The morning times., 1896-01-05

meDts for young and old, Americans and
strangers who visit this country.
1t is said that Miss Vanderbilt has
entertained during her first two seasons
in society more families of Governors and
Presidential aspirants than any other
young woman that ever lived since the
colonial days of Gen. Lafayette, when
one young woman wa hostess for the nation.
The American princess has a thousand
Il ,'s tie luxury of the Old world prin-
cess.
The subject OF this sketch is a young
.,s years OF age. She
is of medium height and dark in style. She
is very brunette and is not a handsome
girl. Her hair does not lie in natural
ripples around her face and her eyes are 4
little too far apart for great beauty. There
are flaws in her appearance, but this only
makes her more like an everyday young
woman with the halo around her of actual
gold-all the money and possessions that a
young woman could have.
Take these conditions and you have the
American princess as she is today. MISS
Gertrude Vanderbilt possesses the first re-
quirements of a princess in that she has
castle. Yes, and more than one. The
marvellous residence in New York city was
TIER special use alone. For years
the older house, itself the grandest that
up to that time had ever been seen, served
the family very well. But as soon as
this daughter grew old enough to come out
In society a new one had to be built.
at cost of half a million for the prop
erty all the adjoining houses were bought
and torn down, and on the plot upon the
rear was constructed a lawn which lies
under the young girls windows, and keeps
her view clear to Central Park. This
property is opposite the open plaza by which
the park is entered, and to estimate the
cost of tn lis American princess lawn would
be stepping into figures that would not he
believed. Suffice to say that it is the
$50 double plot in the world.
Even the square in front of Windsor Castle
would sell FIR less in dollars.
FAIRY SURROUNDINGS.
The suite of rooms overlooking the plot
are fairyland itself. Below them lie won
derful plants, kept ever glorious by a
trained gardener. and inside there Is a
dream in white and blue decoration. 1t is
said that famous painters frescoed these
walls. And this must be the truth. for
such beautiful frescoes as surround the
many mirrors that set In the walls were
never seen before. There are many rooms
In the suite. and the bathroom is an East
ern idol in onyx. white and colored stones,
and semi-precious gems. The American
princess is here only a month or SO in the
Like all princesses she has more than one
CASTLE In Newport there is a mansion so
stately that reports OF 1t were cabled
around the world as its work progressed.
Fountains play inside; conservatories shed
their bloom through the house, statues that
were made in Rome and are either the
actual chiseliing OF the old masters or
great reproductions stand around. The two
colossal figures that support the slab In
the grand salon are declared worth o for
tune to any poor man.
In getting up all this the father of the
American princess has been very liberal
to his own countrymen. and, like the father
of all princesses, delights In knowing that
his daughters popularity is due largely
TO the number OF people he supports In
giving luxuries to her.
In London there is another palace. It Is
occupied yearly. unless forgotten for
busy season; and down on Long Island 10
another. Some idea OF the elexa nee OF this
last-named little country house may be
had when son consider that the twin house