AMERICAN ESTATES AND GARDENS 



with the main building. One serves as the kitchen; the other is an open room, affording 

 superb outlooks upon the land and water beyond. A lake, in the immediate foreground, 

 adds to the charm of the garden side. 



The house has a stately plan, with a circular vestibule floored with marble, and with 

 columns of polished marble supporting the ceiling. On each side is a rectangular passage, 

 or antechamber, with the library beyond to the right and the drawing-room to the left. The 

 dining-room is between these two, its windows directly opening on to the garden. Both library 

 and drawing-room have monumental doorways opening into their antechambers. 



The drawing-room is white, with walls of paneled wood, tinted a delicate pearl gray, 

 with dead-white trimmings. The rich red damask curtains, and the gold and white furniture 

 covered with the same material, give the needed color. The room contains much old furniture 

 here, and many pieces of old Chinese red lacquer, which are quite unique. The mantel of 

 Italian marble is delicately carved, and a crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling. 



The stairs are placed in the antechamber to the library, which is a lovely room, not 

 quite so large as the drawing-room. It is wainscoted with walnut, which gives a fine contrast 

 to the blue curtains that determine the color note of the room. Many bookcases are built 

 into the walls, but space is found for some choice paintings. The mante is of black and white 

 marble; above it hangs a fine picture by Van Loo. Again some fine old furniture, with modern 

 easy-chairs, and many interesting ornaments. The windows on the side open on to a terrace, 

 with a flower garden beyond. 



The dining-room, like the others, is large, with walls of green and old gold, very subdued 

 in hue. The mantel is of black and white marble, with mirror, clock, and candelabra of the 

 Empire period. There are family portraits here, including one of Peter Cooper, and some 

 good old tapestries. Just outside a fountain plays gracefully on the terrace, and across the 

 waters of Hempstead Harbor and the Sound, which lie far below, is the dim outline of the West- 

 chester coast. It is a scene of wonderful beauty and peace, an outlook on to Nature at her 

 best a vision of undulating lawn, of fine forests, of distant water. 



There is a large swimming pool near the house, and the grounds contain two tennis 

 courts, one cemented and one grassed; and not far from the house, but enclosed within high 

 hedges, is a garden of old-fashioned flowers. The property is a large one, comprising about 

 two hundred acres. A part of it was at one time owned by William Cullen Bryant, the poet. 



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