The daily gazette., 1881-09-20
From the N. Y. Star.
Wealthy Mems Homes.
THE DOMESTIC LIFE AND HABITS
OF wELL-RNOWN NEW
WORKERS.

| AAE DOMEDEAC LIFE AND HABIT
OF wELL-RNOwN NEW
WORKERS.
How Elegance and Comfort are
Combined - The Residences OF
Peter Cooper, Cyrus w. Field,
| Judge Hilton, the Wander.
bflts and Others.
"There are wealthy men who are
content to transact their business In
dark, dingy Offices that are located 10
the upper stories OF buildings in the
lower part Of the city but these same
men are as rule, very fastidious In
regard to their residences," was the
remark made to q representative OF
Tho Star by a Man About Town one
day last week. snow, for instance,
there is Mr.. Cyrus w. Field. His
down. town office is, perhaps, pleas
antly CROUCH situated, yet it is plain
enough TO suit Phil delphia Quaker.
The quarters in which Mr.. Field car.
ries on q business, involving many
millions Of dollars per year, comprise
three small rooms. The rooms are
very cheapIy furnished. An inexpen-
sive carpet covers the floor. The
desks and chairs are exceedingly com.
mon, and few cheap pictures adorn
the walls. The owner of this Office
does not take the pains to have the
door closed between the inner sanctuin
and the reception room. Visitors are
net required to send in their cards,
and Mr. Eiald ,aofa &ho-.
. CHEEKY salutation and the query !:
swell, my friend, what can / do to
make , on happy to-day p'
The plain old fashioned business of.
fee of the man whose efforts brought
about the laying Of the first Atlantic
cable presents q striking contrast to
bis city residence or to his palatial
country house at Irvington on the
Hudson. In his two homes there is
everything that taste and wealth could
desire. Elegant carpets, costly furni-
ture and paintings by leading artists
are there to be seen to be profusion.
The owner takes great pride in his
houses, and nothing gives him greater
pleasure than to extend hospitalities
to his friends. When Dean Stanley
Of England was In this country he was
the guest of Mr.. Field, and when he
returned home he wrote letter to
friend In America, in which the fol.
lowing complimentary staten ent was
made: "While in the United States
had many opportunities to observe the
home life Of many well-known and
wealthy Americans. was the in
vited guest of at least half hundred
different gentlemen ; and I can say
that at no place did / feel more at
ease than did ut the elegant and
home-like country residence of Mr..
Cyrus w. Field at Irvington-on- the
Hudson."
The home Of the venerable philan-
thropist, Peter Cooper,is not remarkable
for elegance or lavish display OF wealth.
A reporter for the Star, who visited Mr..
Cooper's residence, was ushered into the
parlor, where he was kindly welcomed
BY the old gentleman himself.
81 have Called" the scribe began, ITO
obtain the facts for brief description Of
your home lite."
"All right, my friend" responded Mr..
Cooper; ~ have no objection to having
you write about me. am not ashamed
to let the public known just how live.
As you will see by an inspection Of my
home, am not Of that class Of people
who believe In gewgaws and useless
finery. My motto is comfort before ele-
gsnce,' aud II please myself aud do not
set bad example for others to follow,
am satisfied"
The reporter looked at the carpets aud
r. n. Is.N arIA
that the venerable philanthropist had
carried his ideas into practice. The car
pet was Of An old fashioned pattern, and
In many places was worn almost thread
bare. The sofas and chairs were OF the
style manufactured twenty-five or thirty
years ago. They were covered with hair
cloth, and were somewhat out of repair.
Upon an antique centre table were
several books. One Of the volumes was
q church hymn book. The leaves Of the
volumn were we'll tbumbed and the
binding gave evidence of long use. Upon
one OF the fylesves was written the
name Of O lady who, as Mr.. Cooper said,
was one of his daughters, who died many
years ago. A portion Of the extension
back of the parlor is devoted to Mr..
Cooper's private library Nearly all of
the books are devoled to political, his
torical aud fiuaucial topics. There we're
several large volumes made up of pam
phiets written by Mr.. Cooper in advocacy
OF his pet the ,ries regarding the green
back system aud the United States imam
ces.
Judge Henry Hllton's residence is, In
many respects, q marked contrast to thaG
of Mr.. Cooper. The house occupies two
lots of ground, has an elegant stone front
and imposing vestibule, heavy, carved
front door, elaborate oornices, and all
Its appurtenances are of the most costly
and elaborate character. The carpets are
Of the most elegant patterns, imported by
A. T. Stewart Il Go. And the furni-
ture, which was manufactured, ,expr, ssly
for the owner, is very elegant and sub
slantial. One Of the most important
features Of this palatial residence ID the
picture gallery, which contalns some
very valuable pictures by prominent
home and foreign artists.
The home Of Mrs. A. T. Stewart has
been 90 often described In the publis
prints that It IL needless to devote
| npaC0 to An enumeration of ita fsat.