The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-08
A 50. 900, 900 Country House.
OF all the beautiful country establish,

Of all the beautiful country establish
ments of the wealthy along the Hudson,
none can rival the magnificent colonial
palace of Mrs. Eliot Shepard, at Scarbor-
ough-on-the- Hudson, which has just been
finished and fully furnished
The mansion, which contains in the
neighborhood of 200 rooms, is built Of
light pressed Italian brick and terra Gotta.
1t is situated on high ground, from which
the scene is uninterrupted on all sides for
miles around. The view of the Hudson
and Palisades is unsurpassed.
The entrance to the Shepard estate from
the public highway are through two artistic
gateways formed of carved stone and iron
brought from France On either side of
the beautiful drives and embowered walks
are fine lawns laid out with huge flower
beds and shaded from the suns glare by
many choice American and foreign trees.
Massive retaining granite walls encircle the
estate, which without the beautiful resi-
dence would be an ideal park.
The main entrance is recessed and en-
riched by portico supported by Corinthian
columns, extending in height two stories,
surmounted by an entablature and an attic
story, the recess forming dark back
ground, against which the Corinthian col
umns are beautifully shown. The great
yerandas, which nearly surround the house,
and the beautiful terraces will recall the
old Italian villas and gardens. The en-
trance hall is undoubtedly the chef
d oeuvre of the whole house. This hall
and the stairway hall are of Italian marble
and hung with rare Gobelin and Italia n
tapestries. Beautiful staircases, with easy
landings, rise to the second floor The
balusters on the stairways were brought
from France.
All the principal rooms Of the house,
which are on the first floor, are so arranged
that they can be opened into one mammoth
room, which can be utilized for any pur.
pose. The living and reception room.
are on the southwest side of the great hall
The latter room is both elegant and hand
some. 1t is finished in Spanish cedar, anc
the walls are beautifully frescoed with
Italian leather. The great fireplace and
mantelpiece were imported from an Italian
chateau. Golden wall coverings and silker
tapestries of the same hue make rich
frame in the salon for the beautiful bric-a.
brac, which Mrs Shepard collected while
in Venice and the Holy Land. In the
salon there is mantelpiece over 200 year
old.
Mrs. Shepard apartments are on th'
second floor, as well as all other sleepin.
apartments. Her rooms are models o
beauty. The pale tints of the canoe
which adorn the ceilings are in sharp con
trast to the beautiful colors of the silk EN-
broideries, which cover like tapestries
nearly one-half of the room.
On the third floor the guests chamber
ora sitratad Tha,a ORC 6nisbad in whit.
and gold, with private dressing rooms anC
baths. Here also are situated the billiard
room, woodwork of dark, rich color; tn,
floor and the ceilings are of mosaic. Th'
mansion is lighted by electricity, there be
ing 1, $50 lights in the house. The tota
cost of the house and layingout of the
garden is said to have been $4,000, 900