The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-16
AMERICAS NEW COUNTRY LIFE
REASONS WHY TT rs GROWING
MORE IN FAVOR.


Gust ON Now Being Followed Here
NEWPORT, X. l., Aug, Is. The majorit,
OF the social set most conspicuous herr
own homes in the country In addition 4
the houses they possess in Newport Other
who rent villas here also own countr,
estates that may include hundreds o
acres.
The love of country life, combined will
the great increase OF wealth in this country
has brought into existence many beautiful
country estates. The tendency amonl
wealthy Americans TO have fine places il
the country grows stronger every day
and such places are springing up every
where. A quarter Of a century ago the
homes Of the rich along the banks OF th'
Hudson River were unique feature o
life about the metropolis Now every
great city has it's beautiful country homes
scattered through the territory about 1t
Then there are such places as Lenox ano
Bar Harbor, where homes are owned by
residents of distant cities.
These estates are, according to tn,
present arrangement Of The social calendar
seldom occupied by their owners for more
than a few weeks OF every year.
The New York sea son lasts from tn,
middle Of December which is very
liberal view, the first Of the month being
probably more accurate statemenl~untl
March. OF the beginning Of Lent Their
comes the South until the end of March
and by the middle Of April those persons
who do not 20 abroad enjoy the spring
months in The country
But many owners of these places go regl'
Iarly TO Europe in the spring, returning
toward the end Of July for the six weeks
or The month of the Newport season that
re mains From the beginning OF Oct ODER
until the Horse Show the season for the
country houses is Oh.
TL"ar two IN JntlIs have come TO seem TO
the oMn,rs OF many OF these places abou I
the n.cst attractive OF the year Country
ire is i. lgjsh. aud there is that glorious
social precedent Cor all persons who desire
Ia live il h" country.
English society has no such spot for
am annual show a. Newport. no re-
sort where it can gather to- let the rest of
The world see it. The eXclusiveness OF
its own homes is the atmosphere to which
English society retires after London Is
abandoned. Such parade as Newport
life has como to be is known in fact, in
no other country.
The English go to the Continental spas
and seaside resorts, but Homburg, AK
les Bains, Trouville and Ostend are very
democratic PLACES in comparison with
Newport. 1t is to such places that for
~ e., 80 Ia
kind that the tripper enjoys But the
social phases of summer life they enjoy
indoors and in the home of some friend,
at that.
The French country houses of society
are filed from the time the season in
Paris ends in the spring until il begins
again in the winter And the same is
true Of the homes of persons Of veal tn
and position in Germany and Austria
There will be short visits to the watering
places for health or pleasure; but the real
life Of society is at home.
Nobody acquainted with country life
here and abroad could be persuaded that
the European country homes, with the
exception of England, are to be compared
in comfort and resource with those built
here within recent years. Ingenuity can
not suggest anything TO make life delight
full that has not been provided in these
places.
Typical OF the opportunities that these
places provide is the country home Of one
millionaire. He occupies it longer than
most owners Of beautiful country estates
occupy theirs He can entertain forty
persons without eXhausting all the facilities
Of the household.
The single men usually sleep in casino
r.. F. - To- sl,k
Turkish bath, with one expert masseuT
who does nothing else, swimming tank
fifty feet long by thirty wide. and gym
nasium, perfectly equipped for exercise
aud also used as the fencing room. IL is
also supplied with a shower bath and
rooms for dressing that possess every
convenience to be thought of
In a secluded par. Of the grounds. sur
rounded by trees and a high brick wall is
an open air swimming pool to be used whel
the weather ia warm enough. This poo
is surrounded with an imitation beach
made Of sand so deeply laid about the water
that one can enjoy a sand bath in the sun.
There are a racetrack on which the owner
runs his horses, a golf course as {
matter of course, tennis courts, dirt ant
turf, ont Of doors and also under cover
where on rainy days it is possible to play
on a gravel court, Horses are numerous
enough for the needs of all the guests who
may he at the house, and they are at tn,
disposal Of anybody who wants them.
Three times week during the autumn
here are hunts. And all these advantages
are TO be enjoyed in a country as beautiful
as nature ever designed, although it i
within easy reach Of New York. Thu
owner mas made the journey in his auto
mobile in less than an hour and half.
II is not, of course, difficult TO find guest
Tor such home as this, Guests are al
ways there Some come for month
others for a night.
Under all circumstances there are as manl
AS the host and his wife want, and they ar
not compelled o associate with anybody tn
do not desire TO know.
In this same region are the homes o
other wealthy New Workers.. They keel
their houses full. and there is s,lfYicien
society OF the kind that these country
tlwelers desire,
And all their pleasures are accomplish,
without publicity or ost entation so far a
he rest of the world Is concerned Per
sons living in this way are never made tn
victims of others trying to climb up to thei
social heights, nor are they forced TO NEE
people who have managed to get into tn
social set they belong to through the In
strumentality OF other person not 30 I'm
compromising as themselves as to matter
of social eIclusiveness.
This is the kind of life that is coming +
appeal more strongly year after year l.
Americans rich enough to do what theyiwar
to do without having to think Of what
may cost. This is the kind of existeno
that will be the downfall OF this summe
city in case it ever does lose its presmineno,
Life at Newport is altogether on the surfac,
Everything in the way of social diversio
takes place in plain view of the world. Tn
Casino which ia the centre of life is the snf