The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-09

The Delightful Country Seat and the Family
OIL. z. Morron-Eiye Little Maids &C Home.


OIL. p. Morron-Five Little Maids at Home.
Correspondence Phisdel phia Press.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS HUDSON, Nov. 1.-The
sunshine OF this Indian summer week lies
lies fair and dreamy on the Hudson's shores.
Just where the river receives the waters OF
Rondout creek a little curve in its course forms
crescent in which nestles the tiny village OF
Rhineclif, on the eastern bank, . matter OF
couple of miles from Rhinebeck. its larger
neighbor. Up from the village along mile
and hall of picturesque country road. tne
children on the roadside point out to the inquir-
ing stranger the direction OF mr. Mortons
place. with a vague consciousness In their
round eyes that something beyond the ORDINARY
has set in motion such tide OF pilgrims 10
the charming villa IL stands IN
high and commanding relation TO
the river, Just far enough back to escape the
dampness from its mists. Nearly LOU acres
are comprized in Mr.. Mortons tract surround
ing the house, which are Enclosed by stone
wall, and spread back far beyond the view The
gate on the further side Of the grounds is moro
than q mile from the mansion, through drive
way OF great beauty leading ont into the eoun-
try beyond
Approaching the house from the river gate
you pass. on the left, extensive greenhouses
with domed roofs which remain from the
former ownership but have been newly repaired
and reftted Beyond these lies a grapery. AT
your right in the distance eparkles q little lake
spanned by q rustic bridge. The grounds are
studded with noble trees in clumps with
patches OF open. Bupbrieht lawn between.
Among the dark green frs stand oaks, beeches
and NAPLES, just harmonizing their differences
of autumusl tint by agreeing on . mellow, old
gold and brown, as the season wanes. nutty
crispness is in the leaves under foot The airs
of your childhood are blowing The dreams OF
your childhood are flowing and glowing and dis
porting through your world-wearied brain: You
hear the laughter of children you draw near
the house and straightway catch elimpses OF
bevy Of little maids, dressed tsstefully and all
alike. romping among the trees, if, by chance,
&c is after lesson hours One or more or the
tallest will come toward you TO anticipate your
inquiry, sedately hosDitable, for they have
been sedulOusly trained in polite consideration
for others
Pause moment and take in the architectural
effects OF this poem by Hunt in stone and NOR
tar. 1t faces north and south, the bend in the
river favoring this situation. and its windows
command the river breezs on the hottest sum-
mer day. 1t extends lis feet by 70 feet, and
ITS style has suggestions Of the renaissance
and old English. There verandas surround
ing it on three sides, two Of them rounded to
follow the curve Of the bay windows. The first
story is built OF red stone. Above that is plas-
ter finish, with exposed beams and eabled
roof. The external woodwork and verandas are
painted in dark Venetian red
From these versndas you can see the Catskill
and Highlands. the PouRhkeepsie bridge, the
spires of Kingston and busy Rondout. This
place was bought from the Indians in 1856. and
was long in possession Of the Kip family. Ma
turin Livingston bought it 1874 gave it the
name of Ellerslis and erected the house which
was removed to make way for this one. but
Mrs Livingston, q daughter of Morgan Lewis,
felt too remote from her family to be contented
here, and they occupied it but a short time if at
all. In 1s44 VIM. Kelly paid s42,0 900 for 400
acres Of Mr.. Mortons present domain, and many
of the handsome features of the grounds due
| to him. The impression the house gives you is
| that 1t was built to be looked out of by land
scape-lovng eyes. 1t Is menywindowed, and
each window IL one selid pane of plate gase.
| The effect inside is indsscribably buoyant and
pleasing, for each window Is an uninterrupted
| picture.
The door is opened for you by dicnifisd
| middle-agsd man. who performed the same func-
ton for the family at Washington eight or nine
| years ago, and has o genial memory of faces.
| Inside the door several broad marble steps lead
| up to tho central ball, superb apartment.
twenty-five feet wide and ribbed overhead with
beams Of ouartersd oak. A recessed stairway
| winds from it to the chambers. There is high
| wainscotine Of the oak aud q Fireplace on one
side. It is luxurously appointed and opens into
| the library, the drawing room and Mrs. Nor
| tons private sittng-room, making on occasion
one grand salon of the four. The library door
| and the door of Mrs. Morton's room face each
other. His portrait hangs in the hall opposite
| her door, and hers, painted by Paris artist,
with her three little daughters grouped around her
| (wheh their number was only threel hangs facing
the door of the library. which is also his office.
1t is the countenance OF q beautiful won an that
looks down on you She is an ivory blonde,
| with fascinating smile and features, and with
| gray blue eyes, gently mirthtnl, but capable OF
profound emotion. She 10 of medium height
/ with supple. perfect figure. Another por-
| trait that interests the visitor. is that of Mr..
| Morton's mother Lucretis Parsons Morton, who
died in Philadelnhia In 1859, at the house of her
| daughter, Mrs. Hartpence
He is just the sor; of man to worship mother.
| wife md home with intense devotion. Witness
his Immortal tribute TO the wife of his youth
Mrs. Lucy Kimball Morton-in the bensfcent
| form of the Grace Church Orphanage. erected
cost of $4,000 But the love we have
| cherished for the dead changes to reverence
and the heart Graves new ties. The brilliant
| and lovely girl wife who came into his life in
| 1873, and is now toe mother Of his six children
| five daughters on earth, one little son in
heaven-so mAnifestly fills the great deep .f his
nature with OVERLOOKING tenderness that it is
beautiful to see them together and the goodly
circle Of growing girls about them. The eldest,
at fourteen. is tall and graceful, with much Of
her fathers looks. She is Edith Livingston.
| The next is Lima Kearnsy. Both middle names
belong to Mrs. Morton's family. Then came
Helen, Alice and little Mary. who was born
toms ministry to France. Louis Parsons. the
son, was next older than Mary. He died at four
months old. This is the one irreconciable blow
| of fate the tender shadow on their heartbstone.
Mrs. Morton was Anna Livingston-Street
daughter OF one of the prominent residents Of
the Hudson valley, Mr.. William Street, Of
| Poughkeepsie, and niece of Alfred B. Street,
| tho poet, and for many years State librarian at
| Albany. Her mother was Miss Kearney, first
cousin OF Gen. Philip Kearnsy. She is an
| elegant woman of somewhat different ype from
| her daughter She has also son residing n
New York. She keeps her own separate homo
| by preference but always near Ter children. She
| occupies a coy fiat in New York, and while the
family were at Paris she took an apartment
| one square away from the legation. She is
now visiting Mrs. Morton at Ellerslie The
new house is net yet fully furnished. There
| has not been time. The drawing room is incom-
plets, and Mrs. Mortons chamber, just over her
| sitting-room a spacious APARTMENT, which is to
| be furnished in white and gold, has parts of
several different sets in it temporarily. The lit
| tie girls have group of dainty bedrooms on
either side Of this Mrs. Street was q delight
full addition to the domestic and social life of
the family whenever she visited them in Wash.
lngton. She sits by Mr. Morton's side at taols,
Mrs. Morton facing him between her eldest and
youngest daughters. Besides the other three
the family circle AZ table includes Mr.. Mortons
longtime private secretary. Mr.. Coyney. who
was with him both in Washington and Paris
and young lady governsss trained in normal
school methods, who il grounding her young
pupils thoroughly in English branches.
| There are nearly always guests in the
house. Mrs Mortons New York aud other
friends. in spite of the distractions Of
political summer aud the throes of
getting settled in a new house, find Elerslie the
most restful. dreamful, delightful of places
like the twelve fountains and seventy palm
trees OF Elm. One secret OF this is that moth
ing is there for nero ostentation, but to conform
/ L.rL