New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-25
MR.. BAKEEs ODD EMBELLISHMENTS.

Wellesley tIfass) Letter to The Philadelphia Press
From the windows of the stable. you approach,
are protrudIng horses heads but On close eX
animation they prove to be only very clever wooden
limitations Of horses.
Bat most curious, and at the same time most
Characteristic are the den OF Fances and FTivoii-
tie, and the grove. Ia the former, which is not a
den, but Il rocky strip OF land along the lake, the
trees are trained into fantastic forms, aud are
clothed OF painted to represent men and am
mails IN ridiculous positions. Ia every rock you see
some startling face or form. Upon the brow OF a
hill stands. a warning to those who I'LL high their
bumpers. a huge representation OF a human nBure /;
the body is 4 hOgsaead TO which are attached head.
arms aud legs and which is painted % represent a
man fairly bursting under his accumulated weight
OF flesh. Sometimes inscriptions are placed upon
the figures. For instance, IN one place Is a whskey
bottle ten feet high. made of beer bottles strung
upon wires; this Is labelled: The last of the
spiTlts.'
We were walking along by the greenhouses admir-
ing the flowers and beautiful lawns, when the owner
himself suddenly appeared. Marching up to one Of
the young ladies Of the party, he seized her
BY the arm, aud, exeiSiming IN gruli tones nat
are you walking IN the path torf why don't you
walk there. where you belOngi" ne thrust her over
on 10 the carefully trimmed grass. lew years
ago some South Carolina companies came on TO BOs-
ton to attend a celebration there Mr. Baker enter
tanned them and the Boston companies one day, and
one OF tue exercises which from his position host,
he insisted upon was that the officers from the
North aud TIL South should shake hands across a
small cannon that stood on the terrace The proof
of RECOMMENDATION was performed with all proper
ceremony, TO his entire satisfaction.
In the grove his fancy has been given full play.
This is place Of practical jokes The paths are
full of springs and traps TO starte the unsuspecting
visitor. As you cross dark chasm on q narrow
bridge, suddenly there springs upon you from be-
hind the rocks a savage-l0Oking negro with a club
brandisned above his head, and It Is only after you
have got done screaming Of you are wOman that
You perceive that the man Is standing too still for
wOuld-be assallant, and then, upon investigation,
You discover that it Is a wooden figure called into
view by your foot having pressed unawares secret
spring in the flooring. " ne denOnacaI cereus
blooms every ten minutes on sunny days Is notice
which stares at yOu from the SIDE of box contain
ing an ordinary looking cactus plant. Naturally you
sit down upon the seat before it TO await the phe
nOmenon, but with your weight the seat sin ks and
you find yourself Frustrated before q red devil
which has suddenly risen from the earth with the
cactus upon hIs head. Again, you are leaving
ten stored with curiOslues which have been taking
your attention, the ground suddenly sinks beneath
you. and when you recover you find yourself pitch
ing about upon sprlng-suDDOrted platform which
had been deftly hidden from view. Mr.. Bakers
ambition seems 10 have been to make people laugh.
and he has succeeded It has been his custom to
invite schools and societies from Boston TO spend
the day with him, and it is said that such occa
si0ns he is lavish In his entertainments.