The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-05-01
NUMBER 45
Greystone.

Mr.. Cleveland's Sunday at Greystone
has attracted public attention to that
venerable and somewhat interesting
place, writes correspondent of THe
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. The
road which runs past Mr.. Tilden's
front door becomes the boulevard
when 1t reaches New York. IL IL q
broad, smoothly-paved road, curbed
and paved In the most approved fash
ion. Greystone itself stands on knoll
between the roadway and the Hudson,
commanding beautiful view of the
river.
Greystone is q huge pile of gneiss
rock, quarried from the neighboring
hills, and Is impressive from It's very
size. 1t contains ninety-nine rooms,
and has frontage Of four hundred feet.
In the center 10 q tall, square tower
Its effectiveness Is In its massiveness,
and Mr.. Cleveland might scour the
banks Of the Hudson without finding
Its equal In this and many other re-
speets. The edifice stands In q park OF
one hundred and twenty acres OF
magnificent woodland slopes, broad
meadows, sequestered lawns, and lovely
glades and glens.
From the uppermost room Of the
tower, four hundred feet above the sur
face of the Hudson, the scene Is magnif-
cent. To the north are the Peekskill
mountains and the environment of
West Point. To the west are the Pali-
sades; to the south the upper part Of
New York City and the hills Of Staten
island. while TO the east are the sail
hecked waters of Long Isla. sound.
On every hand the prospect Is not less
beautiful than vast. Near the house
are several large silver frs, which Mr..
Tilden imported from Greece. These
are interpreted with unique and
beautiful collection Of trees and shrubs,
among which are golden oaks and aid
ers, purple beeches, and evergreens
from the deepest shades of green to the
richest shades of gold. Chief among
the latter is beautiful specimen OF
Japanese arbor-vite.
From the rear veranda the grounds
descend by q succession of six terraces
to the Hudson, four hundred yards dis
tant. Standing directly west of the
mansion is an old tree that towers the
other monarchs Of the forest. II is
symmetrical almost to a fault, and
never fails to attract attention. Mr..
Cleveland asked II there was any
tradition connected with it. His host
smilingly informed him that he knew
Of none, except that it had been dubbed
the 'Tilden Oak" The spread of its
foliage is seventy feet.
The main hall of the building extends
clear across, from east to west, and is
lofty and wide. On the right is the
secretary's Office. The secretary, as he
sits at his desk, can look at portraits of
WilliamC Cullen Bryant, Charles o. Conor.
and Samuel j. Tilden.
Next to this room is wide stairway,
and next to it the dressing-room. At
the end Of the hall Is the entrance to
the rear piazza, and on the left one may
enter the reception-room, the dining
room, or the library. Mr.. Tildenfs
sleeping apartments and the chief
guests room are on the second floor.
In the latter Mr.. Cleveland slept. The
furniture Is Of satin-wood, trimmed
with bamboo. The room il forty by
twenty feet in size, and perfect in its
appointments. Not far from this room
Is another fitted up with a handsome
billiard-table and other requirements
of the game. The third floor is en-
tirely occupied by sleeping-rooms.