Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-15
A Society Wonan's $
$5OO,OOO Gym
nasiHn,

Mrs. John Jacob Astor, the beautiful
wife of the millionaire, who is well
known In New York and London society,
has probably the most perfectly appointed
private gymnasium in the world. This
palace of Games" as 1t has been called
was built expressly by Colonel Astor foI
his wife, at their Rheinbeck- on the-Hud
son estate, and commands the most beau.
tiful scenery.
1t has taken nearly three years 10 com
plete, costing IN material and labor alone
close on half million dollars. Mrs. As
tor young, beautiful, the leader OF the
-Four Hundred" and almost as well
known in English society, is an expert al
all kinds OF athletics, and there are few
of her country women who can match hei
In swimming diving, fencing. tennis.
golf. skating, riding and driving.
'Ferncliffe," the country home OF the
American Astors, though one of the Oldest
houses on the Hudson. possesses little of
that magnihcence which one usually as ,
sociates with American millionaires, but
II commands one OF the most superb
views of the world.
The 'Tennis House, as Mrs Astor pre-.
fers to call the gymnasium. has been
built at a slightly lower altitude than
the house in order that this magnificent
view might not be obstructed.
The group of buildings which go TO
make up the "Tennis House." is shaped
like a T. the stem of the letter being
formed by the great steel arched tennis
court. The entrance hall, or "Restlng
Hail." as 1t is quantity called, is a mag
nificent apartment lofty and spacious, the
walls as well as the Corinthian columns
which support the roof being of the finest
white marble. From the central panel of
the roof hangs wonderful electrolier OF
gilt, containing a thousand electric bulbs,
which illumine the hall In a most dazzling
manner From the white walls spring
other electroliers which add TO the brill
liancy of a light which might, perhaps,
be painful were 1t not that each electric
bulb is beautifully modulated In color and
shade Innumerable double doors OF
French glass face each other on every
side The fireplace is IL feet high and
wide in proportion, so that 10 or dozen
people could hide themselves In its cav
ernous depths.
The mantel is superbly carved marble
and came from some ancient palace OF
Rome. The furniture is In red plush and
leather and extremely massive, one couch
being big enough TO accommodate is per-
sons. The floor is inlaid with maple
wood, and when the floor is cleared for
dancing 1t will accommodate 300 couples.
In tile eastern wing is the plunge" or
pool, where guests may swim and dive to
the hearts content. The walls of this
remarkable swimming bath are of white
marble, the plate glass roof being sup
ported by huge monoliths Of the finest
quarried marble.
The pool is 25 feet wide, go feet long
and IA feet deep at the deepest end, shall
lowing OFF to three feet at the eastern ex-
tremity. The water is pumped direct from
the Hudson River, and though there are
elaborate arrangements for heating to any
temperature, both Mrs. Astor and her
guests prefer, in mild weather at least.
the water as it comes direct from the
river By touching button the depth of
the pool may be instantly regulated and,
If desired, emptied entirely within few
minutes. The plunge is surrounded by n
gallery, where visitors may watch the
aquatic sports, which are one of the fea-
lures of the entertainments at Ferncllfre
during each season.
from tne pooi u uOOr leauS 10 tne mas
sage-rooms, furnished with slabs of pol
ished marble and presided over by skilled
operators, while nearby are the ladies'
and gentlemen's dressing g-rooms, each fur.
nished in as perfect a manner as thought
and money can devise Returning to tue
resting hall" one passes through another
door and immediately steps upon a hal-
cony which overlooks the tennis court
probably the most perfect indoor court of
the, kind in America. 1t is two stories
high, 125 feet long and 10 feet wide. The
roof Is arched like cathedral, and from
the big skylight comes all the iilumina-
tion the players require. At midday
when the sun pours down through the
roof-whlch can be opened to the sky
curtains of cheesecloth are drawn so that
the players eyes are protected.
The flooring is of beaten clay, which Is
believed to be far less tiring to the feet
than asphalt, and the courts are marked
with ordinary whitewash. On either side
of the net are benches for the players,
but the spectators are expected to keep
to the balcony Mrs Astor Is one Of the
best amateur tennis players In America,
and she spends considerable portion OF
her time at the nets