Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-02-04

drives OF ideal type. reviFing memo
| ries of the Worlds Fair avenues by
/ their creamy surfaces and solidity, and
the waysides are enhanced with fire.
quent artificial lakes, rustic stone
bridges massed with vines, jutting
| fountains, evergreen shrubbery, flow.
ers and bluegrass vistas. This five
mile approach" drive is the only one
on the estate that is open to the NOR
| bidly curious public and a pass must
/ be obtained at the Vanderbilt Office in
| Biltmore station before even this rida
may be taken The drives are senti-
neled and aGventurers are turned back.
| a pass is not difficult to procure if a
party is indorsed by the hotel Or towns
people. In the height of the season at
| Asheville the procession of vehicles
and horseback riders on a pleasant af-
ternoon extends in an unbroken dou-
BILE column or train from the station to
the castle. The public is admitted on
ly on Monday, Wednesday and Satur-
day afternoons. The drive and scene
are never to be forgotten.
Sitting on the veranda of the Bat
terry Park Hotel, several years ago, the
/ legend runs, young Vanderbilt asked
his native mountain guide il he could
take him to the summit of a distant
peak designated by lofty pine tree.
The ascent was finally accomplished
the latter part on foot-and to-day
Biltmore castle marks the site. at a
cost of at least so, 900. .000-if / am
any Judge. The enormity of the un-
dertaking and its execution cannot be
described, and visit to the premises
affords the only adequate idea of the
most wonderful estate in the wide
world.
Young Mr.. Vanderbilt has furnish
ed Biltmore with traditional paintings,
tapestries, rugs and bric-a-brac from
the ancient countries in all not less
than fifty carloads. it is estimated.
Their collection and cost are said to
sum over a million. Bedsteads, sofas,
chairs. tables and odd pieces of furni-
ture that once belonged to kings and
queens and adorned houses of royalty
are profuse in the assortment. Young
Mr.. Vanderbilt's own bed is an ancient
heirloom with carved posts and a
throne-like canopy. Steam heat is
said to have played havoc with the
majority of these quaint rare relics.
particularly the artistically inlaid
woods, not having beeh built for
steam heated houses, and Mr.. Wander
bilt has been obliged to send abroad
for experts to save his invaluable as
sortment from absolute disintegration.
The foreign equipment of Biltmore ex-
tends throughout the estate, which
along the dreamy drives is adorned
with trees and shrubbery from Japan
and the tropics. Blltmore, however,
is not altogether for pleasure life.
Young Vanderbilt has upon il flourish
ing farms, dairy, brick and tile plants,
no end of lumber forests, and millions
of precious metal lie buried in his null
tiplied mountains. In addition to the
winding beautiful avenues that cover
the estate, there are divers roads and
paths for hunting parties. deer parks.
stocked lakes, and frequent lodge
houses. At Pisgah's base stand fine
clubhouse. a score of miles from the
chateau, where the hunters, horses
and hounds are wont to take their
breathing spells and refresh themselves
for the continued chase. Imagine
Vanderbiltian hunting party relned on
the palace plaza. moving thence east
and over the terraced rampedouce and
dasbing away upon the vista into the
wooded glens and jungles for the days
sport without leaving the hosts do
main. Biltmore has five miles of river
front of it's own.
.Of the grand gardens southeast of the
great plaza a description is impossible.
The beauties of the series of terraces
and serpentine walks leading down to
them may be conjectured from the
various glimpses given. Extending
southwark from the manor is the wall
ed tennis court and observatory, over
looking the valley on the west, while
along the east wall is the percula
promenade, shown in separate illus
tration | have illustrated the prem
ises both in full and detail, showing
the general view and the chief features
again at close range = the sentinel
lions, and rampedouce, the percula,
an artificial lake and bridge, bit of
mountain drive, the stables annex, and
All Souls Memorial church in the
heart of the village of Biltmore.
Il happened in Asheville on Sun
day, and was taken by a resident friend
to All Souls Church, which Mr.. Van
derbilt constructed and has dedicated
to the memory of his parents. 1t cost
$75, 900, contains a splendid pipe or
gan, with performer and chorister
from New York, a picked quartette
choir and a chorus Of some thirty
voices. The architecture Is the old
Dutch type brought up to date with
cathedral windows, Quar:ered oak
pews and woodwork, plush cushions
and ottomans, steam heat, electric
light and all metropolitan features.
Young Mr.. Vauderbilt invariably at
tends the services. driving down from
Biltmore with guests or friends, and
quietly taking rear pew to attract
the least possible attention. For it
goes without the saying that the auth
or of this stately splendor in the North
Carolina mountains is as great per-
souage and object of curious interest
as the occupant of the White House.
Young Mr. Vanderbilt is about five
feet six inches, of medium build, with
jet black hair and mustache and
strong yet slightly sad face. denoting
the highest order of intelligence. de
is Harvard graduate and world
vide traveller, first visiting AsheviIle
about ten years ago for his health.
Asheville not only saved him but won
/ him and his millions. and the royal
| Biltnore of to-day is the consequence