29^ 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



August, 1910 



by broad wall spaces, by an almost complete suppression of 

 ornamental detail, and which depends on form and propor- 

 tion for the extraordinarily charming results it obtains, not 

 only in the land of its natural development, but here, above 

 the waters of Narragansett Bay. 



The main building, as might be expected, is rectangular 

 in general form. Each corner is emphasized with a pa- 

 vilion that projects slightly beyond the main or connecting 

 wall, but which in the corner adjacent to the wing is de- 

 veloped into a tower, crowned, like the other pavilions, with 

 a pyramidal roof, but here loftier and more amply de- 

 veloped, the chief point of impressiveness, in fact, of the 

 whole exterior. Appropriately enough the tower stands at 

 the junction of the main building and the wing, uniting and 



ornament, its own simple enrichments are strengthened by 

 its surroundings. But this quiet entrance feature is en- 

 hanced with other motifs; by the three rather narrow win- 

 dows immediately above it, by the pair of leaders with their 

 ornamental heads on either side of it; and, above, by the 

 single ornamental dormer in the roof, a very delicately 

 modeled dormer, with a splendid wrought iron railing be- 

 fore it. The semi-circular dormers in the roof, one on 

 either side of the center, help to emphasize the importance 

 of the center of the front. 



The wing is even more severely treated than is the main 

 building. The walls are plain and solid, and quite devoid 

 of ornamental features, for the window frames can hardly 

 be so designated. The farthest extremity is treated as a 



The dining-room 



harmonizing the two parts into a single unity. The main 

 stairway is contained within the tower, and the great mul- 

 lioned window on its outer face opens on to the chief 

 landing. 



Of architectural ornament as it is technically and popu- 

 larly understood there is none at all save in the entrance 

 porch that contains the vestibule to the main hall. This is 

 a somewhat shallow structure, built wholly of limestone, 

 with a decorative frontispiece in which two plain coupled 

 pilasters support a Doric frieze. Above is a railing of 

 wrought iron, while a growth of flowers and vines gives a 

 welcome note of color. Simple as it is, this porch is entirely 

 adequate, for being applied to a wall otherwise devoid of 



pavilion, with a roof markedly lower than the pavilion 

 roofs of the main building. The lower walls here are solid 

 without openings, which, however, reappear in the second 

 story. The leaders, which are similar to those on the main 

 building, are, indeed, the chief ornamental features. Atten- 

 tion is thus immediately centered on the carriage entrance, 

 which is surmounted with a low segmental arch, and which, 

 save for a shallow hollowing and a triple keystone, is with- 

 out molded treatment. 



A description of this aspect of the house would be in- 

 complete without more than a passing reference to the 

 court which it encloses on two sides. This is a spacious 

 open area, filled in the center, with a great circle, in the 



