The morning times., 1897-01-20
The HObarts at
the Barber Home

belmont" the residence of Mr.. A. L..
Barber, just leased by vice President-elect
Hobart for the next four years, stands on
the crest OF a hill at the head OF Fourteenth
street, surrounded by massive oaks and
elIns. 1t is built Of gray stone, quarried
in Maryland, and tiled with terra Gotta
Its castellated towers shoot up with feudai-
like picturesqueness against the skyline and
its general medieval sphere-despite
its evident newness-is further accented by
a smaller building standing a stones throw
away-if one be good hand at throwing
stones that looks like chapel or lodge.
It's interior is all that can be achieved by
money combined with taste. At first its
dining-room was not in keeping with it's
surroundings, but that was long since cor
rected by throwing several smaller rooms
into one. Its plumbing is perfect, and IL
temperature SO pleasant that the Vice
President and his family may live there, as
far as comfort is concerned, at least nine
months i'll the year
The history of Belmont is a brief one.
Somewhere in the seventies a syndicate
composed Of Mr.. Barber and his father-in-
law, Mr.. Langdon, Senator Sherman, and
Mr.. Colgate Hoyt, of New York, bought
the old Stone property and subdiyidei it
into lots. Mr.. Barber built Belmont On
his share of the tract, but his family have
only lived there for short periods at
irregular intervals, and, 1t is said. the
house and grounds are for sale.
Mr.. obart viii have Mrs. John a
Logan for a near neighbor, Calum ct Place
being the original HON estead of the Stone
family, though partly improved and ideal
iZed toy it's present owner. Mrs. Logan is
delighted at the idea of having the house
Opened again. as itssealed doors and smoke
ltss chimneys make but Il dreary view.
She is III ore than pleased, OF course, that
the newcomer will be the Vice President
elect, as is ALTO Justice Harlan. who lives
across the way.
The Hobarts are people of great wealth
and of distinct social ambitions, which
means that society may look forward TO
the correct number OF proper functions at
their handsome home. Mr. and Mrs.
Hobart have always been extremely happy
in their married life, or mad been, up to
the sad death OF their daughter a year
or two ago in Switzerland. This clever
girl used To say to her father when the
politicians OF New Jersey would ask him
to step aside from time TO time that they
Vice President some day and will be
elected, then you won't Inind.''
This prophecy has been fulfilled, and it
often brings touch of sadness to the
lives OF the Hoharts that the daughter who
made it cannot participate in the enjoy
ment OF their official and domestic life
in Washington.
The Barber house has been leased fur
nished, but the Vice-President- elect will
have seut TO Washington, in advance OF
his arrival here, many hangings, drapeTies,
pictures, bric-a-brac, from his present
home. Thus, when Mr. and Mrs Hobart
cometo Washin gtOn, on the I'd OF March, ,iu-
stead of going to one of the hotels, even
for short time, they VIII drive at once
to their future residence. Ex-Vice-P resi-
dent and Mrs Morton established prece-
dent that is likely TO be followed by vice
President ana Mrs. Stevenson, this com
ing Cd OF March. When the Stevensons ar
rived in Washington, four years ago, they
Were the guests OF hon0r at a large re-
ception, given in their honor, by ex-yice-
President and Mrs. Morton. Accordingly,
arrived in the city, earlier in the day, they
at once drove TO the residence OF their
prospective hest and hostess, and made the
first call upon them ia advance OF the
evening reception. This call was returned
by ex-Vice President anG Mrs. Morton
within three hours after it had been made
The Barber house, which for several
seasons at the outset of the first Cleve-
land administration was occupied by the
family Of Chief Justice Fuller, was origin
ally built with the idea that it would be
selected by the late President Arthur, as
his summer home. But he preferred the
cotJageat the Soldiers Home, and 50, after
residing in his stately mansion for a year
or o, the owner leased it and went To
New York TO make his home on the Hud-
son.
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