Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-05
THE BERKSHIRE HILLS
Several of the Most Beautiful
Towns in the World.
RESORTS OF THE WEALTHY
Numerous Costly Homes to Be Found
Here and There.
PALACE AT GREAT HARRINGTON
Memorial Edifices Built by the Widow
of Mark Hopkins-Scarcity Of
Domestic Help.
PALACE AT GREAT HARRINGTON
BY WILLIAM <. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
RecOrd-Herald.
P1TTSF1ELD, Mass, August g. 1907.
The capital Of the Berkshires, with the
exception Of a thousand acres, was once
tn, property of Jacob Wendell, the -reat-
grandfather of Oliver Wendell Holmes. and
the great-great-grandfathe of Justice
Holmes of the United States Supreme
Court. He started frontier hamlet in
1749 named Pontoosuck, which was incor-
porated with its present name in honor of
the prime minister of England in April,
1851 1t was the fifth town to be incor-
porated in Berkshire county, and the names
of them are all English. After the revolu-
ton the nomenclature shows a patriotic
tinge and the names of Hancock. Adams,
Lee, Otis, Dalton and Washington and
other leaders of the revolution were written
upon the map.
Pittsfield Is the center Of large section
of mountains and valleys given up to seek
ers after health and pleasure 1t Is sur
rounded by several of the most beautiful
towns in the world and its elevation of more
than 1000 feet above tide-water with other
typographical. meteorological and geological
features give it many attractions and ad-
vantages that are not enjoyed by other
parts of the world 1t Is a country OF
homes rather than hotels, however. al
though there are adequate and luxurious
accommodations for the travelling public.
The local prejudice is against big hotels
and crowds of transients and excursionists
would be likely to disturb the tranquility
and the dignity of the Berkshires.
The little city Of Pittstield and the neigh
and culture. The public buildings and pri-
vate residences are Of high order of ar
chitecture, and the average Of wealth
among the people here is above that of
nrfjn nf ha
is a beautiful library building and art gal
lery, and a museum given by Mr.. Zenas
Crane of Dalton, who also founded home
for aged women. There are many evidences
of public spirit but what is more attrac-
tive are the stately homes which line sew
eral of the principal streets. shaded by
rs of eims whose branches touch over
the roadway and form continuous arbors
Each house has large grounds kept with
care but without ostentation, and any man
of taste who comes here will at once recog-
nize that he Is in the midst of highly
educated and prosperous community.
The former residence of Oliver Wendell
Holmes and the ancestral seat of his fam
lily, which stands on the edge of the town.
Is now the property of Mr.. William Pollock
Of New York, who occupies 1t a summer
home and Ia very amiable in his reception
Of visitors who come out OF curiosity. An
old pine tree under which DR.. Holmes is
said to have written a good deal Of his
literary work still stands as a landmark.
Where Longfellow Courted.
The Plunkett homestead, where Long
fellow courted and married Miss Appleton.
and where he wrote THE Old Clock on the
Stairs" remains just as he described It,:
Somewhat back from the village street
Stands the old fashioned country seat
The ho-- of Senator Dawes also remains
as he left it and Is occupied by his daugh-
ter, Miss Anna Dawes. who Is now busily
engaged in editing his correspondence for
publication.
Facing the common stands the First Con-
gregational Church founded in 1861 by
lighting person ea,s Tho Alle WHOSE 1S sal
ute men of Berkshire to Bennington and
carried a gun to help John Stark protect
the supplies of the revolutionary army from
British raiders. He occupied that pulpit
from 1861 to 1910, and it was his only pas
torate, one year short Of a half century.
His influence made a profound and lasting
impression upon this community. From
1912 to 1872 that pulpit was occupied by the
Rev. John Todd. whose lectures to young
men should be read by every generation.
His Index Rerum and Students Manual
used to be an Indispensable part of every
college boys outfit, but unfortunately the
freshman OF this generation takes a greater
interest in the standing of the base ball
teams and the records of the athletes. and
has very little time or disposition to study
the advice of a philosopher who understood
the minds and tendencies of youth more ac-
curately than most instructors.
Incoming Of Foreign Laborers.
There is a great deal Of complaint that
Pittsfield is getting too many factories and
Is doing too much business; that the town
is growing too fast and that too many for
eigners are being added to the population.
The recent growth has been very rapid.
There are now more than go different
manufacturing Industries In the city, en-
ploying more than 5000 persons, and new
enterprises which attract labor are being
continually established.
Practically all the working element IN
this part Of the country Is foreign-born.
The sons and daughters Of New England
no longer furnish the labor for the mills:
they are too highly educated and too pros
porous to go out to service, and In thu
country towns 1t is almost impossible to OBJ
laundry work done. In the hotels and
boarding houses and in many private sum-
mer homes throughout this part Of the
country the help Is either brought from the
cities or is composed of young women and
men who are working their way through
college and seek such positions only for
studies. We have no permanent servant
class in this country. as they have in Eng
land. Over there domestic service Is rec
ognized as an honorable vocation for which
1t is often hereditary. But here it is only
a makeshift until something better can be
obtained. The disposition of the American
young man is to study law medicine or
get clerical position, while young wom-
an in New England would rather work for
small wages in a factory and live In a COM
fortress tenement than sweep and dust and
make up the beds in q home Of luxury.
AS l was saying. Pittst1eld Is becoming a
manufacturing town, much to the displeas-
ure of the summer residents. although the
local trade has increased and the mer-
chants are much more prospectus than ever
before The latest enterprise Is the es-
tAhlishment OF branch Of the General