New-York tribune., 1905-01-22
DIR. WILLARD'S HOME.
His Summer SecIusion on an Estate
Like RuSkin'S.

E s. Willard is Of the few actors who
insist on drawing a sharp line between prores-
sionaI obligations and personal necessity. He
has made it a rule for years to put away the
business of the theatre when his season ends
and his vacation begins. He gets out Of the
atmosphere OF the playhouse and devotes him
self with enthusiasm to wholly contrasting in
terests. Perhaps of his brethren have so
ideal an existence in the vacation period: and
not many have so much to draw them from the
mimic scenes
Nine miles in a direct line from Charing Cross.
on a rise among the Surrey hills that COM
nands a view from Windsor to the towers of
Westminster Palace. ne has little estate OF
thirteen acres that is of the most charming
and picturesque bits in England. Buff House,
his home is a curiously attractive two story
house, white, in spite of it's name, vineclad in
parts and overarched at the front by one Of
the most beautiful of those superb cedars Of
Lebanon which the English delight to say were
introduced into their island by the early Cru
saders. Beyond the circular drive IS pretty
stretch OF level lawn. as close trimmed as the
pile of a velvet rug-the one ornamental feature
of which is ancient stone sundiaL A wide
walk leading down to the hedge that skirts
trembling meadow is bOrdered on either side
with every known variety Of English garden
flower. choice roses. Mr. Wizards especial
q
lish like to think there no roses equal to
theirs) One square of the garden Is defined
by a holly hedge, famous in Surrey for the mas
sive beauty that attests it's great age. Below
this a giant weeping ash makes a bower, under
the shelter of which chairs and benches invite
the master and his friends TO the refreshing IN
dolence of summer conversation. Through the
slant windows of the branches one may take
peeps over the panorama Of trees at distant
London lying along the hills. There are not
many tranquil scenes lovelier to the eye than
the view from Buff House, Banstead. The vii
lage is three miles from the station at which
! the fugitive from London alights. The visitor
reaches Mr. Willard's place by carriage.
The house within matches admirably with its
delightful surroundings of garden and land
scape. There is the refinement of taste In the
artistic treatment of every room. from the long
drawing room the quaint boudoir of the mis-
tress of the house. 1t is here that one easily
perceives that Mr. Willard is something more
than an actor 1t is evident that he is stu
dent of art and "a lover OF books and a gatherer
Of curios. Books there are in plenty-but not
the motley array Of the careless reader Dis
elimination has governed the collection. ana
every book is not only the work of a master in
his line but each is in rich and costly dress.
The one evidence of a prodigal use of money
that can be discovered N the editions de luxe
that grace the special cases and shelves. But
they are not for idle show. These are ror use
bv their owner who can quote by the page from
any one of them. 1t is probable that Mr. Willard
has a much finer and more complete collection
~ Tho works of Swinburne than the poet had
himself for Swiubune is the actors hobby.
Retired from the arduOus eXacttons or the
stage TO this ideal home. Mr. Willard is OF a
mind to forget that there are such things as
rIavs and plavers He abandOns himself JOY
ousIv to the pleasant task of being the free;
unfettered master OF a coseSt Wen T4uiPpeu g
estate for some untrouoled weeks ne Nss
with his gardener among the flower oedS-the
gardener who talks Of the "botanlcaI names
of the garden treasures that MT NlLaru Knows
better than he He spreads the net 10 guard
the reddening straw berries from room anu star
iine and thrush SO numerous among the shrub
and tree decked acres He bends with MS
pronged trowel to uproot the daisies that are
invading his lawn. He crops or onendins
branches from trees. he tears away ruthlesSiy
a prolific clemaus that threatens 10 choHe
laurel He busies himself in a hundred ways.
all pleasure giving. earning the right to sit az
noon in the drawing rOom with its black OAK
furniture and its benevolent table. Or II the
garden is something of an old story for a day.
he comes out booted and capped for a walk
down the lane, over stile and through a
erable churchyaFd with its crUmbling legendary
stones; across the downs, for plunge into
wood aglare with wild flowers; along road
with flower spangled hedge. that winds up and
down hill to a neighboring village, where the
legs of his companion ache for respite, ana
the throat gratefully welcomes "A mug or muSty
ale
In the evening books and music, travel and
the art of old towns OF the Continent are the
food of his fancy and the theme Of his con-
versation His days and nights are spent IN
this fashion, with occasional dash up 70
London TO make sure that the world is not all
made over into Virgilian Georgtas. But for
these tudicious dips into the rush OF the great
city n is probable MIR. Willard would give way
utterly 10 the often expressed inclination 20 re-
tire into rusticity. Any one who has enjoyed
the hospitality OF Bun House and orearheo N
she arssn FRESHNESS OF the garden IA IL snza-