The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-07-15
Our 0lio.
Jay Gould's Castle on the Hudson.
Passionate HOrtieuIturist-His Iu.-
mense Greenh0uses-EiraeI of Trop-
ieaI Nature-A scene Of wOndrOus Art
and Beauty.

ieaI Nafure-A Scene Of WOndrOus Art
and Beauty.
The people of Irvington had most in
teresting and delightful way of spending
the Fourth, offered to them by Mr.. Jay
Gould, whose beautiful grounds and con
servatory at Lyndehurst were thrown opeT
freely to all visitors under the supervision
of his manager, Mr.. Mangold, scientific
German hortieulturist and practical bota
mist, who has conducted the improvement:
on the Lyndehurst property. Mr.. Man
gold is native of Hanover, and an enthu
siast in his art He has been connected
with this estate for eighteen years, and re-
members when it was wilderness, and Z
portion of it little better than swamp. Il
Is now one of the handsomest private estate:
in the country. and contains a conservatory
which has no rivals in the United States.
Vast sums have been expended to make
this place what it is, said Mr. Mangold
"A mint Of money was expended on the
drainage alone. Over $4,000 feet of drain
pipes, six by three inches, have been laid
to carry the waste water into the river, anc
there have been over 5,000 feet OF twelve
inch tiles driven at different portions Of tbs
place. The drainage Is now perfect 80 faI
as the main division ofthe land is concerned
This work was done when the estate wa.
owned By Mr.. Merritt, bat Mr.. Gould viii
begin the work Of draining $50 acres lying
about a mile TO the northeast Of the mansion
in about six weeks. This viii cost fully
sl00. 600. but viii be worth Eve times that
amount tothc neighborhood in the improved
character and healthfalneSs of the land
Indeed. all of Mr. Guulds costly improve,
ments and expensive Injuries are beneficial
10 the village. There Is NOT man, woman
or child, however poor and shabby, who ha,
not the freedom Of the grounds. Provided
he behaves himself. he can obtain without
price sH the enicymen,s for which Mr.
Gould h@d expended thousands "
The estate comprises about Eve hundred
acres. but i separated into two great sec
fians by the public road The main Por-
tion, eoutzining.the mansion, the couserva-
vatory and the stables. which are particularly
spacious and wei built. comprises about
ninety acres The mansion. hnilt u sing
Sing marble. eruwns \ knoll IN the eeuiTs
81 this part of the estate The main part
of the building was erected by ten. Paul
ding. Of Revolutionary fame An addition,
including tower. was added hy Mr.. Mer'
MI. The latter dying. Mr. Gcald per
chased the property esf the executors He
has not aidsd 10 the building, hus Of courss
has changed and Improved the character d
the interior.
Mr.. (ioald's hobby. however. y hortieul
ture, and. With limislezs means At his euu-
mand, hc has indulgcd himself ia thi.
matter with thr same enthusiasm that ssshrr
aea be-sow on Fast hnrses os paintings
tlsoagh be has kren eye also Tor che god
points us = horse, and i 9sEiSsiy making one
of the hsss collections II pictures IN the
country.
While the reporter wAs going shrUagh
the eenservafosies IN Company With Mr.
Mangold. Mr.. Goald came IN, aud seeing
the admiration excited by bis aorsl tFea.-
ares took the pains 10 poiai cut a nantcE
IL the rArsnt and aassst bcausifai plants sith
an aniaAsion that showed his warm peF~esal
Interest in the subject and has familiarity
with the kstbifass and rroprrsies a the
palms. tree ferns. orrhids and other gl0siss
o. the tropical foTests which are hcFe
hrvught together
The conservatives. which are new. these
which Mr.. Gould boaght With the estate
having beea destroyed BY great Gre in
Deoemb9r. 1850 e0ver n vast area sexeraa
hundred feet in length. They are con-
strucicd On ground plan d the form Of a
Gr,ek cross, the hlnbs eentreing upon =
nohle palm house. beneath the dome a
whieh PLAYS a large fountain, supplied, ~
are all the buildings Of the estate, with
water brought from an inexhanstihle nat
ural spring on the property.
While the old ennscryAioFies were siill
burning. Mr.. Gould made his eoutnets for
constructing fhess new and more magnih-
cent buildings, which are absolutely ere
proof, wood being used only in the framing
Of the glass between the great iron nhs.
Mr. MArgold set aboat Masking lists of the
plants required more than year ago, and
the eolIeetion Of these plants has been ever
since going on II i not yef BY any means
completed, for Mr. Gould keeps himself
fully informed in regard 20 the explorations
which ara making in all parts Of the world,
and ID Is his intention 20 gcs into these con-
scryafories the finest preferable specimens
Of all species and varieties Of the tropical
and sub-tropicAl fora
Mr.. Godld. said Mr.. Mangold, why no
means leaves everything 10 me. He takes
a personal interest in every detail, and APP
pears to be most happy when in the con.
seryafory.n In showing the reporter the
beauties Of the collection be grew entknsi-
astie over the varied shapes asd eolors oi
the aCrutons' imported from the Fji Is
lands, through the kindness Of Sir Arthur
Gordon, the Governor Of that colony, calling
particular attention 10 one variety which
developss leaf carioassly and accurately
twisted into a spiral like a corkSsrew Of
emerald and gold, and to another which
produces a double leaf-that is to say, a Leaf
al the end Of which is stem holding an
other and smaller leaf. Yesterday Mr..
Gould himself conducted several parties
through the conservatory. A gentleman
from Para, Brazil, and acquainted with the
rich vegetation Of that tropical region, was
pFofuse in his exelamations Of delight, and
on leaving said Il am to return in two
years, when / shall take the liberty Of vis-
iting you again, and fully expect to have
my eyes opened still wider than | have
to-day
The new conservatory can be seen for
miles up and down the river, there being a
river view from the mansion of forty-6ye
miles. The conservatory is 400 feet long
on the northern line, and 32 feet wide
The central house, containing the collection
of ferns aud palms, is 81 feet deep and SO
feet long. The east wing, containing cacti,
crotons, caladiums and other tropical plants,
is 80 feet long and % feet wide. The west
wing is of the same size, and contains the
rose houses and graperies. In addition tC
the building there is a rear house, $50 fee
long and Is feet deep, containing sections
for propagation and the orchids or air
plants. In all there are sixteen sections
There are 7a,QQ0 feet of double thick glas;
in the building, Every pFecaation against
FIRE has been taken. The building Is arched
with brick and iron beams, the chimneyi
are all on the outside, and hose is stretched
throughout the building A small brick
hu;Idino is in the enurse of erection to con