Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-28
AZ puNanNEss alANsIoN.
The Splendid Home of Mr.. Carnegie on /
CumberI and Island.

the Carnegie mansion, which rises
proudly over the magnificent forests of
live oak, while the quaint roofs and
crested gables Of the main building nestle
costly among the varied foliage OF olive
oak and orange, combined in a marvellous
trinity of sylvan beauty. About three
miles from the extreme southwest point
of the island is the landing place. Two
roads lead from it to the house-one
through grove of oranges, interspersed
with bananas, Japan plums, olives and
sage palms; the other, intended for gen
eral use, runs due east for over mile to
the beach, and ut half that distance bic
sects the great avenue. This magnificent
''allee vert" runs north and south for
some three miles, is about fifty feet wide,
CanOpied by superb live oaks drapc6 with
moss and garlanded with vines. while the
underground Of the forest is varied by
maguo.ias and scented with fragrant bay
trees Turning to the right in this arcade
of majestic forestry, the visitor soon comes
in sight Of the new mansion of which the
whole northwest front, extending some
10 feet. presents q noble facade.
On the extreme right stands the main
tower, rising to a height of ninety feet
Immediately beneath is the main entrance,
leading through MASSIVE doors Of
polished Georgia pine into the Vestibule,
which is square and paved with blocks Of
blue-colored Bordillio marble with an in
laid border OF black marble. The VIM
dOWs here are polished plate with borders
of colOred glass, illumination being fur
nished at night by very artistic East
lake lantern. composed Of rich ruby glass
with brass mOuntings.
From the vestibue we enter the great
hall. Here is a scene Of real beauty, com
bining the highest artistic skill with solid
domestic comfort. The noble apart
ment wisely designed for daily &C.
cupancy is triumph of domestic
architecture, 25feet wide and 5J feet long,
with an altitude ranging from Is
feet in that portion where the great fire.
place is situated to % feet over the music
gallery and grand staircase. The ceilings
are paneled in polished pine and the walls
are WainscOted in like manner, as also are
the massive doors leading to the various
a1iacent apartments. A magnificent fire.
place and m8ntel-piece, standing IS feet
high, made of highly-polished quartered
| oak, bearing the legend. carved in bold re-
lief: The hearth our altar, its flame our
sacred fire." the whole flooded with the
light from great windows filled with splen-
did specimens Of American art in cathe-
dral glass, forms a comp G'OeU at once
unique and unriyaled i'll any residence
south of Washington.
The hall is octagonal in shape. The
apartments leading from 1t are the draw
ing room and dining room, with MASSIVE
sliding doors, the Vestibule and armOry,
| or gun room, and lavatory. Immediately
opposite the great fireplace is the grand
staircase leading to the music gallery
/ and second floor, a beautiful specimen OF
the highest handicraft. The main fea-
lures on this side of the hall are the great
| stain Cd glass windows, superb works of
/ art, in three panels ten feet high, and COW
1 ering all one side, filled with cathedral
/ glass treated in domestic style-1OWers.
/ fruit and foliage surrounded by Japanese
/ tracery-the lower panels showing exam
/ pies Of the famous medieval jeweled
/ glass. The artists and manufacturers
/ have not forgotten to embOdy In a promi.
/ nent position a Veritabie Scottish thistle.
! the national emblem of the owner. On
! the second stair, leading to the second
| floor, light is given through two smaller
! windows, but with equally beautiful chro-
| matte treatment, showing tropical birds
/ and fruit.
| On this floor are found the six principal
| bed rooms, each differing from the other
| in the arrangement of the lighting, two
bath rooms, linen closets, etc. From this
floor a smaller stairway leads to the third
floor, where we find again six bed rooms,
bath rooms, ETC., and a most original
school room for the little folks, the gaily
decorated windows being so placed that
while they admit abundance of light, the
youngsters cannot feed their fancy with
the dOings Of the outer world below
From the third story flight OF stairs,
still lighted in richly tinted glass, con-
duct TO the ''belvedere" in the great tower.
Here from conveniently arranged settees
the visitor can enjoy an almost uneXam-
pied PIANO anna. On every side some new
and different scene claims the delighted
attention. Beneath are the terrace and
gardens blending in harmonious tints the
various shades Of emerald in oak and
olive, giant magnOlias, scented orange
and stately palms. Beyond. 10 the east
the mighty ocean. 'eXulung as a giant"
after its race Of over 1900 miles, breaks
with roar of thunder on the beach. To
the north, "bill0W upon bill0w" Of living
green, the emerald dOmes Of the forest of
live oak stretching mile upon mile and
sheltcrng mady herd of noble deer. To
the west, Cumberland river, dotted with
grassy islands and bordered by the south
ernmOst peninsula in Georgia, Point st.
Peter. To the south, the rOadstead and
harbOr OF Eernandina, with the confluence
of the Amelia and 81. Mary's rivers be-
meath the walls of Fort Clinch. Truly a
glorious panorama A steep pitched
roof, surmounted by a handsome yane
some 10 feet from the ground, completes
the finish Of the tower.
On the lower floor are pantry kitchen.
scullery and other Offices; in the basement
the servants apartments, cellar, strong
room and the laundry, with enameled iron
fittings and an unlimited supply of hot
and cold water Immense cisterns con-
serve the rainfall from the roofs. a COM
preston engine stationed near the river
pumps a continuous stream Of salt water
90 the house, while a bOt-air engine force s
a supply Of both fresh and salt water,
hot and cold, to all the bath rooms, lava
tories. ETC., throughout the house.
Should our Southern air take a degree
or two Of cold from our Northern blasts "a
hot air apparatus wards OH the enemy.
The whole of the premises are furnished
with electric appliances both for the sig
ma service ard the lightingOl 800 burners,
the gas for which, manufactured on the
premises, can De lighted ut any moment
by touching the electric illuminants.
In conclusion, we can hardly praise too
highly the great success which has at
tended the execution Of the beautiful de-
signs. The style Of architecture adopted
was the Eastlake, with certain additions
to render 10 more suitable for our South
ern climate. This is manifest in the broad
projecting caves and the magnificent illu-
fuiUuf nU NnruuNua which pffu rUnwI ttrf.