May, 1906 
tained within a handsome balustrade, the piers of which sup- 
port large vases, while the piers at the steps are surmounted 
by groups of statuary. ‘This terrace stretches completely 
across the front, and encloses the semi-circular porch at the 
end within its boundary. It is not all at one level, the 
higher part being immediately before the body of the house, 
while that which faces the wing is somewhat lower. 
The lower terrace is a formal garden, with walks and beds 
laid out in a formal manner. In the center is a sculptured 
group of three lovely little children upholding a shallow case, 
children of the same gracious, happy, playful type that are 
reproduced in the statuary on the balustrade. It is a delicious 
little garden, a mere fragment of the great estate to which it 
belongs, yet beautifully proportioned to the house, quite large 
The Library Is Paneled Throughout in Polished French Walnut. On One Side Is an Elliptical Recess Lined with Books 
AME ReoewN  FLOMES AND GARDENS 
ders of a stream which winds in beautiful curves fri 
side of the estate around the base of the house until it 
pears into the woods beyond. Much of the surroundin; 
land here awaits future landscape treatment, but the work 
already completed has been so finely done that the present 
view is quite complete. And then beyond are acres and acres 
of beautiful land, of pleasant woods, of gentle hills, a house 
or two, land reaching almost as far as the eye can see, all be- 
longing to ‘“The Homestead,” every foot of which is main 
tained in a notable degree of excellence. 
The estate is developed in many ways. A private power- 
house provides the electric light for the house. FExtensiv: 
barns and stables are provided for the house and farm use, 
and the whole property is kept in the finest possible way. 
The Curtains, Carpet and Furniture Are Green 
enough for its immediate purpose as a house garden and as a 
support to the house, and so exquisitely arranged and so beau- 
tifully adorned that it is a real beauty spot. 
The upper terrace, while enclosed within a similar balus- 
trade, decorated in a similar way, is simply a terrace, and is 
without garden development. On each side of the center is a 
great awning, stretched above tables and chairs, constituting 
two outdoor sitting-rooms. ‘There is no need of decorated 
enclosures to make these pleasant spots of rest and recreation, 
for beyond is the wondrous outlook which, notwithstanding 
the beauty of the house and its immediate grounds, is the 
great attraction of ““The Homestead.” 
Just below the terrace is a vast mound, which supports the 
whole house. This is largely artificial, although it now gives 
no hint of artificial origin. Its fine slope descends to the bor- 
The domains of the house of Thayer in Lancaster are most 
extensive. A spacious tennis court beionging to ““ The Home- 
stead’”’ is across the road on which it stands. Further on are 
houses of other Thayers and still others, each a spacious man- 
sion and each provided with spacious grounds. They give a 
true park character to the immediate vicinity and add much 
to its natural attractiveness. 
That these splendid grounds, these spacious houses, these 
well maintained and beautifully cared for estates add much 
to the beauty of Lancaster is unmistakably true; but the 
natural beauty of the town and its close vicinity is of a very 
real and penetrating character. The associations of the 
house of Thayer with Lancaster have been long and inti- 
mate; the real, the intrinsic beauty of the town will always be 
a source of gratification to each succeeding generation. 
