The Russellville Democrat., 1881-08-11
4 COTTAGE BY TIE SEA.
The Residence of Railroad Millionaire
 Described in Detail. |

Hong Branch LScteSl
 Mir. Victor Newcomb, formerly of the Louisville d Nashville railroad, and his family, are occupying their cottage, just beyond the Elberon hotel, which is one of the most elegzntplznned and finished residences here, and as summer home can not be surpassed. Ii is one of the most unique specimens Of the new-fash- toned old-fashioned dwellings have yet seen. The architecture Is old English. but the house is far from being so gloomy in appearance without or within as are most ol the Queen Anne houses I have seen here and at Saratoga The building IS being entirely finished with in m hard wood, different kind being nsssd in each room. In one it Is mahog- any. in another maple, n another the California rcd wood, in another oak, and another Georgia pine. 4 square hall, entirely finished ia oak. even the walls and having ceiling showing rafters O. that wood, occupies the centre of the 1rs. floor. The floor of this hall Is tiled with red tiles, to represent brick floor, except in the center, which is white, eheckered with red. The enormous fireplace has large iron crane and other implements like the old-time kitchens had. 4 metal screen with colered glass gznes, draws 46wn in front of this fire place and serves as blower or screen. 1n one side of the fireplace, provision is made for hanging kettle in which to brew champagne punch. Champagne punch made by such an antique fireplace szvors rather of an anacbronlsm- thInE. Over all the m2ntels in the house are | l. c., Ii--s brzc. I am delighted the mirror mama has died out. and one IS not confronted with oneself making grimaces in the effort to do the agreeable over every ehimney-piece and between eyerT pair of windows The en- trance door at the Newcomb cot tage opens horizontally half way up, as did the old-fashioned doors when II was necessary to look out before opening all the doors to ascertain if friend or foe sought entrance. 4 round tower on one side further suggests the idea of forti- fiedcastle. The main door opens into the square hall, in which the windows have small stained glass panes. Large skins of wild beasts are used as rugs upon the floor, and pictures on easels and sistuary on pedestais, with some quaint chairs, complete the furniture. All the rooms have low ceilings, but high wainscstlngs. In some ths latter extend as much as six feet above the floor. In the dining room the ceiling, as well as cornice about two feet immediately below the ceiling. are of cork This material was used moi only to prevent dampBess, but also to defy the powers of all the flies of hytime to iniure it. The spots usual in cork, however. make the ceiling look as if flies had already done their worst. as was proved by s lady saying to Mrs. New comb in dead earnest. How sorry l am to see that the flies have specked your beautiful new ceiling So badly." The ex- teri6r of the house has picturesque gables and recess balconies and buttress- es. the latter lighted with glass bull's- eyes. as are some of the gables. Don't that gable look as if stuck full of soda- water bottles" asked merry visitor oi of me. I quite agreed with hIm. and expressed my regret that rich man like NIT. Newoomb should be reduced to the necessity of stopping up the holes ID his new house to keep the wind away in such a manner In building these new fashioned old-fashioned houses there seems such an effort after the realistic in the reproduction that fully expect to see in some of them broken panes stuffed up with an old-sryle heavy leath- CT boot or yarn sock. The bulPs-eyes, looking like the bottoms of soda water bot ties, are an instance of this realism, since they were used for stables and atiics in olden times, when glass was not made by the same process as now, and these bulls eyes were the refuse after making pznes of glass, and were sold cheap. Another instance of the realism is the speckled cork ceiling of the dining room, which so closely initiates fly speck with out being as uncleaEly as the real thing. Despite the fact that they have just completed their cottage, begun over 8 year ago, and have built and furnished 1t exactly to smt them, IL is quite pos sible that Mir. and Mrs. Newcomb will divide the larger portion of the summer between a cottage. at the United States hotel, Saratoga, and tour In Scotland, his physicians having recommended MT. Newcomb to visit the latter country for his health.