The Wilmingtonian., 1886-08-21

very gracefully, and beyond crystal
spring which has been given beautiful |
housing, is the original forest, left in its ma.
tive wildness. On the other side of the |
house the lawn opens out to the farm.
The house itself is entered by massive
mahogany doorway, which is both hospit-
able and formidable, over vestibule laid with
Roman MOSAIC The style of the interior is
substantial, curious, quaint, but the idea
everywhere most strongly suggested is that
Of the home, full of hospitality and Of COM
fort. All of constructive design, of orna-
ment and art, seems subservent to the CEN
trail thought of providing real home and
happy place ofsojourn for family and friends.
The general design has been carried out in
admirable taste, and the expenditure so well
directed, that decoration has nowhere fallen
short of completeness and has not overstep-
ped the limit of perfect fitness. We are told
that Wootton had its origin in the desire of
Mrs. Childs to build a simple home which
should be retreat for the family, midway
in season and elaborateness between the
Philadelphia winter residence and and the
summer establishment at Long Branch, and
that from time to time, as the attractivcuess
of the locality became more appaIent, the
original simple design was amplifed and
elaborated, until it resulted in the present
commodious and elegant house.
Here the hospitality which MIR Childs ever
delights in has had one of its principal
theatres. The house has been the scene of a
great number of entertainments of social and
semi-puhlic character, of the celebrated Far
mer's Club dinners, and OF elaborate yet un-
ostentatiOus repetition Of the eminent men
and woman of our country aud of Europe
The roll of visitors includes many distin-
guished strangers, and of these the Duke of
Sutherland, Lord Rosse, Lord Rayleigh, Sir
, VIM. Thompson, the Lord Bishop of Roch-
ester, Sir Richard Temple, Mr.. Walter NJ.
p, of the London Times, Mr.. Chambers, the
well-known Edinburgh publisher, Herbert
Spencer, II. Stafford Northcote NJ. p, Paul
, DuChallu, Henry Irving, Prof. E, A. Free
man, Oxford, are only few characteristic
names. A pleasant feature of the lawn is
the number of memorial trees planted by
guests, such as General Grant, Senator Bay
ard, Hon, Robt. Q. Winthrop, Hon. Haml-
r ton Fish, Thomas Hughes (Tom Brown at
q Oxford). Christine Nilsson. The origin of
the name Of Mr.. Child's country home is in
terestng. The name is transplanted from
: England and is commemorative of pleasant
e hospitality, ,f which Mr.. and Mrs Chids
b were there the recipients,
g In Lyson's "Magna Britannia" vol. i. p.
613, there is the following account "Woot-
ton Underwood" in the hundred of Ashen.
don and deanery of Wadjesdon. The manol
was given by William the Conqueror to
the Earl of Buckingham, and in 1897 it was
IL brought by marriage to Richard de Grenvile
II from whom there has been an uninterrupted
), line of male succession, through twenty gen,
erations, to the present proprietor, the Duke Of
Buckingham. Woottou has been from tint
to time immemorial the seat of the Grenville.
The present house was built in 1905
1t The staircase and saloon were painted b,
e Sir James Thofnhill. 1t was the favorit,
home of the family. In the parish churcl
are the ancient monuments of the Grenyilles
y and the windows are ornamented with tn
n arms and quarterings of Grenvilles, Temples
d and Chandos. 1t was at Wootton that th
" present Duke and the late Duchess of Buck
20 inham welcomed Mr.. and Mrs Childs, o.
their first visit to England, and there the
began their acquaintance with Englis
is country life. In token of the pleasant mem
ory of the hospitality there extended to them
their own lovely country home was calle
WoOtton, and thus the American Woottu
Y perpetuates the long years Of hospitality fl
:, which the English Wootton is famous.
n. In addition to the grounds originally col
n, stituting Wootton, Mr.. Chids bought an
a. brought under care, in 1885, land adjoining
il which he added to his farm. Upon this, an
v. upon the land which he already owned SON
he of the most extensive improvements on IL
IS estate have been made. 1t is here, soutl
west of the home and the grounds surroun,
d. ing it, that the farm has been laid out an
e- brought into nicely -ordered existence, pril
cipally through the management of John l
of Hughes, chief gardener of the place. I'll
n. farm consists of excellent land well tillet
and is supplied with all of the most model
nd and wel-apprOved adiuncts and appliance
at The barn here, while not so perfect in its a.
lis pointments as the stable near the houi
as (Which is perhaps the best in the country
M is exceedingly we'll adapted to its purpos
* and contains every requisite OF a thoroug
M farm establishment. 1t is built of stone, AN
of the yard is paved while a massive wall su
of rounds the whole.
'p- Near by is the farmers house, haudson
nh rustic cottage and in close proximity
IN, this is the spring house, a marvel of beaut
he and neatness, and a model, scarcely a
of proachable, for al! who would have a Del
ect dairy. It is built of white fnistor
an (Qudrtz), as cool in effect as snow and i,
30, could be, and consists OF a wnrk-ronm, Il
IN latter almost a chapel in design, with staint
as glass windows, a place of alb, orte purit
m both in fact aud appearance. The milk fro
ed a number of pure and deer-like Aldcrney
most diligently cared for, is kept here, an
on has housing and protection in every WI
,o- worthy of its unrivalled quality. A lit
he distance from this hint-whte mik-huus
lie which looks like a Russian fancy in ice,
he an ornamental small stone house, eontauil
his the watcr-pOwer which sends the supp
IA needed to the extensive greenhouses in tn
i, mart If tha prnpnds