF
the rooms are alcOves for the beds similarly
ornamented. The dOOr-sills on this HOOr
are of cherry. In the southeastern or guest
chamber is an English slate mantle piece
ornamented with flowers exquisitely painted
and then baked therein. In Mr. Mitchell S
own chamber the mantel-piece Is OF oak,
chestnut, black walnut, and ash, into which
are set portion of a series Of tiles that tell
the story Of the - house that Jack built.
The other tiles used in the house are gene
rally queer old pictures of Bible scenes or
rarely pretty ilower-pieces in majoliea.
Upon the third floor, to which u convenient
little elevator for,trunks, bundles, etc, runs
from the first story, but two chambers and
dressing-rooms are as yet finished, leaving
an immense play-room for the many little
curly heads that now gladden. the house
and the heart of the farmer at EdgewoOd.
In fact the comfort of wife and children
has been constantly studied in the building
of the new house as is evidenced in innu-
merable little details, a single instance Of
which is the possession of large closet for
ao oh child IN "a II its own