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the bounding highway. Mr. Vanderbilt’s house overlooks it 
on the south, and it is thus impossible to divorce it from any 
general scheme of landscape development. 
In the development of most of the Long Island estates the 
first step has been the erection of a splendid mansion; the 
second has been the arrangement of the grounds and the cul- 
tivation of the land. Mr. Vanderbilt has, in a sense, re- 
versed this system, and has directed his attention in the first 
place more particularly to his land, giving the house problem 
a somewhat secondary consideration. Instead of beginning 
with a great house, such as might naturally have been ex- 
pected with a property of this size, he built a house of com- 
AMERICAN HOMES AND ‘GARDENS 
April, 1906 
from the house and yet which form integral parts of it. The 
arrangement is an immensely clever one, since it has resulted 
in a house of large size, covering a very considerable amount 
of ground, ample enough for every modern use, and creating 
on the further or inner side, a great open court, which faces 
the south. The house covers so much ground that the rear 
parts of the court are completely enclosed within it; it then 
stretches away over the summit of the hill until ended, at the 
crest of a lofty eminence, by a stately balustrade. 
This vast open court constitutes the chief part of the house 
grounds. Immediately beyond the porch, which is actually a 
terrace covered with an awning, is a square basin with a foun- 
A Fountain Plays in a Square Basin in the Court on the South of the House 
paratively modest size in 1902, and enlarged it in 1903 and 
1904, giving his chief attention to the development of his 
land. 
The older part of the structure is a plain two story house 
with a high pointed roof, which forms the center of the dwell- 
ing. A great glazed corridor or vestibule was built across the 
entrance front, connecting with wings on either end, which 
constitute the larger part of the expansion of the house. This 
vestibule is lighted by great double windows with elliptical 
heads, the central one forming the entrance doorway. An 
applied column between each window forms the chief orna- 
mental feature of the front. 
On the inner side of the house the expansion has been ac- 
complished by loggias of similar design, which take their 
origin on either side of the central building, and extend in 
gentle curves to outer wings, which are practically isolated 
tain in the center. Beyond, the broad path reaches a short 
flight of steps to a somewhat lower level; on either side is a 
great stone vase. Further on, on the lower level, are vast 
stretches of grass, with flower borders set within their limits. 
In the center of the whole is a fine Venetian well head; and 
then, further on, the court ends semicircularly—as it began 
—with a balustrade. 
It is wonderful to walk down this beautiful space, with its 
superb lawns, its richly blooming flower beds, its well kept 
paths. ‘The interest is never permitted to flag for a moment. 
On one side is a semicircle of old columns, treasure trove 
from Europe, with a quaint Hermes standing erect in the 
center. And then, beyond, is the marvellous view; the hill 
dipping down immediately below the balustrade, and the land 
stretching out beyond on every side, gentle hills and green 
fields and splendid groups of trees, a fascinating, moving 
