The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-15

the place was quite unimproved' IL
boasted OF wooded heights, gently un-
duisting hil.sides and winding val
i.vs, that gave promise of wonder
ful possibilities In capable hands. nut
IN lis natural state II greatly rcsem
bled much Of the country contiguous
70 the oyster Bay road on which II
fronts.
Aladdin-like. however. within a pc
riod of nine months there has been
worked n marvellous transforma-
tion--a tribute alike to American en-
terprise and artistic skill OF the high
est quality. out OF the ground. mush-
roomlike. has sprung a series OF build
angs. whose beauty has %g.addened
the hearts OF all those who have been
fortunate enough to view them at
close hand. Nature provided a beauti-
ful setting. but here and there art lent
her embellishments until an ensemble
that is most pleasing has been FASH
toned.
Ground was broken ON September /.
1914. and Mr.. and Mrs. Billings enter
tained a party OF friends at dinner on
June % OF the current year. which is
something of a record when the ex-
tent and character of the improve
ments are considered. The property
was originally bought by Frederick
johnson and the late Mayor Hugh J.
Grant about six years ago. the inten-
ton being to divide it equally. Mr..
Grant died n Mr.. Johnson. who had
already built upon his half. induced
Mr.. Billings to purchase the Grant
property, the transfer being made
about "A year ago.
II was the most natural thing I'm the
world for Mr.. Johnson to assume the
responsibility of building "A home for
his friend. n when Guy Lowell and
his partner. A. II. Sargent, had SUBJ
mitted plans that were acceptable. no
time was lost in preliminaries. Things
began to happen in a way that made
h natives marvel and there was an
lmO never ending procession OF
wagons and motor trucks from the
railway station TO the property. upon
which upward Of 900 men were m
ployed ut n time. Everybody seemed
TO have something to do and did II
With "A vengeance. working always on
a schedule which Ind to be vigorously
adhered to in order that the task
should he completed by June /. the
date on which Mr.. Johnson told Mr..
BiVlpgs he could give a housewarm.
Ing
There was naturally a tremendous
amount or Interest in the work from
the time the first brick was laid, which
WaS.On the day after election day, and
Wagers were made that the place
would never be ready fo-
on the date stipulated. There are some
very good stories told Of those firal
Lreathless days when everybody was
being driven at express speed with the
throttle wide open, bu; thc best Is
probably that Of a woman. the wife OF
pcighbor who visited II, place on
the afternoon Of the 10 At ,,av in Nav
ehe says that she stood enhanced in
the loggia perfectly %oblivious Of time.
so. beautiful were her %urroundir Us
When she entered the Nouse scaffold.
ings were in place round about the edi-
nee the gardens were a mass OF litter
and muck ard the for. cour. and the
grounds in its vicinity were barren OF
trees ard shrubs. WIIain she heard
the sounds Of toll on every hand. and
the only signs of furniture. paintings
rugs. tapestries or o:ner e,nbellish-
'tilN' Al II hummer on
huge packages here and there on the
lower floors.
As she stood gazing over the tree.
TOPS the strains OF an organ aroused
her ana looking about h viewed a
perfectly appointed room. In wonder.
'heht she made her way to the gates
and thence to the hall. Pictures were
taking their places on the walls. rugs
were unfolding their silken lengths ms
n passed, and most remarkable "a
Ieiate when she got out of doors
nowering shrubs, vines and other
pants were assuming their al
iotted places, while down the avenue
came the larger trees bowin, RICH,
n left AS they dropped into the
earth and took on an air Of pcrma
nency that only comes with years of
contact with the soil.
me above conveys some idea Of
Hhat actually took place on Nav Al.
Tor not a tree. shrub or flower had
peen planted, not a piece OF furniture
WAS IN place, mo-, a picture or ~
mad been hung and hundreds of men
were AT work all over the place
promptly at . o'clock, when work for
the day was scheduled to cease. IN.
men packed their kits and left tho
JOB FOR good, and Mr.. Johnson Is en-.
titled TO the fullest need of praise ms
the only overtime on the entire iob
was when half "A dozen noor LAYERS
worked "A few hours one Saturday
afternoon while the electricians mn,
IN n few extra hours in the arrange
ment of some wires. When Mr.. billings
n his family arrived on the morninc
or June rs Farnsworth was smiling
and beautiful in its delicious spring
freshness.
The estate Is in n region repletc with
historic interest, Centuries ago the
Indians made their homes in the
tmbered hills and the broad fertile
valleys were cultivated. the Oldest
settlers yesterday recalling the time
when those broad acres were known
az the planting fields" 1t Is said
that a portion OF the Billings estate
occupies n Of those spots where the
maize was raised whj":: furnished
food for the indians through tn,
winter period. The n%eighboring estate
u W. Il. Coe is known as the plant,
ing helds," indicating that the abo,
rigine, who has always been the quick
est to search out the treasures OF
nature. knew and appreciated to tn,
fullest the manifold charms OF a dis
trict which IL becoming more widel,
sought after by those Americans VIII
nnd 10Y in q life in the open India,