New-York tribune., 1902-08-03
THE OLD SPRAGUE HOME.
pruARKABLE MANSION, WHERE r. ].
COLLIER AND HIS BRIDE WILL
SPEND PART OF THEIR
HONEYMOON

There never has been country place In the
;ciuity Of Narragansett Pier possessed of in
..-sst than Canonchet, the queer country mansion
ruilt many years ago by the late Ex-Governor
enrague Of Rhode Island. This year, for the first
.;roe the Spragues have departed and the estate
., turned over to p. F. Collier of this city, by
-5-+ue of a long lease
straightway comes another event which adds in
,erest to Caronchet- Young Robert J. Collier sails
across NaTragansett Bay with ali the boldness of
lover who favor shining in the eyes of his lady
eud sezes upon the pride of the Newport palace
colony. In the face of some opposition he makes
AHss Sara Stewart Van Allen his wife. Here is where
rsuonchet comes in again-they are to spend part
of the honeymoon there on their return from
abrosd-
They could hardly find a more charming place
and certainly there is plenty Of Three or four
newly married couples could lose themselves in
the house. magnificent its proportions so pecu-
lar its arrangement, and they need never know
that there any one else about They could have
a dining room apiece. private stair to a long
quite. and even piazza, for each couple.
Canorchet stands in the centre of a generous park
on the outskirts of Narragansett 1t is only a
short walk from the hotel section-perhaps ten
sninutes-and in the time of the late Governor the
park was open TO visitors two afternoons each
week. A driveway circles toward the house from
the main road. and for those who come on foot
there is well kept path which winds through the
trees.
sn sections and thrown together hastily. 1t is not
after any known form of modern architecture and
1t Is neither Grecian nor Roman Rather it is indi-
r1dual 1t commands fine view of the bay-a blue
sea picture framed in green foliage. Once the
visitor enters the suspicious eccentric 5nsivd-
zaly IN the exterior are confirmed There is much
to wonder at but while wondering one cannot help
sdmirlng 1t Is useless to take up the rooms in
Sprague mansion 1t does not matter much. how
sYer. for rooms are alike
n ne STR
ger One chooses at random, knowing the right
BY way Of stunted han which contains iioveity
in the way Of fish pond The walls of the big
ceiling design being particularly elaborate. There
sideboard of OAK ana mantel wonderful1y carved
out of the same material a bay window separated
the he1 effect There IS nothing IN surpng bo9f oafs the he
breakfast room which adioins.
4 step two and ones feet clatter the red
want of a more Obvious name In the centre lU
fountain is spouting surrounding fringe OF
palms
Then one goes into long reception room. which
hostered in old gold There is one piece Of par
goS ap and t9gPed 8 Eia t bsus aFsf a @ sab s 1t is Is
move it every time they clean house.
The music room is the most interesting Of all 1t
was first built. The second Mrs. sprague had it
Sons over covered with hand pa painted canvas The
crimson sunsets and silvery moons; the border to
busy over their various instruments There is a
large canvas of ex-governor Sprague mounted on
his favorite horse also full length portraits Of his
first wife and his widow.
A fortune must have been spent the hall and
main staircase. 1t runs to the top of the house,
with q balcony the second floor. II is finished
entirely in polished oak, hand carved and panelled.
It leads four floors, on which there are no less
than forty-seven bedrooms. Many of these have
frescoed walls, and all are quantity furnished.
There is large library, with walls literally COW
Mr.. Collier occupies a suite Of four rooms run
ming the entire length Of the south side of the
house Mrs Golfers apartment is on the third
floor where the ceilings unusually high. The
rooms are well lighted, simply furnished and
finished in cherry
There are i've hundred acres IN the estate much
Of which is well parked The neat stone stable Is
not large enough TO accommodate all the Collier
horses, and most of the polo ponies are quartered
st the Country Club.