The sun., 1894-12-30
ohsHrEn slxrA,s oUaros.
He Hssss - Rsssiis Exsitss ere ws-s.
ef All Union Csunty.

oh, that's Mr.. Bsnta's place; and you ought TO
zee II, too Talk about your Museum Of Natural
History in New York; I Ieuess you'd think New
York wssn't in II II you saw the inside OF that
house once. It's packed full Of curious things
from all over the world"
So said = resident of Roselle, y. j., to . re-
porter; and as the reporters business was with
the occupant he soon had an opportunity OF see
ing the interior Of the house that is the wonder
ment Of all Union county. The place is 80 well
known in the neighhorhood that when .
stranger asks to be directed to any part OF the
town the almost invariable answer Is, "Iou go
mp to Banta's place. and then turn and SO.
You can't miss Bantss; it's the place with lakes
In the yard and swans on the lake, and deer
and peacocks running about"
". Banta IL the cashier OF the Merchants
National Bank in this city. and for more than
thirty years he has devoted his spare moments
TO making his Union county home n place TO
suit his tastes. Thirty years is about the period
of his connection with the bank, as paying teller
and then as cashier. He il an artist and =
musician as well as q cashier and collector
of curios, and it was through ono OF his early
musical engagements that he became q pro-
nounced Jerseyman.
Yes, sir" he said, 1T was all on account Of
vacation they made me take once when was
. sort of organist In New York In my spare time
that came out here. They bought an organ in
the church attended, and as there one
TO play IL, volunteered to play for . few Sun
days lust to help them out, and the few Sundays
died or moved up town. and thought miehs
asked me to play one sunday to help them out,
and just TO accommodate them did so. was
so just let myself loose and made the old organ
jump: After It was over they said they liked
ths, ss ssSry xsry xss $500 any g.sT Then o1Pa
out that I'D been playing for them on trial With
out knowing it but 1 took the place and stuck
II suppose 1 should be playing that organ
not come @ to S me- one day and said: T Here Bsnts,
you and the choir have been working hard for 2
time and Te Tpt yGH a, TO JS tsss fs-
guI through somehow. he replied. AN ,ight:
organ 1 came out here 70 Roselle 70 spend my
vacation; only there was no Roselle then; It was
For fifteen years had spent every Sunday. in
ioosea SG % found this this was for sale, and cams
sfT fl! 'n marx GWf With S You io Tor 1t. t. said
Z" All right said he; and each Of Ms MARRIED
Gt pretty S% n
ss ss would sclns mari shI pretty
| up my organ after . few Sundays and came out
Then Tr I kept @ adding and adding. a few acres on
this side and few acres on on ths tuning ,1s 1hs
d and Roseo sss %
around me, and continue TO take my breakfast
at 1880 every morning and to reach the old
"oh. these little curiosities have come to me
gradually: have leaning that way. YOU
odd things, Then my friends know my weak
ness, and they often either put me on the track
| many old family bits too. that came over wit h
my ancestors from Holland; Now. there's an
should like to show you. IL, spoon that /
always use myself II is in the lower part Of the
hut the door Would You not ' pull open. though it
"oh, you don't do 1t right" Mr.. Ban.a laugh
ed. at doen't open like other doors; that's the
reason bought IL. l was proving around q
ed 70 sec il aud bought it. This is the way
lie gave II a touch that made IL open in a way
70 S56ss aoer I 90
for the bsfiiing Of burglars
-" Here is a very old piece OF cut glass" he
continued, sixteen hundred and something.
Do you know how TO tell an old piece OF glass
Well. hook at the bottom Gf it, He turned W !,
generations, the sharp edges on the bottom hau
The six fantastic faces that look down from G
wall in the dining room were made in Holland .
century or two ago TO hold pipes: There ,,i, sEs
} But have no pipes TO hold" Mr.. Banta said
} because | smoke cigars so l use them fol
snoiher %a 9apsn 6as the
bracket from which IL hangs IS specimen o.
, are several handsome candlesticks
The little package lying on the music room N
6r wIapped and eG ana ssampfn Snq f-s ,S
mail REoyes to d be Roreesai Sen,ains =. minute
Dictionary dict % that the words are not lrsi6le with
| out the gold mounted magnifying glass that &C
; companies t. Close by Is nnger tH Prays
!, legible type, though no longer or broader thai
5 Here Is a cunning little lamp" Mr.. Bantl
said, taking up brass ornament six inche
: high, surm0unted by a silk shade. To all out
lamp: but when he tilted over the top on
2 hinge and held il up, it was perfume bottle
; piano. but also banios, yiolins, tamoourines
: and some strange Italian Instruments moqlde'
when n theyy come 10 see me. the owner said. o
: the three tall Dutch CLOCKS in the house, on
. condition @ % that the 81 clock required $40 wort
: Of cleaning and repairing, Another Is one N'
e YORK sent for 10 Holland in 1900 and som1.ainG
? Mr. baHta's great,srandtsthe.,, r, %ss 81, one ,,c
IN e co S.SeS OK she inside es Of o tie
ga and some shillings. The third was made !
. New York more than century ago. IA ouee
street. . street now easily found unoer the nam
/ That wood was cut here on the place" Nj
S that partially separates tho hall from the receT
g ton room, and the reception room from IA
utlt. lhb nhad AA0
= with il, because he never could cut the Knoi
!. OUT. The knots were Just what wanted left y
% See how much hRnds0uIer II Is than that Oh
Z cherry. which Is free from knots. This was ~
d small rooms and tiny hall originally, but
= knocked out the partitions and put in this cab
= net work 20 make breathing room. The colore
II windows and electric lights and steam heat
y course are later additions"
10 The sword tha. Mr. Banta's father carrie
y, aad the other one that he carried himself
$, 1913 are crossed over the reception room eI
trance. In the Mexican war ~ he was ask -
u so. sir.' he replied - no wars for me. In q
Is old Twcnty-seveHth Regiment in Sew fo'
g city, which l. row the seventh" The asseg
~ from south Afrila a was not carried by any men
e Der of the FAMILY. There are scores OF pieces
Jf antique silver, some heirlooms others pick ed
here and there on account OF their odd shape
Bur these things mentioned are only sample
selected az random from the collection OF odd
ties and works OF art with which tho who
% house is filled.
SOt TruekIIaE 90 saAt. CIas%