The record-union., 1894-07-21


Such places are the most numerous in the
Oranges. The men who go further back
in their recollections and desire original
delights, natures own woods ana mead
ows unchanged save as the seasons cnange
them, go TO the Adirondacks or the WIGS
OF Maine. Others who want the splendors
OF the country in the country are spread
out along the east bank of the HUDSON.
In the Oranges the most luxurious places
are those like General McClellan's or
Eugene Kelly's, which are extensive
within and without. The General built
mansion, now belonging TO wealthy
unknown, on the top OF hill where he
could overlook the whole valley OF the
Hackensack and away to New YORK,
Staten Island and out to sea. A smooth
lawn with a flag pole) slopes in
deep and high. with banquet-
hall. 1t is plain externally, but lmpos-
ing. Large houses do not take Oh orna-
mentation easily. But in this case the
effect is fine, even grandiose. Next door
is similar home, that of Banker Brown
of Brown Brothers. Behind these houses
are primeyal forests.
OF another kind are such country
places as Eugene Kelly's. His tastes,
also, are typical of a class. He has a
mansion, with lawn and grounds. but
his faneies express themselves in stables,
outhouses and animals. Everything is
arranged to perfection and bears the
stamp of unlimited means. Mere beauty
and comfort are supplanted by the ten
dency to ride, drive and handle horses.
He is in good situation for the gratltlca-
ton of his tastes. Some hundreds OF rich
New Workers follow the same inclina-
tions, and they ali together maintain the
Country Club, farmers institution,
with clubhouse IN remote nook at the
end of excellent roads, which meet there
after meandering all through the valley.
whittier these men ride. race, or drive 10
meet and chat and smoke.
Parks are another favorite form OF
com bination for country residence. The
most perfect organization of this kind is
LleWeIlen Park. 1t is a stretch OF
country that begins in the valley and
reaches low hills, and it contains, IN
closed, the homes and the grounds OF
men, each of whom keeps up his own
place, but who, together, maintain the
whole as a park. with roads, waterfalls
and other attractions. Each owns be-
sides bis own surface space, share IN
the common property-the woods. streams,
etc. They have laid out paths and drive
ways and fields for various sports. Such
arrangements are common enough per-
haps everywhere, but In Orange tnese
parks seem to be the choice OF literary
II,
In Llewellen Park live Wendell PhlIllps
Garrison and Thomas Edison.
The architecture is of the most varied
orders. Each house is run in some new
way. The larger houses, as remarked
above, run TO simplicity, but have the
pleasant aspect of having been built for
use. The verandas are large, the portals
wide and high, the windows let IN where
light was needed. The middle-sized
houses are more elaborate externally
and attract by pleasing forms. The cot
tages are charming. odd, fanciful. tiny
and rich, They combine elements OF
every kind of construction in wood,
stone or prick known to the world.
There are beam and mortar houses, cop
led from the dwellings of German
farmers: little French chateaux and
Italian villas; Gothic houses from
the medi@val continental models
are numerous, and English styles have
furnished iDnumerable ideas. But all
are fully adapted TO our climate and our
needs, and the very best are the cottages
invented by the American brain unhelped
by any foreign hints.
The latest form is that of the colonial
period in 4 merica, especially in New Eng
land. 1t seems surprising that this near-at-
hand should have been disregarded so
long. There are many colonial houses OF
ancient date around Washington Square
and the upper part OF Manhattan Island.
Some of the most famous OF these were
described at length in the RECORD y MON
a few weeks ago. The new houses that
copy the old are rising in the streets along
the Hudson, especially numerous are
they il West End avenue and Riverside
drive. They are built of brick with stone
foundations, and are trimmed with terra
Gotta or wood. These trimmings
are invariably white. while the
body of the house is yellow
or gray. In form they are square and
regular, without excrescences. Alone
do not find them pleasing, but as d varl2-
ton from other forms they certainly
make an agreeable effect. The only dan
ger in their use is that their novelty is apt
to make them fad. The colonial archi-
lecture has TOO much grace, simplicity
and useful beauty to be risked III this
way. Luckily the Oranges are too closely
built up now to make il possible to intro
duce any form OF architecture that will
render the whole monotonous.
There is one more characteristic of the
Oranges that is very notable among the
New York suburbs, and that is perma-
nency. Every body knows how the right
bank of the Hudson was built up by
families who wanted to initiate the
European country life. These were
the first people who left the city
was an imitation, pure and simple.
They had no love of country life per SO,
but they did have love for European
travel, so they soon sickened of their
magnificent Hudson homes and sold
them. Later another class of people,
actuated by other motives, took their
places, and are gradually reviving that
suburb. But the Oranges received from
the first the real lovers of the country
life, and they are living places. House
owners live in their homes, so that there
is seldom a dilapidated domicile to be
seen. J, L, S.