The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-05-31
Major Hoods Mansion and Grounds

Major Hoods Mansion and Grounds.
In conversation yesterday with Ma
jor G. Hood, President Of the EmpO-
ria National Bank, we incidentally re-
ferred to some recent improvements |
we heard he had been making in the |
beautiful grounds which surround his |
magnificent residence on the corner |
of State street and Eighth avenue.
Whereupon the Major extended to us
such a cordial invitation to accompany
him home after bank hours to see for
ourselves the things of which we had
heard that we accepted, and, accord
ingly, at half past four O'Clock one of
Gilchrist's finest turn outs drove up to
our Office door and we we're escorted by
the Major to a seat therein. 1t afford
ed us additional pleasure
to find ourselves in the genial
company of Hon. William Martindale
and Captain L. T. Heritage, who occu-
pied the back seat, not exactly in the
sense which Cleveland will occupy it
after the next presidential election, but
in the sense of honored guests on an
occasion more pleasant than it will be
for Cleveland when the returns come
in. 1t is only minute drive from the
business center of the city to the Ma
ior's residence. We had hardly ex-
changed salutations and joke or two
before we found ourselves turning
from the street to the open gates
through which we passed over the
6riNy tn
of the residence. Here we alighted
and after looking at a neatly
arranged flower bed or two, we walk
ed over to the southwest part of the
grounds to see the new fountain which
the Major, at considerable cost, has
just put in. The basin, made of beau
tifully carved stone, is about sixteen
feet in diameter, from the centre of
/ which arises the FURNISHED fountain
piece so arranged as to throw
the water in gentle shower within
the circumference of the basin which
when filed to certain point drains Off
to the sewer some distance away. The
Major is having beautifully variegated
mineral stone shipped in from Colora-
do, with which to form a
pyramid around the centre piece
to receive the principal waterfall
The fountain is so located as to be
plainly seen from the streets east and
south of the residence and will prove &
refreshing, interesting and pleasant at
traction to all who may pass that way
After pretty thorough inspection OF
this fine piece of workmanship, thu
Major called our attention to a large
and beautiful bed of Rhododendrons
near by, now in full bloom, which to b.
fully appreciated must be seen. NJ
; merous other beds in different shapes
and sizes were arranged, here ant
there, filed with large variety O
choice plants, some in bloom and 9th
ers to appear later on in the season
We noticed choice roses, Prairie Queer
roses, Japanese sunflowers, holli
g hooks, cannas, phlox, large var
iety of lilies and other plants rare
and beautiful IN bud, bloom ant
: foliage. And then the many kinds o
: Towering shrubs were, if anything
more attractive. The Wigelia, fin,
: in foliage and rich in the abundance o
its beautiful bloom. There is the jap
anese Prince, the Hydranga, tn
3 Golden Cedars,' the Fringe tree. tn
> Azleas, Altheas, the American HOll
) and a great variety of other shrubs O
}, interest and beauty, luxuriant il
growth and rich in leaf and flower
> decking the smoothly mown law
: which we found as soft to the tread a
T velvet carpet. Blooming clemati
7 climb the porches, and the large elm
z furnish a pleasant shade at this time G
;. year from the uncomfortable rays of tn
: midday sun. The Major has exhibite
much taste, not only in the construC
. ton, finish and decoration of his mar
S sion. but in all its surroundings, tina
g which, we venture the assertion, ther
; is none finer in Southern or Contra
: Kansas. His beautiful grounds may
: visited at any time by our citizens. Tn
n gates will be kept open so that ladie
!, and gentlemen may drive in and spen'
7 a leisure hour pleasantly in looking a
: the great variety of flowers, shrub
: and other objects of interest With
2 the enclosure. Captain Heritage ha
o with him an instantaneous photograph
d ic instrument and before leaving too
a several views. During the visi
the Major invited his guests int
= the house where ice cream, straw
q berries and cake were served
and soon thereafter we were drivel
: back to our sanctum with the gentle
: men who contributed, by their pres
q ence, to the pleasures of the hour, feel
2 ing under additional obligations to tn
= Major for the enjoyment which tn
& visit to his grand residence AM
e grounds afforded us. Republican.