The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-19

! architectural curlosltleS and to be ca-
pable of approaching them. And in
the building Of his magnificent home
in the South he used the knowledge
that he gained servilely but with good
results.
The spot where his 5000 acre farm
is situated is as beautiful as one may
hope to see. On q broad plateau that
extends from the Blue Ridge to the AL
leghany mountains, the general level OF
which is near to 1000 feet above the
sea and surrounded by mountain peaks
more lofty than any east Of the Rock
les, the place naturally is a sort Of para
disc. Most Of these peaks are clothed
to their tops in trees, many of which
are OF the same family that may be
found in the Alpine region. The wild
cherry tree here grows to a height Of
eighty feet, and the broad valley of the
Ashe is simply fringed with splendid
white pines interspersed with the Gu
cumber tree The beech, the poplar
the locust, the lime tree, all flourish on
the mountain sides, and there are no
oaks as noble as those to be seen in En-
gland. That abOminable machine that
OF this country, the sawmill, has not
yet mastered and destroyed the beauti-
full forest scenery
From his library window Mr.. Van
derblt can see the Blue Ridge, the AL
leghanies, and their tributary mountain
ranges rising and stretching away in
the distance He can see Mt. Pisgah
raising its pine clad head more than
5000 feet above the plateau Black
Dome, Clingman's Dome, Mitchell's
Peak, and score or more of giants are
near by. Between these, like silver
threads, run the French Broad, the Hi
aWasSee. and near half dozen other
rivers. He may see # he wishes the
spots over in Tennessee mountains that
have been made in way famous by
the charming stories of Charles Egbert
Craddock And here and there he may
see the cabins of the mountaineers.
who think quick and shoot the same
way.
The mansion that is the central fig
rre of all this spread of scenery is worthy
of its surroundings. OF granite and
marble mined from the mountains near
which the building stands, its appear
ance as seen through the towering trees
that surround it is impressive. 1t is
not long and low and rambling as most
Southern dwellings, are. Instead it
rises to the height of four stories not
counting the lower floor, where domes-
tic work is done. or the story next to
the roof. But it is broad and long, and
impressive. Mr. Vanderbilt was large
ly his own architect, and the result
would Indicate that he is not bad
one He has been courageous enough
to borrow literally from others but
mainly from Switzerland for the house
as seen from distance resembles an
Alpine chateau. The massive noun
tains near by add to this impression.
The house is rs yet in an unfinished
condition. but work on its interior has
gone sufficiently far to enable one to
see .hat it will he a magnificent struc-
ture when finished The hallsin it are
as wide and lofty as those in the old
house of England. There are no small
rooms. The dining halls are immense
There are no less than fifty guest cham
bers, an indication that Mr. Vanderbilt
does not intend to be hermit in his
mountain home. There are several
large rooms evidently. intended to be
reception rooms, and there is large
ball room looking out upon the noun
tains showing a most romantic scene
by moonlight The baths are of mar
BE mined from the mountains near by.
and the whole interior is rich in ap-
pearance and arrangement
The stables at distance alone are
finer than many modern houses. and
the kennels-for there is vet galro in
these mountains--are on plane with
+Lo o+Ha~ h1,i11inro