Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-07
Senator Platt's Mountain Retire at.


From Letter to the Philadelphia Press.
Mrs. Platt herself, who does everything well
that she undertakes. is fine rover, and goes
out every fair day in her boat for miles on the
beautiful lake. From afar you can discern her
natty little craft, in whose center she sits indus
triously welding the bright, cherry-wood oars
with big red bow on her mountain hat like an
ori1amme and dark blue flannel dress, with
short killed skirt, best of all costumes for camp
ing and climbing. AS for the Senator. he judi
ciOusly says that colored flannel shirt and pair
of cool pantaloons are the only proper wear for
an American citizen in hot weather, and that
he wouldn't mind the long sessions of the SEN
ate half so much if they would let man attend
them dressed in that sensible fashion, particu-
>larly if, furthermore he might go down stairs
to the restaurant and cook his own lunch in
true camp fashion during the dull speeches The
monstrated his culinary skill by preparing the
family breakfast one morning OF my visit. when
the guides had started out at daylight deer
hunting. Every dish, from brolled chicken
to griddle cakes was his own cOncOcting,
and each was delicious. The Senator's wife
was Miss Bull, of Towanda, Pa and he found
her while he was teaching school there in his
youth. Her mother has resided with them dur
ing the later years of her widowhood, and
brightens their yearly sojonrn in the mountains
u
presence Of genial and vigorous age. Few
campers-out bring female servants with them
Besides other incOmpatibilities, it would be u
drawback to that simplicity which is the soul of
wilderness life. The Senator's camp is eleven
miles from the head Of the lake. and is situated
with equal reference to beauty, healthfulness.
and accessibility to good hunting and fishing
For five seasons they have camped on this spot
having previously tried several locations during
the seventeen summers they have spent in the
mountains. Is -
Their two story log-cottage is as pretty will
derness home as ono could desire. 1t stands
close by the lakeside, and in the edge of pine
forest, rich in balsamic doors. 1t Is of round
spruce logs, chinkedin With moss, and its bal
cony ratings are arbor vitB wood. The upright
posts are painted white, as are also the window
castings. There are three ground rooms and two
chambers. The dining-rOom is In board tent in
the rear, the kitchen is In another, the guides
quarters in a third, while the bedroom" of Mr.
rooted ''shanty'' tent, strewn, as to its
floor, with hemlock boughs, and the guest
chamber for male visitors is another similar tent
few rods distant. The ositting- room and it's
two adjacent bedrooms are furnished with SIM
plicity, but great comfort, and marks of Mrs.
Platt's artistic taste are everywhere visible in
draperies and rustic, conveniences An ample
wood stove is in the sitting-room, and there are
few evenings, even IN midsummer, when q
little fire is not comfortable. A stuffed deer's
against the wall. The Senator patronizes the
sitting-room at intervals, but he luxuriates on
the plaza, and to see him seated in his easy chair
with cigar in his mouth and his eyes ranging
over the beauties inefiable OF lake and noun
tain, or leIsurely reading up home papers which
come to him BY mail in platoons four times q
week, You would not soon tire Of looking at
| such picture Of royal content. His lake and
mountain view is one OF the finest In all this
great park, and he enjoys it with keen artistic
appreciation His health. which was so pre-
carlous last year and part Of the year previous.
some of his ribs, leaving assesses in the heal
Ing, is now fully recovered and he attributes It
In q large measure to the mountain air. He
goes on trout fishing tramps In the season, and
tember The campfire at night is his especial
delight. With one of the guides to roll the huge
logs into place, he himself kndles 1t In front Of
one Of the sleeping tents above mentioned, and
the family and guests gather around It and talk
Eli he'd time