New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-17
HEART OF THE 4 LLEGHANIES.
THE PRESIDENTS COTTAGE AT cRESsoN. (
HOW THE EXCLUSIVE PITTsBURGER HAS KEPT
THE SPRINGS SELECT BUT DULL-HoPES
OF A HARRISON BOOM.

Haford is authority for the statement that MIS- ltar@
rsOn will not think much of the Cresson springs COT
tage. And it is quite probable that Mrs lianoru IS
in what she says, for the Park cottage which
is the that has been set aside for the Presidents
is in way ideal place. and in the eyes OF the
sycophants Of the Administration hardly likely to be
suitable to house up King"
1t first built to suit the whims Of an old ladys
and afterwaId changed and added to for the same
reason. As consequence its plan is no particular
PLAN and its accommodates are the most unaceom-
modating in the world The original house was q
little onestoried affair Of five rooms. But In eigho
years time the cottage was built in 1851 or loo2) IL
has grown until there eleven rooms. The re-
ceptiOn-hall remains as il was built and Is only ono
story in height but the remainder of the house is two
stOred say nothing of the innumerable spires tha0
add something to its outward appearance but nothing
to its inward space.
For nine months Of the year CressOn is inn
portance only a stOpping-of place for those who
wish to change from the main Pennsylvania road
to the local Evansburg branch; and with the eXcep-
ton of the three summer months, the huge hotel on
the side of the hill. few perches from the railroad Is
deserted. From october to June Is heard only tho
rush of the trains east and west the slowing up OK
the fast line (populary supposed to stop for a fly on
the track land solitary passenger or the batterng
of a single bit of freight the platform But from
June to October wealthy Pttsburg with all its ac-
companynG hustle, pOurs into the Mountain House and
the beautiful country roads are in whirl OF dust WIN
the rush of carriages dog carts and coaches and tho
caner of horses. Then the bookstore at the railway
station does a thriving trade in summer literature.
All this makes it look like miniature East Liberty
The Mountain House is surrounded by 200 acres OF
ground. the most charming that be fancied. The
bride has been put nature here, and she has
made delightful use of her freedom Through the
may be the odds and ends Of cottages peep
ing ont. These are the summer villas of Pttsburgs
wealthy men. and they cluster under the east ana
ives Mountain
eastern side Of the grounds is by far the most beau-
full. Most OF the cottages there have been built by
their present occupants, and while all OF them are
pretty and picturesque, some OF the residences display
in their elegance the good taste and In their magn-
ncence the wealth OF the who own them. The
cottages are laid off in three rows, and in the middle
one and about its centre is the Park cottage Thus
the President will be fairly in the midst Of the Pitts
burg settlement. His right-hand nelshbor VIII De
Harry Darlington. Behind the Park cottage Is tho
cottage Of Andrew Carnegie, occupied by his
ssterin-law Mrs.. Thomas Carnegie, and her family.
4 little beyond Carnegies is the g. f. Jones cottage,
spacious Queen Anne of two dozen rooms or So ana
the handsOmes villa at CressOn. Further on Is VIII
lam Thaw's cottage modest affair that evidences the
quiet tastes Of the dead millionaire.
The cottage that President Harrison is to occupy
at Cresson springs belong, TO Mrs. David +. Park,
| Of WASHINGTON D. C. A considerable deal of expense
has been gone 10 by the management of the Noun
tain House TO put the cottage in readiness for us
| DISTINGUISHED guests but il has been done with the
! feeling that ample returns would be made III tho
increased popularity of the resort. This move by
the hotel owners has been expected for some years
Crcsson one OF the most beautiful breathing places
in Western Pennsylvania, has almost been white
elephant from the time the hotel was built. ten
wears ago. simultaneously with the building Of the
Mountain House. cottages were put up by wealthy
Pittsburg men. The intention was that their wives
and families should enjoy the breezes that would
in fl,Isa
exclusveness; and in this they succeeded eniirey'
To-day Cresson is known the dullest summer lo-
sort in America The Pttsbursers living III the cot
tages, and those Of their friends who have rooms
in the hotel, rule the place and take no pans I'd
conceal their contempt for anybod not IN their IN
mediate circle who darcs TO show his plebean nose III
Crcsson The result TO be expected Though
only three hours ride from Ptsburg. Crcsson is AZ
little known the average townsman Of that busy
city a is the North Pole. and is regarded by Nm
with Just as little interest. l: given up by lis
doctors. he might, last resource be induced u
20 to Crc,Son, but his first walk rs convalescent
would certainly be to the station to get on his homes
ward bound train. Crcsson Is beautiful l-lce'
but the faction that rules it has killed it.
How the deal that Will bring President Harrison
was arranged Is not known, but IN whatever way y
plan and already il success may he predicted. IN
fndercUrlcnt OF discomfort which ripple on mo
surface now and then ds,l0scs i only tine beginning
Of the end. the sign of the birth Of popularity and
the death OF aristorac seclu,iOn lie coming or
prrsident Harrison /, bound to draw general attention
To- thi, neglected resort The crowd viii follow. At
once CrcssOn becomes common. mus, IL j. pre-.
Diced Tie cottagcrs will sell ont In disgust and
the passive hotel management. letting things take
their course, will smile IN their sleeves at these i2rtu-
ho, been no grumblng the expense that put
ting Mr., Parks cottage In order has OccaSioned and,
If fhinrs turn out as expected It will, doubt, be
NoGody has anything complimentary to say of the
Park cottage Ii is a long. odd looking cons!om-
Grafton of rooms that appear 10 have been put on
to each other from time TO time Just as the notion
shed entirely and II now has a rather comfortable.
several hundred feet in size, beautiful pine trees
,bc fo"t i, rustic seat or box Of flowers. Tho
lawn slopes gently back and boardwalk and steps
images There are everywhere To get into tho
least least expected that a door should be- The back
OF the house Is the more imposing because II Is I%o
house in the shape of Roman cross ana It's hrSt
Is the left side of the horizontal bar ana his bed
room is the right half Both these rooms have large
lay h " Se door Of the other i, covered With
Chinese mating The most Of Mrs. Parks old fur:
rKer work furniture has been added with pleasing
eject The large windows are hung IN dainty cur
Id e To- Eve hns5 the homc!Ee appearance that they
have for the many pretty biS Of bIic,abrac ana
Mrs. Park. still in the cottage When The lresl
dent desires 70 wash his hands he VIII nave 10 60 70
abounds. If he wishes 70 tub he viii be Obliged 10
wind i'm and out through the cross shaped house un-
Ill he comes the stairs The bath room j. ON nc
second floor. Next to the Presidents study Is ths
Kitchen then across the tiny hall, in which IL would
be impossible for two people Ia walk abreast, -
another bedroom. IL connects with a thiru ana
then crossing again Only that now there Is no hai'
iLe rooms Joining instead. the old Park nursery Is en
tered rhe nursery i, not changed, except IN name,
for while distinguished party remains u y 10 ~
known ~ the sitting room. Leaving us Aou 80 ere
Simply arranged The hall runs across now miS aad
of along The length Of the cottage as 90 the n I
three little rooms open off il. They form conn.,,
PLAYHOUSE and everything that Is neediui 10 inaTt ~
charming for the children has been PUT III IT, rn
HE most delightfully."- tiny affair IN me "1ru. .d ~
is Kitchen that any hOusekeeper hIsEs pe p'o, dr. '
= na,lor and "A bedroom. Every one OF them y lur-
nticd completely and 1t is not saving 700 mum l
them 10 declare IL the preitest parl OF ts ors
hnse IN which President Harrison and his family arc
to pass this month.