AMERICAN ESTATES AND GARDENS 



with no near-by edifice with which it may come in immediate contrast. It is built of stone 

 taken from the land on which it stands, a pudding-stone having the quality of a natural 

 concrete. Much of it is covered with natural moss, and hardly an individual stone shows; 

 but there is a superb massiveness in the walls, which are dark gray, with a genuinely antique 

 character. 



The house is entered under the great massive" tower. A vaulted corridor or entrance 

 hall leads to the great central hall, a superb apartment, two stories in height. It is not only 

 the central room of the house, but the most important. To the left is a platform, with a fine 

 pipe organ, flanked on either side by a cathedral -like window; below them are Spanish church 

 stalls, with high, heavily carved backs, having opal panels with heads in the center; fine black 

 oak stalls of unusual beauty, admirably placed. On the opposite side is a row of columns 

 and pointed arches, a certain irregularity being given to the space by cutting off a part with 

 curtains. The walls are of rough gray plaster with sand finish, and, save the carved capitals 

 of the columns, there are no moldings or decorations beloved of the architects. The coffered 

 ceiling is of California redwood, with beams supported by old Florentine shields; in the center 

 is a large skylight, with a brilliant sunburst in the middle. At night this is lighted above. The 

 walls are hung with superb old tapestries and rare paintings. The parquet floor is covered 

 with rich rugs. The furniture is old and chiefly Italian. 



"GREY CRAIG" A VIEW FROM THE GARDEN. 



[87] 



