Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-08-05

ard the 81. fawreuce-IUuses built for
cumfoft insummer but not intended
fer permanent homes. The lightness 10
intensified by contrast with the heovy
wall of stone which surrounds the lot
and the massive gates and steps thnt
lead to the main entrance. ,
staafsrd's Hssse.
which is Just below this wooden castle,
II made TO look sunken By the extreme
height of the other. Although 1t IL the
cosiiiest house on this coast It gives one
only an impression Of richness and
soIidity from the exterior. 1t u pro-
badly as fine piece of work as can DO
done in wood, but wood Is not the ma
terial that any good architect would Sc
lect for q masterpiece which will live
after him. When one reflects
that inside these shell OF perish.
able wood are wonderful in the way OF
decoration costly irescoed walls ana
ceilings it seems . greater pity that
such treasurers acre not better pro-
tected against the decaying touch OF
time. Stanford's mansion Is surrounded
by the most expensive wall In the city.
The rear Of the lot is fully forty feet
above the level of Pine street, and this
immense mass of earth, which is soaked
regularly every day with water to keep
the turf green and fresh, must be held
up by the great wall. 1t Is built OF
granite and Angel Island stone-hard
and blue and impervious to the ele-
ments. 1t is of great thickness at the
base, and is anchored by huge iron
girders, which are riveted into the solid
rock of the hillside. 1t is only about q
year and q half ago that the original
wall much higher than the gresent
structure, began to show signs Of weak
ening. 1t was torn down and the pres.
ent wall, reduced in height, and greatly
strengthened, was substituted for It.
The place now looks remote from
ordinary human interest, and this i'm
preston is strengthened by
The PadIeeked Gates
and closely drawn blinds. The house
is deserted about ten months in the
year, and generally wears the look OF
isolation which il SO characteristic Ofthe
marble palace of A. T. Stewart, on
Fifth avenue, New York.
This house seems to typify the life OF
its owner. Ex-Governor Stanford does
not look like man who enjoys his
millions. He used to be here frequent.
" about three years ago on the streets
and at the theatres. Everywhere he
wore a curious, absorbed look aud was
attended generally by male compan-
ion, who appeared to be a kind OF body
guard. With him the millionaire oc-
Cas;onally exchanged few words, but
for the most part he sat through
tragedy or roaring farce, his
heavy features unIighled by y
smile or CLEAN Of interest,
and his large hands clasped over the
big golden mead Of his cane. "a He has by
all odds the strongest face of any of tae
Central Pacific managers, but II Is not
pleasant one. He appears to be q
man without intimate friends and to
have profound suspicion Of human
nature, probably due TO the fact that he
has been brought in contact with so
many unworthy specimens of the tuft
hunter and adventurer.
CrOcker's House,
which is the last of the four palaces OF
the railroad, kings, occupies an entire
block, surrounded by four streets, save
for the small empty building lot that is
now surrounded 10y huge board fence.
When Croker was buying up the small
holdings i'm this block he found the
owner Of this, a German undertaken,
very eager to make the millionaire pay
well for his ground. After he had rails.
ed the price several times Croker swore
mighty oath lie would not touch the
land at any price, SO he ruined ii by
building this mammoth fence, and for
several years 1t has remained vacant, q
great eye.sore to the people who occupy
the fine house across the way. Crocker's
house looks comfortable and spacious,
but there is very little architecture about
it. Multiply the average country resi-.
dence OF a wealthy city man by four,
aud you have the railroad milionaire's |
home. It's style admits of a large
amount of ornament, but this does not |
improve the general effect. The only |
things about the place on which the |
eye rests with satisfaction are the noble |
steps that lead TO the main entrance, |
and the wide sweep OF lawn, which Ii |
broken only by an occasional vase or |
ornamental plant. Within the house is
adapted for the giving Of great enter.
tainmcnts, and is beautifully furnished.
Both Crocker and Hopkins have valua-
BILE collections OF pictures, mainly the
work of foreign artists Of the modern
school, although Stanford on his last
trip to Europe imported about S25D,mU
worth Of old masters, selected for him
by some Of the best connOissers OH the
continent. If this collection, ut his
death, Is bequeathed to the city, as
many think it will be, 1t will form the
nucleus ola great picture gallery Of
which any American city might be
proud.