The Democratic advocate., 1889-01-26
VOL. XXIV.-NO. 12.
A Country Home.
From the Belair lMdl pemocrat.

Among the many fine residences in Har-
ford county, one of the handsomest and best
appointed is that of Mr. Chas. w. Baker,
near Aberdeen. Like Macbeth's castle, it
"hath a pleasant seat, being situated in
the angle formed by two public roads, on
high ground, about a quarter of a mile
from the b. q o. station and twice as far
from the pretty village of Aberdeen, of
which, as well as of wide extent of forest
and plain, there is beautiful view from
the upper windows Though the house is
a very large one, it is so well proportioned
that its size is not likely to strike the casual
observer. The same effect is subseryed by
the numerous gables of the roof, and the
porches which, supported on slender and
graceful pillars, surround nearly three sides
of the building.
The interior of the house is in keeping
with the handsome exterior. Passing
through the vestibule one enters a large
and fine hall, beautifully finished in polished
ash. Into it open doors into the library
and parlor on the left as one enters, into
the back porch, and on the right into the
dining-room and rear hall Between the
library and parior doors is large open, tiled
fireplace. On the mantel above are statu-
cites and ornaments of bronze. On the
other side of the hall begins the winding
stairway, which leads to corresponding halls
on the second and third floors. This stair
way, like all the woodwork In the hall isof
ash. 1t is an exquisite piece of work, in
tho EaSflot-a cfr~la IL. l.
into the library one finds bright, cosy
room, whose air of thorough comfort is
heightened by the rich, warm color of its
rosewood finishing and furniture. The
light from three windows is softened by
panes of stained cathedral glass in the up
per sashes A fourth and smaller window,
in a recess over the mantel. is wholly of
stained glass, the design being very pretty
one of fruits and flowers. Like the hall,
the library and all the rooms on the first
two floors have open FIRE places laid with
tiles, simple in design but beautiful in effect.
A bookcase full of books, an organ with
well filed music rack, heavy centre table
few engrayings on the wall, and comfor-
table chairs placed around make up the
tout ensemble of this charming room.
Drawing aside the folding doors and
heavy portieres one steps from the library
into the parlor, a large room twenty-four
feet long and sixteen wide. This also is
finished in rosewood, the mantel being par
ticularly handsome. The furniture, too, is
ofthe same wood, including the fne upright
piano, which stands on one side Of the
fireplace. On the walls hang portraits of
Mr.. and Mrs Baker and Mr.. Bakers fa-
ther and mother Here, too, the light is
toned down BY stained glass in the upper
sashes Of the windows. This is true Of all
the windows in the house, giving sense
of warmth in winter and coolness in sum
mer which is indescribably pleasing. Cross
ing the hall diagonally from the parlor one
enters the dining a large, well lighted
apartment with. many windows and with
the same solid rosewood mantel and finish
ing which all the rooms In the house have,
and which produce a most pleasing effect
upon ones sense of harmony The tiling
of the fireplace in this room is very hand
some. From the dining room door opens
into the pantry and another thence into
the kitchen, which is fitted up with hot and
cold water and every modern convenience.
From the kitchen access is had to the rear
hall, whence one stairway leads TO the upper
stories and another to the cellar.
On the second floor are eight rooms ex-
slusive of the hall They are large rooms
and handsomely furnished On the third
floor are seven rooms exclusive of the hall
They are large, high-pitehed, airy apart
ments, whose windows command an exten-
siye view of the surrounding country. On
the third floor is the tank room, from which
the house is supplied with water. The
water is collected in eistern and pumped
into the tank by means of a small compress
ed air engine, run by gas. The machine
is in the basement in the laundry, room
nicely fitted up for its purpose with porce-
lain-lined tubs, hot and cold water and dry
ing appliances. In the basement also are
the gas machine, which supplies the house
with gas. and the furnace
The heating arrangement Of the house is
perfect. In every room are one or two reg
isters. Behind the registers are coils of
pipe heated by steam. Wooden boxes con-
duct air from the outside of the building to
these coils, by which it is heated before
entering the room In this way supply
Of fresh, pure air, free from dust, is con-
stantly admitted.
One convenience of the house, especially
to those having rooms on the third floor, is
a small room between the vestibuie and the
dining room, containing a stationary wash
bowl aud mirror The value of such an
arrangement will be readily seen by all who
live in house with children
No account of Mr., Bakers place would
be complete which did not mention his
stables and the standard bred horses therein.
The carriage house and stable occupy one
building at the corner of the lot 1t is a
large, handsome and well ventilated build
ing, heated and supplied with water and
every convenience.
In the stalls are as purely bred horses as
are in the country, and Mr.. Baker isjustly
proud of them. They are fine animals and
deserves the care he lavishes upon them.