Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-18

dswn is 30 deep and the voice OF the
kneeler 30 stfled in luxury that he can
never be heard above the bronze handles
of the great door beside which he is sup
posed to kneel and wrestle in prayer
1t was not good citizenship in the earlier
Athenian times to consider individual in
terests even in the adornment of ones
house so that to the older days Of what
we call classic art decoration was lavished
mostly upon temples and public building.
But rs luxury grew there came IN Alci-
blades, who kept IN artist prisoner i'll his
dwelling until its walls had been decorat-
ed, and as the observer stands in the
medieval lobby at "Ardsley," with its
sloping and decorative rooflet, its twin
easements commanding view of river
and hills, and cathedral-like furniture, he
feels as if this modern mOney-getter had
followed this example, and captured mn
architect to build his castle. Facing the
entrance, Mt the rear of the branching halls,
short flight of steps lead to the landing,
from which, on either side, massive stair
cases lead to the floor shove. To the left
is the reception-room, with its pretty cot
tage furniture and windows, embracing n
wide expanse of scenery, and upon the
other side is tho cosy library, where one
may dream for hours amid books and
views and flowers. Beyond are the great
parlors, with their high ceilings, finished
in all artwork, decorative and architecture
al. The dining-room, with its lights and
lines and high-backed chairs, might be the
"Abbots Kitchen of Glastonbury, and
smacks of the venison and wines to be
consumed by merry guests and happy
host. Above nre the large and airy cham
bers for those same guests when weary
with the pleasures "Ardsley' is to bring
them 1t is impossible in short article
to enter isto a description which would
require book were only cursory glance
taken of the style, finish and decoration OF
these many rooms They embody, how
ever; all that is best in European and
Oriental plans, and all the windows from
gruveled walk to gabled roof have been
SO adroitly arranged as to catch the finest
aesthetic effects from the varied views
they command. The dreamy advocate OF
| Wilderianism may wander at will fol
hours through the castle, and never tire
of the constantly changing shape, per.
spectivo and hues that greet him from
without, or the architectural decorati ons
and artistic carvings that meet his eye
from within. Were an aesthetic called up
on to select an elysium for the "twenty
love-sick maidens" and their melancholy
poet it Is Ardsley that would be honered
with their reception. 1t catches the eye
of lover Of the beautiful from road
river, rock or hillside, and while Other
beautiful and ornamental residence spot
all the surrounding country, there is abou,
the castle of the Fields massiveness ant
stately grandeur which commands the at
tention and enthralls it. Ever as the
traveller goes on up the river, and the adj
iacent villas are lost to view or fade away
inte the horizon, the sky lines of this pile
of stone refuse to be obliterated by dis
tance until they seem to be the vngran
waits of the cirrous clouds above them.
The one disagreeable thing abon
"Ardsley," however, is that one las tc
leave 1t al last as the guests will leari
from sad experience, when the winds
come down from the north next autumn
1t is place to live. The tranquility
the blending hill and river and sky, the
balmy breeze, the mellow sunshine
mark it as n spot which sages and phil
osophers would have celebrated MS thu
proper resting place for man. BY this
Of course, is meant wealthy men; TIN
elevated railway employe would be un
happy here, and the ever writing journal
ist could not appreciate the cost of th'
structure as he would the country aroun,
it. But man who can understand tina
every stone cost 30 many dollars, am
every inch of paint so many cents, coul
walk through rooms, each of which are a
expensive rs the houses of others, an
sit out on balconies that are not SO chen
as the workmen's house. and realize tina
the man who owns all this must be a patrl
clan and an aristocrat, and therefore :"
very good fellow to know"