The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-14

| SIR THOMAS Upton IN HIS AMERICA
AUTO.
| noted modern artists. Usually his ia
vorite fowling piece leans against one
wall, while coach. whips and crops are
| also noticeable. One side of the room
is nearly filled with q library which
comprises not only works by kipline
and Doyle and other authors of today.
but the standard English poets, while
the names of several American writer's
are also conspicuous.
The grounds of Osidge embrace
about $50 acres, and a considerable
portion of this is devoted to the raising
of grain, vegetables and hay for the
horses, but one of the best golf links
in Great Britain has been laid off.
the mansion have been treated by an
expert landscape gardener. From both
the front and rear porches stretch
away broad lawns bordered with flow
er beds and shrubbery, while statuary
and vases containing Towering plants
cluded some American ideas in beauti-
flying the grounds, and they do not
have the primness which is so often
noted in England. although they are
kept in perfect condition. But few
steps from the house itself are the hot
houses four in number, where not only
vegetables, but flowers for winter dec
Grafton. are raised in abundance Over
an acre is also devoted to what is
called the summer flower garden,
where can be seen not only English,
but American, blooms developed almost
to perfection by the expert horticultur-
list who is in charge. +s
Yet with all the beauty and grandeur
of 0sidge and its surroundings there is
something lacking. It is after all only
bachelors quarters
In the hothouses where the Upton
orchids are fast becoming the finest in
England the blossoms bloom and with
er and least their sweetness on the
desert air. for the gardener to sniff
Not any of them are gathered by soft
hands that enhance their value by ar
rangement throughout the rooms of
the mansion. There is no ripple Of
laughter in the corridors, no rustic of
silk on the stairs. By no chance does a
carelessly discarded glove spoil the
contour of a silk upholstered chair or q
lacy parasol hide its head beneath the
sofas cushions. The atmosphere at
Osidge lacks the palpitating stir which
denotes the presence feminine, and one
wonders how splendid might be the
entertainments in this masculine man
sion IL such one as Sir Thomas would
choose should supply the touch that is
missing.
But perhaps after Sir Thomas has
won the Americas cup, which is Just
now his chief ambition. he may sur
render to some one of the myriads of
girls who storm the Upton citadel.
which is garrisoned by one who is
courtier to all. but sutton to none. Zone
thing at time" has been his lifelong
motto, and the one thing now is the
lifting of the cup" Although his
name has been associated with several
titled women who have been men
toned as the future mistresses of Os-
idge, he is still .sheart whole and fancy
free" and so he seems inclined to re-
main. This fact, however. does not
bar the women from visiting his coun.
try seat, and at the frequent house par
ties which are given some of the most
noted sports women are usually among
the guests.
Since the era of the automobile Sir
Thomas has used his touring car and
funabout in going to and from business
over the smooth highway which ey-
tends from Southgate to London.
Osidge. however, is one of his coun-
try seats. He has another at Enfield,
embracing 500 acres mainly of wood
land, which is used as hunting pre-
serve.
While Sir Thomas Upton is world
traveller and is familiar with every
part of Great Britain and many parts
of America, the quiet surroundings Of
Southgate best suit his tastes. Here
he delights to gather about him COM
pany OF congenial people, and happy
Is the man or woman who is hidden to
osIdge. ALBERT RANSOM.