The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-20

furnished, wcll-equipped. and well-mounted
Fifth avenue establishment OF this pres mt year
OF grace, 1876 Our wealthiest citizens have, as
general thing, made no very great display In
the way Of Ane houses and luxurious living.
With the single exception Of the late A. 4.
Stewart do not remember one man, the
architect OF his own fortune, who has aston
lshed the good people Of New York by building
what the English call show house. Old John
Jacob Aston was never given to 1ne houses.
During the greater part Of mis- life he lived on
Broadway in one Of the houses comprising the
block which then occupied the site Of the Aston
House. His store was in the rear Of the house,
with the entrance on vcscy street. When he
made preparations for building the Aston
House, he moved to a modest two-storv brick
house on Broadway. opposite NiblO's, where he
lived TIL his death, In 1913.
His son, the late william u. Astor. resided for
many years In a large, commodious house on the
east side OF LAFAYETTE place. near the Astor Ii
brary. now used az a restaurant. After the death
Of his wife, he built on the northwest corner
o, Thirty-nfth street aud the Fifth avenue, aud
moved up to the neighboraood Of his sons, John
jacob and william. Here he died In November
last John Jacob lives on the northwest corner
of Thirty-third street aud Fftn avenue. white
William resides on the southwest corner OF
Thirty-fourth street, above. Though all these
houses are every way first class, still they can
not be called show hou ses.
Cornelius Vanderbilt. the next man on the
list OF New YORK millionaires, and the only
one now remaining OF the great triumvlrate
composed OF Aston. Stewart, aud Wander
bit, has for many years past lived In tho
most unpretentlous style, occupying a ilnc
double brick house on the south side OF Wash
ington place. near Greene street. his stables
l..t.s 49,,
Mr.. william II. Vanderbilt, who has Of late
years represented the COnmodores vast rail-
road interests. aud who. It IA understood. vii!
succeed to the bulk OF hs fathers great
wealth, occupies one Of the finest c Jrner houses
| on the east side of Fifth avenue. Just south
| OF the FOrty-secoud street reservoir Near Mr.
| Vanderbilt, on the same avenue, and on a north
| east corner, Is situated James Gordon BENEFITS
| magnificent large double brown stone house, by
| far the finest bachelors Establishment In this
| city. The elegant Fifth avenue dwellings Of the
wealthy below Thirty fourth street are rapidly
| giving way to clubs, music halls, and shops.
| Mr.. August Belmont still holds out on the
nor, beast corner OF Eighteenth street and Fifth
avenue. The house was originally built by Sir.
| Guion. He was unfortunate IN business, and
| the property came into Mr.. B,lnon,s posses
sion at the price OF $1,000. Mr. Belmont ma lie
great improvements. built a picture gallery, en-
| larged the stables. and has now one OF the
most thoroughly equipped establishments Ia
| America
| Ga the southeast corner OF the Fifth avenue
| and Eighteenth street Mr.. Marshall o. Roberts
occupies a lirgc double four-stOry brown.stOne
| house, one OF the finest on this part of the ave-
| nue.. rnc stables IN the rear are likewise Of
| brown stone. The Eighteenth street front OF
this superb dwelling presents one continuous
| mass OF brown stone, every incn Of land being
| built on. We believe Mr.. Roberts, house II the
only one. on the avenue which has weather
| vane top OF the Il igstin. Possibly this IN ~
| be the reason OF the hish value all sensible men
set ON Mr. Roberts's opinions. The neighbors
| look with the grertest confidence II Mr. RlD-
erts in trying times md IN all kinds Of weather.
when they wish to know which way the wind
blows. Mr.. Roberis's picture gallery contains
| some Of the finest works Of art in this city. Vie
has for years been enl aged in eisurely collect
Ing choice specimens Of the modern masters
both here and abroad Whenever modern
picture Of worth has been for sale Ia TIL,
city, MIR. Roberts has generally presented HIM
self a. a competitor. Some two or three years
ago when he enlarged, rcmOdeiled. aud rebuilt,
his present gallery he had for a neighoor Mr..
Heron A. johnson, who occupied tine house
| adjoining the avenue. Knowing that the
| contemplated improve would take awaN
much Of his elghbor's light and make his house
less desirable as a dwelling. Nj. Roberts, frankly
spoke to him of his plans, aud made liberal
offer for the house. The onerw accepted n
the same spirit In which 1t was made, and Mr..
Roberts now owns Doth houses and occupies
them "a one. MIR. Johnsou-iSewise ono o
oar nch men who deserves special notice
moved up into one Of Mr.. Astor's houses OF
rhiry-fourth street, between tie Fllth anC
sixth avenues. where he still resides.
| Though MIR. Peter GOeet ranks nigh up anon
the great New NorN miinOnAires, the quaint
old. fashioned brcN house which stands Daci
from the thoroughfare ON the northeast cOrne
Of Btoai~ty ami Nineteenth street can hardly
be called palatiAl mansion. IL is, however, re
plcte with every convenience, and We very
mucn DOUBT II Mr. q Jelet would change it III
the finest house IN town, particularly when h'
reflects on the actual value Of tho land enclosed
wthln those rusty iron raiiings. lie cares yer
little for hne people aud nne clothes; nor doe
he believe that fine feathers make nnc birls
though he has lkness for stolks, peacock.
and A-iatic pheasants.
70 those who remember when Mr.. Pete
Llriari. the father Of the present Messgs
Pierre George. Jacob. AMI LOUIS L)rllird
Quilt ON the northwest corner 81 broadway ans
Tenth street the house which sine, his dealt
has been altered into u store, need no
recall the fact that II was, at the time
looked ugon ~ about as perfect a thing In tn
way II pllatiil IN in-iOn "a could then DO PIT
20 sether by mortal hands. In 4 few years It WI
ntally ecdp,ed by very many Ffth ayenu,
iplses, wnich, in their turn, arc now quiIs old
fashioned Mr Pierre Lorillirl now At tn
head OF the old tobacco 1rm. noted Tor hi
lavish expcnditlre'. his generous mode Of lis
ing, mis- nne racing stable, and MS recent sue
cessos ON the turf built Tor himself ON thc nur;n
east corner at flfth avenue and lnirty-stxtl
street superb dwelling, Whic 0, tlll very lately
had few rivals IN tnis city Tor size, soIIty, ella
gance Of finish. and completeness " appoint
ments. cost him over Sb)OJl. WHAT wJul
his father have thought of the modest mansion
on the coraer Of tenth street an llroadw,y
mad he lived to take a chop with his 80
in he luxurious diam, room Of the Flftn ~ 9
nue. and rnirty sixth street housc2
The late MIR. A. +. stewards marble palace, o.
the northwest corner Of the Finh avenue an.
rhir;y-tourth street, is by far the most expen
sive private dwelling In TINS city. The preci 90
marbles alone which have been 50 laysuly use
. IA the orndmentation Of The Interior cost SljJ
| ON uhfl. thu land. hulllinu and furuitura Ar