Year: 1868

Grand \ Opening of the


hs Yachting Season.


"a $50 - ~


The event OF prominence in the aquatic world and
incident TO the Inauguration of brilliant campaign is
an announcement from the New York Yacht Club
that amounts to genuine sensational sensation that
takes precedence of all the choice programmes in
the yachting circles OF this season, 1t being nothing
less than the establishment OF new club house
within the limits OF the romantic and picturesque
boundaries OF Staten Island 1t is a move
ment desired by all who entertain passion for
the noble pastime Of yachting-al who love, amid
the beautiful and pleasant in nature and the elegant
In architecture to watch the graceful curyetings Of
the crack pleasure vessels Of America.


Since the year l844 when the little Gimcrack had
ON board the few gentlemen that, advocating the
systematic fostering Of the noble art of yachting
which is instrumental in the development of
great usefulness-organized the New York Yacht
Olub its headquarters have been the little cottage
structure upon the Elysian Fields Hoboken, fur
nished them by the munifcence Of Commodore
Stevens. 1t Is now to be abandoned; but around its
limited area there have been repeated pleasant
aquatic scenes. AS years rolled on the club was
augmented by the addition OF gentlemen prominent
In business and social circles, many Of whom built
and added vessels whose symmetry Of proportion
and artistic lines have again and again received
the commendation Of the yacntmen Of every
port where they Haunted to the breeze the neat
emblem Of the organization Although not being
able to equal, perhaps, their foreign brethren in
point OF numbers they have been left far to eeward
regarding perfection OF model and capacity for
speed. From first to last the vessels Of the New
York Yacht Club have been the superior of all
similar specimens OF naval architecture, and their
achievements in strange seas, individually and COL
lectively, have proven them justly appreciated.


The development of the club continued in matter
Of boats and members until forty Of the former and
four hundred of the latter were upon Its records.
This disproporton Of vessels and gentlemen of the
society was in itself Of great regret enhanced by
the known fact that many Of them seldom visited
the chaste cottage envroned with the noble oaks
about the adjoining grounds Annual meetings to
them were OF but little pleasure, and but once


wear during the June regattas, where with the fair
sex OF the city they met on the decks Of an accom-
panying steamboat, was there any semblance Of a
general reunion. Slipping ices was poor and unsatis
factory diversion to many OF these; the frequent
social meeting OF the members seemed more and
more requisite, and thus larger Headquarters,
grander domain, o building of more extreme utility
Of space, comfort of arrangements, model Of arch
1tectural beauty far ont 'by the sea-"


sfa g Where surges lash the sounding shore,


n necessary, was decided to be the desideratum.
And thus the energetic discriminating officers OF the
club fully appreciating this need, were instrumental
n the NJ q mo ss ees If
removing the club headquarters TO more fitting
place. During the winter favorable progress was
reported by the committee, and at the last gen.
eral meeting, held but few days since,
4 was decided by unanimous vote, amid ex.
pleasant nature that the location Of the club house
should henceforth be in the village Of Clifton Staten
lsland where there is much that is pleasing In art
NE NEW CLUB HOUsE-A "oorTAsE By THE SEA-"


Where the projects Of the many undertakings
heretofore connected with the existence OF the club
marked to an extent by disconnected Efforts In
this the selection OF the new club house-the most Inn
been commendable combination, 2 unity Of purpose,
suggestive and suitable to the impulslve, volatile
American character. 1t was wondrous step for.
ward and wondrously popular, and now there is
pOsscssed by the club the finest aquatic rendezvous
n ae wSose dates % are back IN
the dim distance, and whose members count their
wealth by millions sterling, have not IN extent IN
surroundings in ornamentatiOn, In beauty OF oca-
uOn where nature and art 80 effectively enrapture
ne sense OF sight, within such proximity to the
srolling deep" house equal TO the one just Sc
its Its location naturally brings into notice the
romantic and peasan. VIVA ma ndad ts rns rme
dc features and the harmony and proportion VIII
which almost every irreguar1ty or ooid ieature Oh
the torn and tangled landscape is balanced make
t peculiarly pleasing to the eye and inviting to the
lover OF q semirustic life. Many Of It's resi-.
6epCes rest half concealed amid the outrageous
groves that adorn the pateaus, In peculiar keeping
vtth the mild beauties Of the locality. There is
thing gay GID ~ Of f1s me dnSs Sa. on T the the
contrary there Is freedom OF style and pleasing
abandon Of the architecture to q consonanee with
the requirements OF the peculiar situation that strikes
the observer as naively beautiful.


The approach to the Club House Is by the time hon.
ored steamboat ride to the slower landing" OF staten
Hiand. then along a wide gravelled avenue called
New YORK upon the sides OF which many empowered
residences are scarcely visible tnT9nga ana nsS o.
vanla avenue is reached, running at right angles
with it east and west and turning into its pleasant
sS moments walk toward re broad bay q New Yort
st its foot and the late residence OF Mr.. Nathaniel
VIII ts snowy sails its gliding vessels and gallant
steamers, is found.


Entering the grounds BY q curlously contriyed i,,i
carriage road Is reached which afterward inspected
extends IN q circle about the entire place. Pro-
constructed paths through figures Of plants the
residence Is reached; IL IL OF wood, In appearance
seans 1 pacs suggestive OF the orsetfuiness Of lies
cares place OF sweet repose Its broad western door
y shaded by the sweeping branches Of beautiful
weeping willow while from the windows, relieved by
trellissd balconies the unique nower gardens,
nower urns, greenhouses and quaint outbuildings,
where the rarest ''buds OF promise" are born and
bloom the year round, are In prominent vlew Pass
ing through this door were steps into broad hal


story staircase 10 the Kitchen below and to enclosed
Outhouses. the latter surrounded with an eliptical
fence OF wood. Crossing the hail. the parlor coseyy
resting and extending through the centre OF the
house east and west Is reached, and the eye falls
with pleasure upon the articles OF vtrtu and ornamen-
tation Astounding lavishly. large sitting room on
the south and dining room the north OF the parlor
with '.spare'' room, all communicating with II, also
extend to the depth OF the house, containing speci


mems OF art which cultivation would alone suggest.
ascending the broad stairway i've large sleeping
chambers lead from wide hall, and above these Is
an attic, where there In also room and comfort, and
from which the view is superDly grand. Beneath
the paror are the kitchen, laundry tiers OF closets
and n large furnace that transmits through the
honse n genial warmth: hot and cold water extend
from cellar to attic.


From the eastern or grand piazza, guarded by two
noble silver NAPLES, the view OF sweeping lawns and
magnificent terraces Is very grand and down through
agarden OF exceeding beauty, and In high state of
cultivation the ground leaps TO the Bay OF New


York where against the dividing line It's waves break


gently with musical ripping. The range OF vision