The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-27

From the New York Snu
T1WO miles south of Miami, Fla, on a
high bluff overlooking picturesque
L Blscayne bay, is the site chosen by
William Jennings Bryan for his winter
home. The name by which this home will
be known is villa Serena.
From the entrance to the main drive
way the house is hidden by a Jungle of
tropical trees. 1t is approached by wind
ing drive of several hundred yarts. As
villa Serena looms into view you think
that you have suddenly been transported
into Spain or Cuba
The house is of old Spanish archtec-
ture and its foundation is even with the
ground The entire building is made of
cement and is rooted with green tile. Ac-
cording to the Spanish custom, it is de-
signed with the idea of obtaining as much
seclusion as possible From the center of
the house on beth sides to the edge of
the Bryan property is a high stone wall,
cutting off an view of the front and the
bay.
Like tropical Spanish homes, Villa Sc
rena is built ON three sides OF an open
court, in the center of which is foun-
tain. The fourth side of the court is in
closed by a high, solid board fence, with
gates in the center A large old English
is the only part of the house which Is not
Spanish. In the right side of the wall
is small opening through which visit
ors may be inspected before being admit
ted
If you should visit the house just now,
instead of seeing beautiful plants around
the fountain and in the hooks of the court
you would find vegetable garden. If you
should ask why radishes and lettuce
should be planted there, the caretaker
would tell you that it was Secretary
Bryan's private garden, planted by him.
self. The radishes are nearly gone, and
| If he does not return soon he will not be
able to enjoy the fruits of his agricul-
tural labors.
| The house itself is nearly completed, and
a fair idea can be formed of what it will
be like when it is ready for occupancy.
The living room is entered from the court
through long paneled glass doors. The
room, which has three divisions, runs the
entire length of the building, which is so
| feet long and IS feet wide 1t is divided
into three sections by two sets of two pill
lars.
| The floors are finished with inlaid Span
ish tiles. which were ordered by Mr.. Bryan
from Cuba. The colors shade from a light
buff to a dark brown At each end Of
the room are fireplaces, and the mantels
are made of carved white marble. All the
mantels were brought by Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan from Washington.
| The north section of the room will
be used the dining room. In the west
wall of the dining room is a built in
built In the wall. This will be used to
contain the silver and other valuables of
the Bryans.
| Back of the dining room buffers pam
try separates it from the well equipped
kitchen. West of the kitchen is the stor-
age room. Both of these rooms face the
court from the north
| The other wing of the house, which
| faces the court from the south, contains
Mrs. Bryan's bedroom and the garage. The
| bedroom opens from the west side of the
southern division of the large front room.
The floors are covered with Spanish tiles
Of drab color. A private bath is attached
and back of the bedroom is the garage.
! Two stone stairways lead from the
baths. The south bedrooms are built like
those on the north side with the exception
of the tiles, which are brown and white,
and the front room has mantel of carved
block vein Tennessee marble.
| The house faces the east and Biscayne
bay. There are pretty pergolas at both
ends Of the front The pergalos will be
covered with running roses and soon take
on a very attractive appearance.
There is no furniture in the house yet.
but somewhere on the Atlantic ocean is a
steamer loaded with furniture made more
than 100 years ago in South America which
will be used in furnishing the winter
home OF Secretary and Mrs. Bryan.
The land surrounding the Bryan home