The Swiss Chalet in America 
By CHARLES ALMA BYERS 
I N styles of doniestic architecture America is 
truly cosmopolitan ~ u'lore so, no doubt, than 
any other nation. It adapts from all countries, 
all lands. A ride through the residence portions of 
any of our large cities reveals here a touch of the 
Orient, there a reminder of Constantinople or an 
importation from India, from Italy, from Spain or 
Lrance, or Germany, or England, and so on. In fact 
in this broad land of ours there are modified repro¬ 
ductions of the architecture of nearly every country 
and age. And therefore it would he strange if 
picturesque Switzerland had no American imitations. 
The chalet, as the cottage home of Switzerland is 
called, has a number of prototypes m America, but 
one of the most representative is without doubt the 
home of Mrs. James A. Garfield at Pasadena, Cali¬ 
fornia. This city is noted for its handsome homes 
and gardens, hut among all its possessions, there are 
few more attractive than this picturesque house the 
home, for at least eight months of each year, of 
this much loved American woman—a home facing 
the snow-capped Sierra Madre mountains and with 
an immediate setting of pines, eucalypti and oaks. 
d'he first glance at this Pasadena chalet reveals the 
colors of gray and soft brown. The oiled cedar 
shingles, left their natural color, produce the brown, 
while the gray is shown in the chimney, the porch 
pillars and the foundation, all built of cobblestone, 
the two colors combining to give the exterior a very 
pleasing appearance. The eaves are wide, and, like 
the window and door casings, are finished with 
unsurfaced lumber and stained a rich brown. The 
window sash are painted with a delicate cream color 
lending suitable contrast. I'he generous size and 
varying shapes of the windows and the front door, 
finished with panels of glass and provided with the 
old-fashioned knocker, give a distinctive character 
to the premises. The house is located on a gently 
sloping hillside, and from its elevation a very excel¬ 
lent view of the city of South Pasadena may he had. 
A SIDE VIEW SHOWING THE CHIMNEY AND THE WELL-KEPT LAWN 
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