Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-07-16
Costly Country Cottages.

SOUTHAMPTON, Long island, N. Y,
July 1o.-The farmers here are being
beseieed by the army worms. They are
more and more everything
else than we had in Missouri early
this season. The people are ditching
against them but they appear to "get
there lust the same" The farmers
everywhere appear to have a hard
time. When their crops are most
grown the bugs or worms come along
and destroy them. Can't some party
adopt a platform that will remedy
this evil? 1t would be no trouble to
organize a party which would promise
to do so if there were any offices in
sight.
In my last letter / spoke of the
great amount of money spent by the
wealthy people at the seaside. Inc
money invested in cottages here will
amount to a large sum. In Missouri
we call a 81 900 or $500 house a cot
tage. The cottage by the sea" and
other summer resorts cost fabulous
sums and are only used three or four
mouths put of the year. There are
several which are very fine here but
Newport, r. l., has some of the most
costly and handsome.
What is undoubtedly the finest
cottage the world over is now the
scene of many festivities. 1t took
three years of time and $4,000, 900 in
money to build this cottage. The
grounds around the cottage cost
81, 0OO, 900. The furniture in the cot
tage cost S1,250 900, making in all
| So, 25O, 900. This is the sum of money
which Cornelius Vanderbilt has tied
up in his Newport palace. He speaks
of it as his Newport cottage. Next to
his New York home and the vast pal
ace of his brother George in North
Carolina, it is the finest residence in
the land.
Locally the site of HThe Breakers
is known as "Millionaire's Point
because of the great cluster of rich
mems palaces in that neighborhood.
Speaking by the map, the house is To-
Gated at Ochre Point. Here the land
juts far out into the ocean, and offers
a commanding view of the far-famed
Newport cliffs. Here the rocks rise
almost perpendicular from the Q tc
a height of nearly fifty feet and Offer
stubborn resistance to the surgins
waves that break against the base
Along the top of the cliff runs thu
"Cliff Walk" which has been KEEP
open to the public, SO that even tn
poorest may stroll along the CAREFUL.
kept walk and admire the stated.
grandeur of the palatial residence
that front the sea.
PALATIAL SUMMER HOMES NEAR.
"The Breakers" stands out alon'
upon the rocky promontory and is th'
first structure to meet the eye of tn
sightseer. Near it are the summe
homes of Robert Goelet, Louis Loril
/ lard and Ogden Goelet.
"The Breakers in general outline i
a huge square structure, with a Dutcl
, tile roof, but the skill of the moderl
architect has been displayed in break
ing the heavy stolid appearance i
, many unique ways. The prevailin
style of architecture is the Frenc
Renaissance, but the Corinthian col
umn is used in several places wit
telling effect.
The house is four stories high, an
a while the main entrance looks out t
sea, there is another entrance whic
is reached from Ochre Point avenue
j., A gracefully curved driveway lead
from the avenue to the north side {
= the house, passing under an imposin
porte-cochere, from which wide ston
steps lead up to the spacious door
The columns that support the porte
n cochere are of sandstone. The who
exterior is beautifully carved, ar
contains the date of erection
Roman characters and the initial
., sc. W." in the form of a monogram
The vaulted interior of the port,
cochere contains umerous electr
lights.
Z SURROUNDED BY A BALUsTRADE.
. The square appearance of the we
>, end has been artistically broken by
" semi-circular portico, supported
huted columns. Beginning at I
northwest corner of the house, a sto
balustrade runs around in a sen
circle, ~inclosing the lawn, which
ia terraced on this side, and finally e
Id tending to the southwest corner of I
III house. The inclosed ground is Ii
or out in flower beds and graveled wall
lir The south side of the house loo
toward the sea, and on this side is t
=, most imposing entrance. A doul
IN stairway of stone leads from the lc
gia and gracefully widens out unit
7 reaches the lawn. This stairway
perhaps, the most beautiful OUTS
feature of the house. Above I
spacious loggia is an open porti
OF supported by marble columns, bea
no tiiuiiy WEOuSuts 1loEc, tOo, tuO
a lists handiwork is seen IN the elaE
IN. rate scroll work which adorns t
sh side of the house.
d. After passing through the port
N cochere at the main entrance Q
comes to the great hall, which is
= spacious that it a be utilized for
81 most any purpose. From the flo
W which is tiled and finished with n
M sale designs, it rises straight to
,$& roof, sixty-five feet above. The n
SIS is paneled with dark wood, and Is
III ished in gold. Bronze figures, 81
az porting electric lamps, are station
SIS about the hall, which opens on
III loggia at the south end of the MI
az sion, facing the ocean.
III A grand staircase starts from
SIS hallway, and at the landing, a
yW steps up, divides to the left and rig
Underneath this stairway Is a fol
SIS tain which is not visible from
hallway, and could not be seen at
&> except that the dining room, VII
faces IL, instead of having a solid "
has a great glass window, thro,
az which the fountain can be seen pl
XXX iur