The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-28
NE of the most original country
houses in America was recently
completed in Dosoris Park, L.
~, Loo pratt Its

J., by Herbert Lee Pratt. It's
construction has occupied three years.
Dosoris Park is at Glen Cove, the
centre Of the great Pratt estate. The
new house commands a view of the
Sound in three directions and 1t is
within easy distance from New York
by automobile, train or boat. 1t has
been designed with a view to much
entertaining: hence the matter of con-
venience to visitors is given first
among its attractions.
The Braes" IL the name by which
it will be known. What will most
strike the guest on approaching after
the first impressions of stately mag
niicence is the fact that there are
three main entrances, as If the visitor
might have a choice among them; but
this is not the case. The three en-
frances are designed for very distinct
and important uses. The formal one
is hardly to be mistaken. 1t leads to
an art gallery.
The next entrance is for the family
and leads direct to the living rooms.
The third is for the use of persons
arriving for evening entertainments.
Special dressing rooms are arranged
within for their convenience. just off
the state apartments.
No n outside of those directly on
cerned knows what the building has
cost, and the secret the owner inds
a pleasure in keeping closely guarded.
How large the sum expended was puz-
zles the brains of all who try to reach
even an approximate estimate. for
somehow it is an American trait to
measure all things in cost, and il is
something Mr.. Pratt has determined
resolutfly to ~circumVent. He Judges
rightly that there is enough about the
place to bewilder and amaze without
interfering the element of gold.
Above all Is the room from Rother-
was House. an English manor. which
has been ~transplantcd in all it's rich
hess to the Long Island shores. How
his was done forms in itself a roe
nance. 1t also forms a chapter of in.
genu!ty and skill, which perhaps has
had no parallel in the building of an
American family home.
Rotherwas House. famous for its
years and its magnificent appoint
ments, stood neal Hereford. For some
reason It's fittings, furniture and carv-
ings came into the market. II was
advertised widely that the Cd build ne
was TO be dismantled and its rich
adornments scattered. English dealers
were keen bidders at the sale, but Mr..
Pratt got what he wanted and his
agents bought in the best that was
offered. The gem was the dining room
the old ~bdnqueting hall of cavaliers.
the walnut room" as i, was called.
SOMEHOW the ceiling would not WELD
to the efforts that W. re made to bring
It away and before Il was ruined in
the destruction of the manor measure
ments and casts were taken so hat il
could be reproduced in very detail
rms mas been done and the panelling
now makes an Ellzabethan living room
exactly as II was on the English moor.
h hall is the triumph IF the Pratt
mansion, the show room So To speak.
wonderfully beautiful, and quaint and
meeting the most eXaCting criticism.
An architect who studied its details
gave a minute .%scription of them:
The orlginal old English oak planks.
worm eaten and mai, driven. have been
skilfully treated and aid. The ceiling
was reproduced from tho modes of
Rathcwas and its hardwood s i'm
ported. This walnut room with its
carved and polychromatically deco
rated ch~imncyplece and overmintol is
the most precious and sumptt,nus of
the eleven painted rooms IF Rothcwas.
ii is probably unique in comp, tcness.
preservation, beauty of workmanship
and also as regards the material used
for the panelling, which is carried out
N walnut, instead of the customary
oak wood. the marvellous chimney
alone being carved in ak.
Their Is a certain Gothic char
acter in the caryatides supporting the
'htdhlature. n in the ornamental
motif, which is of an extraordinarily
varied nature, repetition being avoided
as much as poss bile in the frieZe, the
pIIdStrlS, the moulding and the arches.
h walnut room is wonderful in it's
delicate workmanship and has a finely
carved mantel and overmantcl deco
rated in polychrome.
The overmantel bears four caryatId
figures representing Justice. Furt!tudr.
Temperance and Prudence. In the
centre of the ovcrmantcl are twenty
Two coats of arms in one achievement.
The room is pancllcd TO the ceiling
with dark oak. II has an especially
designed antique silver ~chaudrlicr"
Already the grounds about The
Braes form a beautiful park. shaded
largely by maple trees, II will lac I'M
proved ana developed with the years
after designs already made. \ straight
driveway, broad and impressive. lead,
up to the main entrance of the build
ing, past fine wrought iron gates
richly ornamenr,l.
Behind the house are three terraces
one "A sports terrace. where bowling
on the green and tennis will he pas
times. such terraC,s are interesting
and important features of country
housc development.
At the right the sunkcn rose gard
and at the left the service court, de-
pressed I" the basement level use ,p
the entire space between the house
and the dItining wall, which becomes
a retaining wall at this point on ac-
count of the fifty foot drop to tho
shore, ON the water side of tho hnuso