Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-05-16
An American Castle.

One OF tne most beautiful country resi-
dences on the running river, saws th,
New York Star, from the foam heckec
and noisy Spuyten Duyvel to the calm ye
ever flowing Mohawk, is "Ardslcy," hal
way between Dobbs' Ferry and sleep,
Irvington, erected upon a high bluf
overlooking the Hudson. Not yet entirely
finished, it is designed as the summer
residence of Cyrus w. Field, where sba
be entertained in almost oriental luxury
and barbaric splendor such favored friends
as enjoy the benefcent sunshine of his
acquaintance and approval. 1t has been
erected at cost which none of his elevat
ed railway employees may ever hope tc
initiate, and were the figures given the
reader might we'll explain. "Can such
things be, and overwhelm US like a
dreamP' Whatever may be the maglif-
cence and splendor of the palace erected
in New York by that bachelor of many
"bar'ls," this castle like residence upon
the Hudson outvies the struggles of a
vivid fancy In Its endeavor to grasp the
apotheoss of decorative art amid rural
and poetic surroundings.
The view from the river road which
runs in front of the grounds surrounding
"Ardsley' is more than enthralling. The
eyes plunge down sleepy inclined plane
overgrown with trees and evergreens, and
trailing vines, very similar in prospectus
to the historic forests of Brazil as seen
from the Andes, at the foot of which
glimpses are caught through the foliage
of the blue water sparkling in the sunshine
and gaudy little boats dancing upon the
ripples. Even in early spring "Ardsley"
is all that can be desired. Standing at
the roadside one day last week the writer
was captvaled by the scene around him
The flash of color and beauty and senti.
ment were strangely picturesque, in rich,
rare and unapproachahle artistic beauty.
One solitary vessel, with huttering white
sail, was slowly winding its way through
the broken icecakes, and the wind ruflisd
waves. The hills rising abruptly from the
opposite bank, in hues of green and
brown, were beautiful in the extreme.
The highlands below were mass of blue
mist and gray outlines, while far away to
the north the highest snow capped peaks
of the Catskills reared their heads like
feecy clouds in the distant horizon.
Nearly half mile back from the rustic
fence around the park, approached by a
pebbled winding road, at yet higher
elevation, stands the stately castle OF the
not at all green field 1t can be called
nothing less, though lacking the tarrets,
moat, and watch towers of similar edifces
in the days "when knights were bold, in
spurs of gold, went gayly to the fray
1t is stately pile of stone, completely
"squelching" the pretty villas of aspiring
mlllonaires in the vicinity, and carrying
the imagination back at once to the
twelfth century renaissance. The general
architecture includes variety of styles,
combined to produce the highest effect
upon the artistic eye, in which the Gothic
and the Italian strive for predominence.
Evidently Cyrus, like Tony Lumpkin,
"could not abide to disappont himself"
and so, wherever he has found striking
effect in modern or ancient architecture,
he has embodied it in his castle, needless
alike of expense and fitness. Yet there is
nothing in the least garing, and no par
ticular Grundyism has been permitted to
crop forth. 1t iS in height three stories,
with dormer windows at the top and
many gabled roof. Viewed from every
it would alike be not out of
Como or upon the poetic banks OF the
many caslled Rhine. But when one re-
members that an army of weary men have
toiled sixteen hours daily for many mo.
notonous months upon the iron railways
that sweep through this city to gather the
shekels that have been expended on its
erection, one can scarce repress a Sigh as
this stately pile comes out in full relief
against the clear blue sky.
The carriage road sweeps over rolling
lawn and by beautiful curve to the
spacious entrance, protected from the
inclemency of the weather by Gothic
roof supported upon two carved pillars,
Passing through the massive doorway the
visitor enters a broad hall decorated with
panels and blue tinted tiles. There are
no carpets, but the foot sinks Immediately
into pile of soft and costly Oriental rugs,
and if he he at all poetic, is at once trans.
ported with visitors from "Salla Rookh,',
the vale of Cashmere and the blue Win.
dermere. One delightful feature is tho
number of beautiful and durable prayer
rugs among these; for it is thus to be in.
ferred that, while joy shall be unconfined
and pleasure and hllarity ever reign in the
castle, there shall, nevertheless, be an
hour when the world shall be thrust out
and the master and his vassals make their
knees plant upon these soft and ever
waiting rugs. Yet nameless fear op-
presses the person so speculating that the
down is so deep and the voice of the
kneeler 30 stifled in luxury that he can
never be heard above the bronze handles
Of the great door beside which he Is sun
posed to kneel and wrestle in prayer.
1t was not good citizenship in the earlier
Atheneum times to consider individual
interests 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 as luxury grew there came an Alci-