The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-09-10


also dwelt upon his relationship to the great
Napoleon, or Napoleon the Great, which is q
different way of expressing the same thing
While much has been published about Mr..
Bonaparte in the connection mentioned, little
or nothing has been said OF him as farmer. -
This may or may not have been gratifying to
him, for modesty is one Of his virtues and
perhaps he preferred that one feature Of his
busy life should be withheld from the lime
light. Though Mr.. Bonaparte is modest, he
has never been accredited with being especial
ly thin-skinned, and he has not gotten ''sore''
with persons who have differed with him. He
criticises whenever hegets good and ready, and
is broad enough to realize that the same privi-
lege he enjoys should be accorded to others.
He smiles satirically, and hobs his head with
satisfaction when his political opponents get
after him. for he loves scrap" of that kind.
He rubs bis hands IN glee at the prospect Of .
tilt with other legal talent in court Of law.
He listens with delight to the shafts that are
thrust at him as ref0rmer in anticipation of
the pleasure of hitting back. He resents none
of these things, but to reflect upon him as
farmer" would really hurt bis feelings.
Mr. Bonaparte owns more farms in different
parts of the State than the proverbial poor
man has children, but there is one that is his
special joy and pride. 1t is in what is called
Long Green Valley, and is part of the oriRi.
nal Lambert Cuttings estate II Is Mr.. Bona
parties summer home. In fact, he lives there
seven months in the year. going out in May
and returning to his town house. at Park
avenue and Centre street. the first of Decem-
Der. The name of Mr.. Bonaparte's place il
Bella Vista beautiful view).n That Il ia an.
propriately called every visitor will admit.
For some years Mr.. Bonaparte had coun-
try home at Roland Park called Chestnut
po eef es PISS plpaf baE b finally dis
building up too rapidly. He wanted to get
away from the trolley and other signs Of the
Long Green Valley. The purchase was made
from Mr.. William II. Bosley, who in turn,
had secured the property from the Lambert
Cuttings estate. The place is on the Hartford
road. and is midway between TowsOn and Bel
air, and about 10 miles from each town and Is
miles from Baltimore. In selecting bis site
Mr.. Bonaparte was anxious for an unobstruct-
ed view, and he got it. His house stands on an
eminence, and from the porches the country
can be seen for miles around on every side
Glen-Arm, on the Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania Railroad (old Narrow Guage,) is Mr..
Bonaparte's station, and from there the drive
to the house is about two and one half miles.
The route is over country roads until the Har-
ford pike is reached. A fine view of the place
is to be had from the pike. One notices white.
washed fences that divide all the fields and q
general air of trimness prevails. The house is
on the crest of hill, with small expanse of
lawn around 1t and field of growing corn near
by. In this respect Mr.. Bonaparte's summer
abode is unlike the country places of most men
of means. The latter 60 in usually for the or
namental. and like velvety lawns, trees and
shrubbery, but not corn field. Such view
destroys their idea of the aesthetic, but not 30
with Mr.. Bonaparte. He Is farmer" and
he doesn't care who knows it. He Is surround
ed by all the things that stamp him as tiller
of the soil and an advocate Of agricultural pur-
suits.
Mr.. Bonaparte'e house is built of Virginia
shingles and is in Colonial style, with white
porches in circular form nearly the entire dis
stance around it. Hand-carving is feature Of
the scroll and ornamental work. A great at.
traction of the interior is the reception. hall,
which runs the entire width of the house from
north to south. The flooring is of hardwood.
highly polished. and the walls are paneled in
oak. The ceiling is supported in the centre BY
columns, and to each side are the doors to other
apartments, with the circular effect observed
on the inside as well as exterior Of the man.
sion. The reception-hall is furnished with
sofas and divans upholstered in tapestry, and
there are easy chairs. standing lamps, piano
and an old-fashioned spinning wheel, besides
several centre tables. The reception-room and
dining-room are on the left, and the library
and Study on the right of the entrance, and
to one side is an oaken stairway. The second
floor has an interior balcony in the form of an
alcove. Some of the furniture in the bedrooms
is of mahogany and in Colonial designs, and
the rest is modern. Among the guests apart
ments green. pink, !" yellow and
corresponding.
Pictures OF the Bonaparte family are to be
found in all the apartments. There are several
of the original Napoleon, as well as one or two
buets of him. Among the pictures in the al
cove is one Of Napoleon III. and his wife, the
l. III
of the grande danes Of France. In the study"
Ithers lis -nhoto0ranh of Co. Jerome, Bona.
at West Point, where Colonel Bonaparte re.
ceived his early military training, though he
later entered the French Army fora while. In
fact, one cannot 90 to Bella Vista without re-
alizing that Mr., Bonaparte is fond Of having
the pictures OF those in whom he is or has
been interested around him. Among the pho.
tographs given prominent places are those of
Cardinal Gibbons, DR.. Deniel G. Gilman and
Whittier, the poet.
While Mr.. Bonaparte's friends who visit
him usually 60 from Baltimore by train, he
rarely travels by that method himself. Every
week day, with the occasional exception of Sat-
urday, he drives the Is miles to and from his
law Office in this city. He makes an early
start in the morning. but he rises with the lark.
He is up every morning at $50 o'clock, takes q
look over the place and writes down his orders
for the day, breakfasts. and Is ready to leave
",
composed of Ticoe and Trottle, he can make
the distance at the rate Of q mile in five min
utes up bill and down. With the other teams
be requires six minutes to the mile. and when
the roads are heavy little more. His favorite
vehicle is yellow surrey, and he Is always
driven by his colored coachman. While be is
fond of blooded stock and keeps only good
horses, he rarely handles the ribbons himself.
In return for rising with the lark, Mr.. Bona
parte retires with the chickens. He turns in
every night at o'clock.
Mr.. Bonaparte has surrounded himself at
Bella Vista with every modern convenience
for up-to-date farming" He has q capable
manager for his place and be keeps large
force of hands" Everything indicates per-
feet system and order. His residence is sup
piled with running water and gas, and his cat
tie, his horses, his fine flock of Southdown
sheep, his hogs, his poultry. and even his dogs,
are all provided with shelter Of uniform archi-
lecture. In the stable near the mansion for
the pleasure and light draft horses there are
rooms for the grooms and men employed
about the house and grounds. There is also q
dairy with all Of the latest appliances. Mr..
Bonaparte's manager lives in the original LAM
bert Cuttings house, which is at the foot of the
hill upon which Bella Vista is erected;
Although Mr.. B0naparte has the blood OF
kings in his veins, hisgrandfather having been
Jerome Bonaparte, King of Westphalia, there
is no man with greater dread of snobbishness
than himself, and, in order to spare his feel.
ings, no further reference to his distinguished
ancestry will be made in this brief description
of the farm" Mr.. and Mrs. Bonaparte live
quietly at Bella Vista, and frequently they are
without house guests at all, but visitors are
always cordially received.
w
Mr.. Bacon Entertains the League Board
Mr.. Lewis M. Bacon, president of the East
paNlmuae ~ 49, 1880 ~. Mn.sS. -. =.