New-York tribune., 1903-03-08
GRAY CRAIG.
NEW HOME FOR MIR AND MRS,
MITCHELL CLARK AT NEWPORT.

MITCHELL CLARK AT NEWFOEA4"
Mr. and Mrs. J. Mitchell Clark, of this city,
are building an italian house at Newport II
lies three miles beyond the centre OF the city
and at least two from the last row OF hle
houses those that border the Cliff Walk
mile to the east OF Eastons Beach and back
half a mile from the junction of Purgatory ana
Paradise roads, Mr.. C1aTk's new house rises
among rocky little hills, to look out over fore
ground of lake, promOntory, sandy shoFe ano
unbroken ocean. In that part Of the islano
where nature is widest it looks already, before
# is finished as If it had been standing many
hundreds Of years.
The stone il almost black, and the mortar
used has been darkened to match it. The re
yuIt is a building that already looks hoary
with age, a castle taken bodily, settings ana
all, out of the traditional past and set down
in the modern city of Newport. The estate
Epon which it Is building is the former tarn
Of O H P Belmont, Gray Craig, and the pud-
ding stone that everywhere crops out OF the
soil has been made use of in the construction.
Rv this means the architect. Abner ]. Haydel,
.be man who designed Castle Gould on Long
Island has been able to make it appear almost
as if the castle were part of the land about IT,
Last April the work began, and some time this
si,rine, it will be completed. Every step taken
las either been directed by Mr.. and Mrs. Clark
or followed by them with the keenest interest.
They have spent many hours each day for
1,onths suggesting original ideas or listening to
suggestions from the workers. The masons
we're especially proud Of their task, and after
they had been taught how to lay the mortar to
give the building an appearance Of age they
negan to devise means by which they could
add half a century or more of age to the looks
Of the walls and towers.
Mrs. Clark is herself an artist, and the re-
suits of her skill are shown in many ways about
Gray Craig. The Italian gardens back OF the
castle have been her especial field There early
in the work she went out day and with
sharp stick drew maze Of graceful curves
each detail a finished desigr-and had her gar
dener I'LL in her lines with box and variety
OF tees and plants. In the centre are Italian
urns and bordering the maze are rhOdoGen-
drons and several kinds Of spruce. juniper and
yew trees.
In tfeir travels through Europe and particu-
Iarly through Italy. Mp. and Mrs Clark col
Iected many beautiful pieces Of statuary and en-
tablature, which they using to adOFn
the house and it's surroundings Bass reHefs and
medalliOns taken from the catacombs of Rome
have been cemented into the walls OF the build
ings here and there. The old keystones in the
Gothic arches at the base Of the sixty-hve-foot
tower under which the main entrance to the
castle is gained were also imported from Italy.
Along at the other end OF the front there Is
near the loggia and imbedded In the face of the
wall a curious ornament, the device of the work
men themselves. It is made to represent a
wreath Of yellow flowers eneircling horseshoe
which is held in place by nail driven beneath
the riddle Of the cure. An old Della Rebbia
"sopra porta' will surmount a door opening on
the terrace. Nearby will be a beautiful old Ital-
ian fountain and four life sized marble statues
typifying the seasons.
The countryside Is rich In Indian legends, and
Mr. Clark has secured piece Of statuary, the
work of a French sculptor, which represents
,nnnr Indian rfrl citing down ana shading her