The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1901-10-10
FINE COUNTRY HOME.
W.K.v ANDERBILT'S IDLE HOUR"
ON LONG ISLAND.
A Pa1atia1 Structure in the English
style on Great South Bay-Some of
the Rooms and Their Decorations
Preparing the Grounds.

w. K. Vanderbilt's new country
house, Idle Hour, the ground for which
was broken last October is practically
completed, only a few minor touches
being now lacking.
The new mansion of which Z. ii.
Hunt has been the architect, is built
Of alternate tiers of brick and lime
stone, trimmed with marble, and sup
ported by immense iron and steel
beams. To prevent repetition of the
lire which two years ago destroyed the
old Idle Hour, while Mr.. and Mrs. Van
derbilt were spending their honeymoon
there, as little wood as possible has
been used In the construction of the
new house.
The new Idle Hour has, besides the
basement, three floors. The ground
plan is L-shaped, with a frontage on
Great River of $50 feet, the wing meas
uring hundred feet In the angle of
the building is court containing con-
seryatories, fountains and stone and
marble basins. The other two sides Of
the court are formed by covered clois,.
tiers leading to an elliptical palm gar
den, built wholly of ornamental steel
and glass.
The house is massive in appearance
and resembles the typical substantial
English manor. There are two en-
frances on the 'front.' each guarded by
two crouching lions in stone. The
main entrance opens into a spacious
hall lined with pillars. each bearing
brackets holding torches for lights. The
parlor Is In the extreme south of the
house, and is finished in white and gold
and carpeted In fawn-colored Brussels.
The dining-room has a ceiling of heav-
lily quartered paneled oak, hand-carved,
and a huge fireplace OF yariegated
marble.
In an alcove above it is a statue of
Diana. The chandelier hangs by an i'm
mense deer's foot from which branch
out three horns bearing lights The din
ing-room table is a low. massive, an
tique. mahogany piece, supported BY
hand-caryed tiger legs. The chairs are
old-fashioned. with high wooden backs.
In this room there are also five smaller
tables and chairs to match. The side
walls of the dining-roo represent, In
stucco work. studies of Green and
Roman types. The library and salon
are small rooms.
In the banquet room is large pipe
organ, which may be played by hand
or steam. The walls of this room ere
covered with green tapestry, with top
border of hand-painted arboreal de-
signs. The feature of the reception
room Is a granite mantelpiece, whose
finely chiseled vines and grape clusters
are said to have taken five sculptors six
months to complete. The table In the
billiard room is inlaid with mother Of
pearl, as are also the cues. On the
third floor is a handball court
Mr.. Vanderbilt's suite and the eigh-
teen guest chambers are on the second
floor Each guest chamber has a con-
Meeting bath room. The third floor Ia
exclusively for servants, with the ex-
cep1on of a large number Of cedar
chests for storage. In the basement
are the wine cellars, kitchen, pantries,
silver safe, men servants quarters and
servants dining-room. There is broad
terrace before the house, with marble
and granite steps leading down into the
river. A few feet out from the base Of
the terrace steps is moored great |
floating landing stage.
A steam dredge has been at work for |
months dredging gravel from the bot
ton OF Great River, which is being |
used to form a solid bed for the several |
miles of roads upon the Idle Hour es-
tate, The newly constructed canal, |
which separates the mansion from the |
farm section of the estate. has beauti- |
fully sodded banks, and is spanned at
the many road crossings by pretty |
bridges. The estate will have one Of |
the finest memories in the world. In |
Guiding an elaborate incubating depart |
ment.-New York Sun.