Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-25
10: Scmc Of Our Poets Live.



Tie cottage at Appledore Island is
perfectly plain. No hay-w;rdows, b l.
COMICS, or other pretty appcndages; 70
fdnc,ful gables. or Gothic points, 10
neuncss of paint; 10 vines or trees.
Only plain two-storied house, with
,iormer- Widowed attic. y homely
house built On the rock, and perchcd
in severe relief against the sky. 1T the
front Of the cottage Is small yarG. IN
closed by picket fence. 1t ia full OF
bowers. DO not mean prim and de-
corous beds. and flowers staying where
they are put, within their well-clipped
borders. Blu, yard full of flowers
full TO the fence-top, and covering every
inch of ground with their glad luyuri.
ance. Not weed nywhcre--Guitc
crowded ont by these burning, glowing,
starry, gladstone creatures. Somehow,
by reason Of the soil and air, all flowers
here have freedom of growth and
brilliancy of hue not elsewhere found
and intense loneliness.
MRS. HARRIET PRESCOTT sPoFFoEp.
The dwelling is one of those grand.
old fashioned rm-houses, built to last
as long az the island, and when folks
had plenty of timber to put around it
1t used TO be a tavern. also, and it
actually seems to laugh as we come up
to it, with memories of the jollity it had
seen in days gone by. But there is 4
different air about it now. 1t has been
remodeled somewhat, without and
within; and, while there is no lack OF
laughter around it, it stands with a
quiet ard stately grace. There is y
store of Joy there now, but it is differ
emit; as the song that steals out into the
hushed night from the poets lattice is
different from that which makes the
rafters ring over the bowl OF cider. The
staircase is broad and quaint, and above
it is open clear through the house,
giving it an air of spaciousness ana
grandeur. Below, too, it is wide and
cool, most delicious retreat in the
heat of the day, a perfect temple for
quiet, uns poken worship il the hush of
evening. To the left Of the hall is the
parlor; AMI cnce within, it is hard to
get away, there is SO much to feast the
eye, and SO much to charm the mind;
for here the family sit and make the
lame.
! !. d, j.
The Piatt house itself is built at tlo
center Of many beautiful landscapes,
the Ohio river being tho commanding
feature. The cottage stands on the
river line of hills, on the northern
(Obio) side, nearly 800 feet above the
river level Every window OF the house
gives charming river views the Ohio
!
Miami to the northward, while from
the heights above the house there is
lovely glimpse of the meeting Of TIE
Whitewater with the Miami, reminding
one of Tom Moores song of 1.-The Vale
of Avoca where the bright waters meet"
These gay, sunny waters encirele in
their cleaning arms the most green
and fertile of valleys. In summer the
whole country below the dark wooded
heights seem one vast, unbrokcn, level
corn. field. Across the Ohio to the
southwark there are some delightful
Kentucky views-rich and extensive
bottom lands, with farm-houses, Or
chards, pastures, wheat fields and corn
fields, bounded by e line of wooded
hills, SO that the scene from the upper
windows is delightful mingling of the
idy!lic and the romantic.
THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH.
Mr.. Aldrich lives at Ponkapog, q
part of the town of Canton, in Massa
chusetts. Although very charming
place, Ponkapog was never noted for
its enterprise, and tho location of
railroad ONE two or three miles dis
tant has left it very much in the condi-
ton of Bailey's Four Corners, do
scribed by Mr.. Aldrich in his story OF
"Miss Mehetable's Son." The house
is an old-fashioned, two-story house,
built at the beginning of the present
century, and is partially screened from
the road by cherry trees and by q hedge
of arbor vito. presided over by two
ancient and shiftless-looking button
woods. Back of the house, the grounds
fall away gently to stream and an old
mill pond, on which stands deserted
and decaying mill, which was utilized
during the late war for the weaving of
soldiers cardigans. Along the margin
of the stream which, after wandering
all round the grounds, finds its way
out on the Noponset meadows, and so
to the ocean. great quantities of water
crosses, ferns and curious wild flowers
grow, the early cowslip and the pitcher
plant among them.
RICHARD HENRY STODDARD.
The Stoddards live in New York, in
an unpretending little house in East
Fifteenth street. If I should attempt
to characterize their home in few
words, I should soy it was nearly such
a home as all authors ought to have.
1t is plainly furnished, but is full of
good books and good pictures, most of
which were painted by their artist
friends. The books are all English, of
course, for the Stoddards have only
such education as they have given
themselves; but they are all good
"books which are books" as Charles
Lamb used to say.
THE FEMALE SNoB.-The most