The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-08-01
AN EDITORS HOME.
AND HRA W0RLD.FAMOUS PHILADEL.
PHIA ONE.
The OumptuOns Manner In Which He
Fitted up Palace In the COun.
try-Beautlful Scenes.

Nearly every traveller over the Penn
sylvania railroad is familiar with Bryn
Mawr, by sight at least. The place itself
is kind of rural Utopia, situated in the
midst of a fine undulating tract, COM
manding picturesque views at every
point of the compass. The houses at
Bryn Mawr are famous for their elegant
architecture, and there George W. Childs,
of the Philadelphia Ledger, has seen fit
to erect an ideal summer residence
there "Wootton" is situated. The prop
erty had many natural advantages, of
course, or Mr.. Childs would never have
selected it, but the architect and lands
cape gardener have literally transformed
it. The grounds front for nearly three.
quarters of mile on Bryn Mawr avenue,
and are hedged in by row of Norway
spruces, protected by an iron fence which
is adorned at intervals with growing
plants. Along the avenue, outside of the
hedge, is flag walk bordered by finely
kept strips of turf. The entrance of Woot-
ton is by way of a bona fide English
bridge, which is kept by the landscape
gardener. This in itselfis little gem Of
architecture. Mr.. Child's house stands
on slight plateau from which terrace
of $50 feet descends to lawn of twenty
five acres. Leading up to
THE MAIN ENTRANCE,
is a broad fight of granite steps, and q
stone balustrade runs about the terrace
on which the house stands. The build
ing Is in the now omni-present style Of
Queen Anne. and presents ravishing
multiplicity of picturesque gables, wings
and towers. So irregular is its shape that
it is almost impossible to give any idea of
its size; but its extreme dimensions are
lis feet in length by Is feet in depth.
Over the walls are trained Virginia
creepers and English ivy, with climbing
plants of rarer kind, and in every ef-
fective angle are fine bits of horticulture.
The flower-beds on the terrace are won
derful in their way, and it is said that
the collection Of plants grouped about
the lawn, is one of the finest in the
country. A pretty bit Of woodland, ten
acres in extent, lies to the right of the
house, and affords passage to a beauti-
full little stream OF limpid water, which
flows over bed of Italian pebbles across
the lawn in a graceful meandering course.
The banks of this pretty stream are
smoothly sodded to the waters very
edge; its channel is varied by series Of
dams and bridge that is literally GOV.
cred with vines and plants.
BETWEEN THE WOODS
and the lawn the stream widens into a
lake, which serves the house as a reser-
voir. Near by are two springs also, one
being housed in an artificial grotto, the
other under a beautiful shaded arbor.
The stream as it meanders on across the
lawn, is spanned by several graceful
little bridges, and under the trees that
flank its borders, are number of rustic
aeats. The woodland itself is carpeted
with moss and fern, and is a favorite
habitat of wild flowers. Indoors every
thing is in harmony with the spirit of
the grounds. The front door is of solid
mahogany, mounted on antique hinges,
and finished in medieval style. The hall
is large square room, finished in butter
nut wood elaborately carved and filled
with rare works of art, ancient armor
and trophies of the chase. The drawing
room, library and dining-room all COM
municate with the hall. the dining-rOOm
being finished in mahogany with a
wainscoating that reaches almost to the
ceiling and furniture of the most massive
and elegant kind. All of the woodwork
of the house is very elaborate in its finish
and ornamentation, many fine bits of old
carving being introduced here and there.
ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
or the first floor as the French call it, are
the sitting-rooms, bedrooms, boudoira
and baths furnished in such an elaborate
manner that any attempt at description
would be apt to swamp one in words. II
is whispered about that when Mr.. Childe
fitted up Wootton he spent $4,000 in
clocks alone. Those who have any in.
terest or curiosity for other details can
satisfy every craving by personal visit
for, according to the Englizh custom, Mr.
Childs now has "visitors day"-a day
of the week Thursday when his house
and grounds will be thrown open forp pub
lie inspection from 2 till p. m, and any
one will be admitted within those houri
on application. Those who come tt
Philadelphia might spend their time
much less proftably than in visit tt
Wootton, which in its way is a kind o
museum of art. Half the wonders of tht
grounds have not been. told, for to thu
; south of the house lies a model farm
under perfect cultivation, and still under
going improvements. From this source
are drawn many of the supplies for Mr.
Child's cuisine, which is said to be ad
mirable.
The grounds further contain larg'
and newly completed greenhouse, cruel
form in shape, in dimensions 1o0xsO feet
Part of 1t will be devoted to horticultur
, and part will be used Is vegetable nur
. sery. One wing will contain arosehous
and another large fernery. This ex
, tensive conservatory is almost hidden b!
. the trees and might escape the superfcia
| observer. The Wootton stables are nea
! the lodge, and like the house and nearl!
, all structures about the place, they ar
J | built of pressed brick in the Eaglisl
style of architecture, very elaborate II
r l'execution. There are accommodation
! for large number of horses and equip
r ages, and neat, comfortable quarters TO
> the grooms and stable boys. Everythin
, about the place is on the same magnid
/ cent scale, and whatever slurs the envl
t Gus may make against Mr.. Childs pei
!. | sonally, they cannot dispute the fact tha
J, his aspirations are in the right directlo
q though he may at times be a little vulga
1 and ostentatious in carrying out his idea
o In his town house, he has room devo
, ~ 81 <ho o,cluaive nae of presidents {