The evening world., 1920-10-21

Mr. Bakor's thoughtfulncss and de-
h.ic tu nave uuU children live IN "a
home which their great great grand
father built so many years ago. That
mousse was one OF the nrst houses
built on Fifth Avenue. ! remember
hearing the family tell how great
grandfather wanted 20 build his home
ON Second Avenue, which was then
the fashionable section, hut his
father, who owned all OF the Brevoort
farm, running back 90 where Grace
Church now stands and taking up
considerable space along Firth Ave-
nue., greatly objected TO giving him
land ON SECOND Avenue. no, sir. 70
further back on the farm; 70 back
20 tIfih Avenue. for things nre going
90 move that way he was instructed,
and 50, feeling very much In the
woods and quite out OF II, great
grandfather built his home.
But great grandfather's father
knew what he was talking about"
continued Mrs. Baker. "in Just a few
years after his home was completed.
Lower Firth Avenue became one OF
The prominent residential spots FOR
New York society. Great grand
father had "a billiard room, library
and two big parlors Ohcy didn't have
living rooms In those days. and he
c'd q tremendous lot OF entertaining
both ana eng the home folk and visi-
tors from abroad
There is one little incident which
has been handed down from genera
uuu 10 generation and which always
interested all OF the younger members
OF our family The first masked bail
in this country was given IN the
H. ..HH D. q -.
tho newspapers at the time as ar
important amusement Miss Matilda
Barclay The charming daughter OF
the British Consul In New York, and
young man, Southerner. named
BurgVyne, We're among the many
guests az the ball They fell in love
during the evening, and az 4 o'clock
10 the morning Miss Barclay. dressed
as L1lla RoOkh. and Mr. Burgwyne,
as Fcramorz. left the ball and AZ
break OF day were married. II was
tho talk Of the city for a long time"
As a matter uf fact this romantic
episode caused more excitement In
tho city than mere talk For al
thuugh the New York OF to-day would
look upon the story as merely a de-
llghtful diversion with no suggestion
Of scandal, the Manhattan OF that
day was aghast, As a result masked
balls were made taboo, and a hnc
ot $1,000 was imposed on any one who
SD Iuld give one unless the giver told
on himself. in which event the hno
was reduced one-half
More delightful is this little ro-
~ 10 when we learn that II was IN b.
--p''osd by another They had come
- tAe ball dressed as their favorite
characters In Tom Mooe's dalla
kookh their mutually favorite poem
she "a the bride, he az the young
Prince
As 1 walked through this rambling
old-fashioned manor house on the
corner OF Firth Avenue and Ninth
Street there was an atmosphere OF
cheer and good times which those
early Nav Workers, most Of them
Holland Dutch knew how TO have
The two big parlofs, with their hand
carved woodwork, spoke OF dancing
Colonial costumes, huge fans and
bows which began with the eyes and
ended az tho heels Then there was
the immense library, TO which the stu
dious members of the family might
retreat; the old book cases extending
20 the ceiling are still standing but
the books have disappeared with ,ht
furniture.
Upstairs / found seven large bed
rooms, where the heads OF the fam
flies and the guests slept the sleep OF
the Just while the top floor boasts OF
nine bedrooms. which included d
nursery and servants quarters Mr.
and Mrs. Baker win have a great dea.
OF remodellug and altering 20 make
their new Old fashioned homestead
as modern and as comfortable as
their present home at No. 26O Madi,
son Avenue Despite the fact thai
the de Rham family, who are distan
cousins Of Mrs Baker lived In tn
Frcyo0rt home until last spring anI
their telephone number is stu IN tn
phone book the house has no way o
heating besides an old fashioned fur
mace and CRATES; pnrquet flooring }
only laid uDon the FIRST moor, whf
the upper floors bore traces OF car
pets and the kitchen is still in IN
basement.
Al present the New York Chapte
~ the Red Cross Is occupying tn
house, but MI and Mrs Baker ar
planning daily 10 remodel this 'nano
and stiil retain the old lines an
homestead atmosphere.