The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-10-02
Luxuriant Summer Homes,

Journal.
Very few people can realize the ex-
tent and beauty as well of course. as
the cost of maintenance OF some OF
the summer residences in this
city that are the homes of the
wealthy, who leave their town life only
because the heat compels them, and
the object of many Of whom in coming
here is to recuperate their strength and
be in readiness for the coming winter
seasons excitement and gayety. The
incomes of some of these people must
be enormous, or they couldn't stand
it. Take, for instance, Mr.. Pierre.
Lorillard, of New York. His place
here, is estimated to be worth in the
neighborhood of $500, 900. At eight
per cent. that means $24, 900 a year,
and for ten weeks occupancy that is
81, 400 q week. There is, in addition
to this, the cost OF stabling, servants,
grounds and greenhouses, which
IN some cases is enormous. The
grounds of some are made the special
hobby. Particularly is this the case
with Mrs. Gardner Brewer, q we'll
known society lady of Boston and
this city, who, with her daughter, Miss
Brewer, who is one of the most popu-
lar society ladies here, entertain very
elegantly, and maintain the reputa-
ton of their city home for generous
hospitality. In 1877 Mrs. Brewer and
Miss Brewer gave fete chnmpetre in
aid of the Old South Church of Boston,
a full account of which was given in
the Journal at the time,
The band of the U. s. Artillery dis.
coursed fine music, which is always
attractive, but the great attraction to
the hundreds of fashionable and
wealthy people who flocked to Finis-
terre, the name of the lovely summer
home of the Brewers, was not the
charming sounds that might chance
to be heard from the Instruments of
expert musicians, but the lovely
grand, in fact-displav of flowers and
tropical plants, which were the pride
of that place.
But if they were grand then, how
much more grand and costly and beau
tiful is the collection that can be seen
there to-day. Both Mrs. Brewer and
Miss Brewer have excellent tastes in
the selection of plants and bulbs which
they desire to raise, SO that with the
assistance of an expert gardener they
are able to outdistance many of their
social rivals i'll the cultivation of horti-
culture. In and around the dwelling
house are to be seen some. very costly
and rare orchids and cacti, the latter
being especially of great value. Deli
cate ferns and rare palms and other
tropical plants are to be seen in all
directions, some of the ferns being finer
in texture and weight than lace itself.
But it is in the greenhouses that the
most valuable plants are to be found.
Mrs. Brewers floral possessions are
worth scores upon scores of thousands
of dollars, and it is stated that she
has in Europe and Central America
friends who are constantly on the
alert to seize upon anything
i'll the way of flowers that is new
or novel. OF the catleya orchids
Mrs: Brewer is undoubtedly the
happy possessor OF the most
valuable plants in Newport or Boston
and it is believed that in the number
and extent of variety of the catleya,
there is but oneperson of wealth whose
possessions of this kind surpass hers,
and that is Mr.. Erastus Corning. III
his magnificent greenhouses at Albany
he has no less than twelve hundred
catleyas, the market value of which
would surprise even the most dubious
ones. At this time Mrs. Brewer has in
bloom large number Of cacti, tho
hues of which are as beautiful and
varied as they are delicate. These
plants, or at least majority ofthem,
have been raised within the green
houses Of Finisterre. Mrs. Brewer i'm
ports from Europe a large number OF
bulbs, varying in cost from one pound
to ten and fifteen pounds sterling, The
lawn surrounding the Brewer mansion
is very extensive and is kept in excel.
lent condition. Some of the flower.
beds are very prettily arranged, the de-
vices being unique and striking. With
all these lovely surroundings and cost
ly horticultural belongings the ladies
OF this beautiful place are not unmind-
full of their duty to the world. 1t is
sufficient to say that many poor
person can tell a tale of their bounty.