The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-28
WITH MRS. CHOATE IN LONDON.
Her Beautiful Home and Fondness for
England-Naumkea
London Gentlewoman.


London Gentlewoman.
The American embassy is at present domi-
ciled at No. !, Carlton House Terrace. the
no Use which Lady Curzon's father pre-,
left for India and certainly no pleasanter
premises could have been secured in Lon
don: 1t is in the busy world, and yet Just
sufficiently apart to gain that quietude SO
essential TO those whose social life is OF
necessity an active one.
the beautiful oblong drawing room which
runs the whole width of the back OF me
house. 1 was particularly struck with the
lovely view and truly Westminster was
looking even more than ordinarily dignified
and imposing as IL rose above the mass OF
greenery in st. James's Park below: ana
the present occupants feel 1t is always SO
restful to come here after the bustle Oh
Picc adilly and Pail Mall.
II is a magnificent house. The wide stair
case and the stately, pillars of the hall be-
low and the lounge above all give spa
cious effect: but as my hostess said. when
never make 1t the least bit honey" yet
this in her personal apartments she mas
succeeded in doing. to remarkable extent.
Still. one can understand that when she
remembers her beautiful country home In
Berkshire county. Massachusetts. she might
easily become just little bit homesick, ana
its quantity sounding Indian name, Naum-
keag, meaning haven of rest. would seem 10
indicate here the owners take refuge from
their city home and all the stir and hustle
of New York social life. and this felt from
the moment you enter the coy hall, with
it's carved settle and hooks for sitting
about in, and GLANCE through the wide
weather. and into the beyond of charm
ingly appointed reception rooms. The dec
of the sns soft pnk hue
throughout: the walls are covered with
brocaded satin. against which hang several
admirably selected water colors bearing
in art. The library is a delightful room
with its restful green's and mahogany fur
niture. Books indeed, play an important
part in the life of the American ambas-
sador and his wife. She told me that Mr..
Choate's greatest recreation was reading,
she replied that she used to do good deal
of painting--chiefly in oils, but also in
water colors-and then went on to tell me
education when spending so much of the
summer in the country she used to have
a teacher out from the city for drawing
and painting, and they also devoted con-
siderable time to languages.
Her garden is a great pleasure to her. and
| no wonder, for not only is 1t filled with, ev-
cry sort Of beautiful flower. from orchids to
those that grow wild, but out on the ter
race, perched eighty feet above the mead
ow land lying below. they. have a gigantic
view of the country stretching away to the
| line of hills which lie now purple in shadow,
| now varying in hue in the sunlight. Some
| times the river at the foot meanders lazily
| 1t turns into perfect torrent. Looking
through a scrap book we came across a
/
| friend shooting this rapid on such an occa-
sion, when Ii was proved that there was no
little danger attached to the proceeding.
| On the terrace there Is a beautiful garden;
along one side of 1T are arranged connec-
ton of capitals brought from Italy. and in
| the center is a fountain, in the large basin
1 of which float lovely specimens of water
| lilies. yellow, mauve, white, pink and blue.
In the same scrap book found photographs
reminiscent of many a merry house party
and troops of young folk who. holding
/ hands, were indulging in that favorite
| the snow and then all getting up again to
| other jovial groups. Both Mrs. Choate's son
| and daughter are devoted to all
| outdoor games, and / think ii was chiefly
| owing to Miss Choate's skill in photography
| that the scrap book was full of so many
| interesting incidents l asked how my host
| ess liked England. She found ii delightful
| and spoke most enthusiastically of English
| hospitality She is fond of travelling, too,
| and, like most Americans. has done a great
/ deal of ii. And, so talking. we wandered
|, into the music room in the front of the
| house, an apartment greatly used by her
| son, who is a fine performer on both piano
| and organ; he is going to be a lawyer and
| is spending a while over here. and he and
| his sister are naturally having a very pleas
| ant time in the midst of the London sea-
| son. Down stairs, in the library, the walls
| are lined with books-classics novels his
| tories and modern literature. 1t is right up
| to date and confronting me as / walked for
ward was the latest edition of Rudyard
| kiDfng'S works