May, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



181 



Mr. Frank Stephen's Bungalow 



any building that is within their power, but as they are not ex- 

 pected to do this without payment, their hours of labor are 

 credited to them and deducted from the cost of their board. 

 They also work in the vegetable gardens on the same arrange- 

 ment. Their work is in no way compulsory, and only those 

 do it who prefer working to a holiday of play all the time. 

 Such is the force of example that when they see older men 

 doing manual labor purely from the joy of work, it fills them 

 with ambition to do successful work themselves. 



Well cooked and wholesome meals are provided at the 

 Arden Inn if the campers do not want to bother with the 

 preparation of meals. The Inn is the only bungalow that 

 boasts of a staircase, which reaches to the sleeping quarters 

 of the matron and her helpers. 



The land consists of one hundred and sixty-two acres, of 

 which seventy are heavily wooded. Beyond the wood is a 

 creek just big enough for bathing. This flows through the 

 forest, tumbling over rough 

 crags and boulders, and then 

 winding in narrow streams 

 and still pools at the foot of 

 deep ravines. A more beau- 

 tiful place can hardly be 

 imagined. 



When the visitor arrives 

 at the colony, the team 

 stops in front of the Club, 

 a charming bungalow 

 known as the "Red House." 

 This is the meeting place 

 for the young people on 

 rainy days and chilly even- 

 ings. In the larger room 

 dances and games are often 

 enjoyed. This room also 

 contains work benches, and 

 many pleasant hours are 

 spent by the young people 

 in making pottery, and 

 other useful crafts, plenty 

 of occupation being thought 

 essential for the full enjoy- 

 ment of a vacation. The 

 boys gather in this room 



and devote themselves to study or music, 

 spending a good part of the morning in 

 working with their hands. There is also 

 a carpenter shop, which is, much enjoyed 

 by them. 



Work is followed by a swim in the creek 

 before the mid-day meal. After this meal 

 they enjoy tramps about the country, and 

 tennis or baseball games. 



The land is held in common by trustees. 

 but anyone can lease it for a short or long 

 term, paying from six dollars to nine dol- 

 lars a year per acre. 



The bungalows can either be erected by 

 the tenant of the land, or can be built by 

 the trustees and rented for a short or long 

 period. They vary considerably in price. 

 Some cabins have been put up for as little 

 as sixty dollars. Naturally these are little 

 more than sleeping quarters, but as much 

 as two thousand dollars is being spent on 

 v " ; A;,; v some of the bungalows which are now being 

 erected. Two New York girls built a sixty 

 dollar cabin this summer and are thor- 

 oughly enjoying their holiday. They do 

 not attempt any housekeeping, enjoying most thoroughly the 

 meals served in the attractive Inn. 



The green walls of stained timber and the banks of ferns 

 above the fireplace give the dining-room of this Inn a cool 

 and pleasant appearance. There is no attempt at style in 

 the serving of the meals, each table consisting of white boards 

 on rustic supports. All the vegetables are placed on the 

 table at once, and people help themselves in the most informal 

 manner. The spirits of the young people and the excellent 

 food make up for any lack of dainty service. 



At one side of the common is the beautiful little Grecian 

 outdoor theater, where, every Saturday evening, parts from 

 Shakespeare's plays are acted, usually at twilight, the theater 

 being lit up later by artificial light. Much interest is taken 

 by old and young in the getting up of these plays, and the 

 costumes are always artistic and effective. We were fortu- 

 nate enough to witness one of these plays, which happened to 



The " Owl's Nest," a Japanese Bungalow 



