The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-09
MILLIONAIRE BAKER DEAD.
His Architectural and Decorative Ec-
centricties at Famous Ridge Hill
From the PHILADELPHIA Press.


From the PHILADELPHIA Press.
Boston, Jan. 5-Though he made large
fortune by the invention and manufacture
Of sewing machines, William Emerson
Baker, who died to-day at his winter resi-
dence on Commonwealth avenue, was bet
ter known in New England as the eccentric
owner of Ridge Hill farms in Wellesley.
For many years he was engaged in contest
ing patent suits abroad, and on his return
gave his attention to the farm and the build
ing Of a famous hotel in Wellesley.
The farm is visited by thousands annual
ly. The stranger must first enter
the registry Office and leave an auto
graph. Then passing through the chamois
gateway-so-called from the beautiful
chamols which surmOuntS it--and along IOO
feet of the portulaca bed. which forms
border for the conservatory lawn the sta
bic, Oorino tower and Tivoli hall are
reached, a cOnjoined building of great ar
chitectural beauty. Upon the roof of the
stable was a large alegOriCal painting
representing "Horen" leading forth the
horsessof the sun, an excellent work and
from the brush of John Gibson, while on
the west side was a cOlored circular cartoon
representing the controlling effect Of music
on animals The heads of wooden horses
protruding from the windows were an in
tereStlng illusion.
A large tower adjoining the building, and
which is also Enthusiastically decorated, gave
the building the appearance of a church,
and in order to destroy this Illusion the
owner had the entire outside of the stable
painted black with trimmings of bronze
green, relieved by covering the Fittings and
dentals with gold leaf. The Norino Tower
has seven floors and innumerable depart
ments In the first department are photo
.l,rr & IL
Alhambra, steel and chain arInOrs Of the
past centuries, figures in rice paper, statues
OF clay and bronze and an infinite number
of odd costumes. Proceed now up the
donkey Staircase" and you enter the
second floor marked Chemical Mechanical
and Electrical" The third floor is the
Sanitary" and the fourth bears the title
Optics, Illusions and Decisions" The fifth
floor is voted to Harmony in outlines and
colors, as well as vibrating brass and human
tongues
Tivoli Hall is filled with all sorts of strange
ornaments, and near it is most remarkable
grove with an artificial lake covered with
lnnumerable novelties. Near by is little
hut III which the Darwinian theory is illus
trated by a number of stuffed monkeys and
pointed tail which begins at the poiut in
nothing particular and gradually develop
until a perfect human face is reached. The
pletely covered with shovels, picks and
spades of all sizes and all ages and all shapes
Perhaps the most astonishing marvel Of the
place was the grottO. Passing through to
the ''Smugglers Cave there is a NINA
ture beach, upon which boats are
lying, while around is scattered merchan-
disc OF various kinds. Opposite the SNUG
gler stands a red man, captive who has
found it convenient to join the band You
mel and soon reach the round tower. thirty
five feet in height It's a marvel of beauty.
Its walls are of solid stone and covered with
crystals, which shine and glisten in the vari-
cOlored lights which enter the stained glass
roof. A short walk along a narrow, dark
and winding way leads to the ''Smugglers'
Cave" Here the roof rises higher and the
pillars which support it divide the space
up into chambers. A dim light pene-
trates the place from some invisible
quarter and gives to the place a pallid
hue. On all sides you encounter faces grin
ming at you from the walls, for every rock
here has diabolical expression superior to
Payson's "Mephisto," or a comical leer
which excels the grimaces of Sol Smith
Russell. Everything is deathlike, and a
fear creeps over you which is greatly en-
HANGED when you turn the next projecting
point of rock and find that your path,
which from the inflowing light you thought
led INTO the upper world, is blocked by huge
live and lively black bears separated from
you only by few iron bars.
But follow this winding pathway you are
now in, and you soon come face to face with
the girl of the period, who invites YOU to
take a walk with her in the ''Flirtation
Tunnel This tunnel is long, narrow and
dark, and in passing through it it is neces-
SaIy TO make an Ariadne thread with the
hands. Az the south end of the grotto is
"Dlana's Pool" where the water rushes
through crevices, under and over rocks and
shells, babbling, murmuring and foaming
until it falls in the Devils Basn.n For the
past few years this once beautiful paradise
has not been kept in repair, and many of
its beauties are already in advanced stages
Of decay Mr. Baker would personally con
duct his visitors over his grounds His
fetes were notable for princely hospitality
and marked eccentricity. His reception
of Southern visitors in 1877 was notable
event. He was devoted to the Public Health
Association. He had his own particular
theories upon many subjects, but his life
was an nseltish one and he Will be remem-