The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-29

wireless received ny ,. L..
Conklin from the Gypsy van in which
his brother, Ro.and. Conklin. Mrs.
Conklin and party Of six are travel
ling on their way to California and
the Panama-Pacihc Exposition. 1t
came from Albany. where the sights
Of the State Capitol were enjoyed for
q couple OF days.
II was n week ago that this novel
'motor land yacht" set sail for the
North and got becalmel on the out
skirts of Brlarcllff. seeking temporary
shelter within the precincts OF Briar-
cliff Lodge. But this was nothing more
or less than the fortunes. not OF war.
but of a mammoth landgoing craft
like the Gypsy Van, as II Is sometimes
called, and was enjoyed hugely from
that standpoint.
~. Conkiin is keeping his brother
posSd a. to his movements. and not
a day passes but a message Is received
NIlN ''AiIHo VI ~ - -
Van. "Camped asst ilght along the
Hudson: 'Saw the sights at Albany
to-day: Read Harold Frederick's In
the Valley as we traversed the Mo-
hawk Valley are soma Of the wireless
reports to come in as the nomaos
wend their way toward their goal. |:
Is their ~intestion TO make short stops
in cities that hold special interest, 80
the schedule Is n movable feast. the
dates being changed 20 suit the con
venience OF the tourists.
While mere man e"ecised his in
genuity in designing the technical. as
pect of the Gypsy Van, II was a wom-
ans taste that decorated and fur
nished It. Mrs. Conkl,n Is not only
very domestic by nature, but she is
quite as remarkable in her way as her
husband. who is president Of the New
York Motor Bus Company and a Wal
Street ~financier. is in his. She II was
who saw to the infinitesimal details
OF the living quarters and the cul nary
equipment. so dear to the heart of
every domestic woman.
Mrs. Conklin is a woman OF high
ideals and extensive knowledge ard
puts her heart and soul into any prof.
ect she undertakes. For years she
has been planning a Greek open air
theatre which shall be the finest thing
OF It's kind In the word for the produce
ton of the classic drama. II is to he
located on Rosemary Farm, the Conk-
lin summer home nj Huntington, l.. l..
where nature has provided n natural
amphitheatre. The topography forms
a bowl, high on one side and gently
sloping toward the Sound. from which
there will he spread out before the
audience a superb view of the blue
waters and the deeper blu Connecti-
cut Hills beyond. Nature seemed to
invite the establishment OF just such
n project and Mrs. Conklin laid her
plans to establish a centre for the pro-
duction Of Greek plays. as well as
modern dramas Of a high order, when
she suffered a nervous breakdown and
the work was postponed.
She didn't wan Ia resort to n sani-
tarium to regain her health. so the
idea of taking a long trip in the open
air suggested itself. and simultaneously
the long cherished pa of building the
Gypsy Van seemed to be the solution.
At once MIR. and Mrs. Conklin set to
work to plan the details OF its con-
struction. Night after night they pored
over plans, lending each other mutual
add In evolving this unique land craft.
Only those who have together worked
out plans for n small convenient home
can F2p'eciate the Joy of invention
that followed. The old saying that
two heads are better than one applies
aptly Il this case. for Mrs. Conklin
suppl.ed the feminine touch To her
husbands more expert knowledge OF
omnibus construction. She It was who
took the vehicle out OF the commercial
class to which II might otherwise be-
long and placed II in the realm OF
domestic art. for the GYPSY Van illus
trates the acme OF modern comfort
and convenience in housekeeping
equipment.
or the twenty-five feet of length. ten
feet are devoted to the main
ment, or living room" which, though
1t might be considered contracted quar-
tors for a ballroom, has many con-
veniences that the average modern
library table lacks. All in a soft
French gray. the woodwork of ash
family stained, the Spanish linen
upholstering. the cushions and covers,
with gay flowers strewn over their
surface, the silk shades to the electric
reading lights, are all in harmony.
Two upholstered armchairs. which,
III the couch, are convertible into a
bed. and four berths which are com
pressed against the ceiling when rot
In use afford sleeping facilities. But
this n all, for each berth has its
own electric reading light, one at either
end, and special arrangements for
hanging clothes, while the mead of
each berth is provided with a locker
for linen and undertaking. with room
for an extra SUIT or n dress. For the
upper berths transoms supply air in
dependently OF the windows upon
which the lower ones open.
II you wish to write "A letter a
writing desk is stocked with Gypsy
Van paper and writing utensils. BE-
meath 1t is "A small, well chosen IL
brary with one shelf devoted to cam
eras and films, For meals a folding
table kept in tie galley is brought
In aus set up between the divans. af-
rordtd< plenty of room both as to seat
Ing capacity n table surface for the