The sun., 1904-06-19
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.
MISS BEATRIN JONES THE FIRST
WOMAN IN THE FIELD.

Now Three Other YOupg Women Of Good
Social Position Are Following Her
Example-A Growing Demand for
Them In Laying Out Country Estates.
what one woman has done another
may do said Miss Beatrix Jones just
before sailing from this port few days
ago.
Miss Jones was going to Europe for a
rest. She looked as if she needed rest.
"Since early April" she explained, Il
have not spent day AT home, and ] have
slept oftener on trains than elsewh here.
My work has called me 10 widely separated
points of the Middle and New England
States, and In order to save time usually
travelled at night
the distinction OF having been the first
woman landscape architect in this part
OF the world. Comparatively speaking,
landscape architecture Ia an untried field
for women.
Land rich but money poor, owners Of
large estates in the old days did their own
surveying and issued orders to workmen,
who needed to know little more than how
to handle a spade and pick. But things
are very different now
In these days the creating Of a country
estate is a pet hobby with many rich men
who have piled up a fortune amid environ
1nents OF bricks and mortar and crowded
city streets. Az means to an end they
buy up acre after acre OF unimproved land
erect a mansion and set about maxim
the wilderness blossom as the rose.
To do this they need Il lot OF help from
specialists; for as a New York florist pointed
out, the modern millionaires estate must
include brook and lake. sheltered glades
and sunny open terraces and cleverly slniu-
lated perspectives, no matter how mig
<lStv hoH-6 h<aat m n
dowment of those particular acres. Art,
in fact, is now relied upon much more than
nature in the making OF a modern estate.
"The style Of landscape architecture
and Of landscape gardening is changing:
years" said the florist. "The fashion now
Is to copy the Italian style Of garden.
plans OF the most famous gardens of the
Old World, or at least pictures OF them, are
brought over here and put into the hands
OF landscape architects, who are expected
to reproduce them, even to foliage which
il not indigenous to this country. case
OF this kind is the George Gould place at
Lakewood. which Is laid out after the Italian
style; ,,,.
Of course followed in every detail the
plans of the landscape architect. Nine
thousand small evergreen trees were used
alone to border the walks there and beauti-
full contrasts OF light and shade were made
and plants.
1T Is seldom on big estate that a gar
dener or florist Is asked to submit plans
for beautifying the landscape. That is
the work OF an architect. I never heard
though, OF q woman Landscape architect
There are very few people, 1t seems.
who are any better informed about women
landscape architects than this florist The
New York business directory does not con-
tain one name Of either woman landscape
l,pA m r..
and none of the men landscape architects
Of New York seems ever to have heard OF
any woman IN the business other than
Mis- Jones What pu1aies some q tee1- =
Caeiwuhdsr Jones a this city. and blest
with plenty Of means. should want to try
her hand at any sort Of work at all.
There are three other young women
qualify as landscape architects. One is
Miss Marian Coffin. niece Of Col BenJa,,
min F. Church and descendent Of several
history making heroes OF America
Miss Conn was formally introduced to
society few years ago at the house
of her uncle in West Twelfth street. She
is young woman one can more easily
imagine ornamenting drawing room,
than seriously trying to master the de-
tails Of money making occupation.
Boston and Miss Elizabeth leighton Lee
OF Germantown, Pa, both of whom are well
known in fashionable circles. All three,
like Miss Jones are taking a four years
course at the Massachusetts, Institute OF
Technology.
mo, I hardly think one can take this
particular course in New York replied
Miss Jones in answer to question. Ever
since got my first contract about six years
ago. I have been deluged repeatedly with
as to how and why and when took up
the work, and women from everywhere
come every now and then, take possession
Of the parlor and insist upon seeing me
personally for advice and information.
MY secretary is kept busy at times an
people never heard Of before. Strange
to say, lots OF these persons seem to think
that 7 can give them instructions In one
letter or in few minutes talk which will
equip them to 90 ahead and 40 the work
am now doing.
aWhen l tell them that worked hard
at dry details for five years before got my
first order, they act as II they didn't be-
aMr. Edgar Scott, a neighbor of ours
country place, was my first customer. His
estate at Bar Harbor is one OF the finest on
the Maine coast and some people think his
villa, called Chiltern, is the most beautiful
at that place.
From another source it was learned that
when Miss Jones took hold OF Chiltern 1t
was a pretty hopeless looking bit Of land
scape. whereas now it Ia one Of the most
beautiful at Bar Harbor. She had carte
blanche, and until her task was completed
she had in her employ about one hundred
men, whom she personally directed in rain
or shine. tramping about in ell sorts OF
weather from point to point.
Her first venture led to many other i'm
portant pieces Of work, until it has come
10 pass that Miss Jones, when In need of
rest and relaxation must cross the ocean
THE work is not easy-in fact, call it
hard work for a woman" Miss Jones said in
answer to a question. at means much
bodily fatigue as well as mental labor.
sOften in order to keep my engagements
I travel at night and spend most Of my
days driving and walking long distances
over much rough ground. Then IT is not
always easy to get workmen who will carry
out ones plans and to get the work done at
the time named.
a landscape architect must work hard
II she would succeed. but when she does
succeed her work is we'll paid"
When Frank Marion Wright. land
scape architect. was asked his opinion OF
whether women could or would be success
full in that field OF work, he answered:
"Why not? / think / have always been
rather surprised that women did not take
more eagerly to pursuits which brought
them into close relations with horticulture
and Horticulture; been surprised that there