A Newport House and Garden 
THE HALL FROM THE LIBRARY 
of adobe and used them to cover the roofs. 
Within a surprisingly short time these native 
workmen were taught by the monks to adapt 
the material to their purposes and to the local 
conditions with such good results that the 
best of the mission-houses are now regarded 
as almost classic. 
Such appreciation of the beauty and fit¬ 
ness of Mexican-Spanish architecture in the 
past has led to an inquiry as to whether it 
is not also suitable for many modern require¬ 
ments. It seems especially well adapted 
to life in a warm climate, as in Southern 
California, or in northern watering-places 
deserted except in summer-time. A revival 
of the Mexican-Spanish style has been 
successfully attempted in many parts of the 
country, notably on the Pacific coast, to a 
lesser extent in Florida and on the coast of 
New England. One of the first architects 
to understand its possibilities, and to carry 
them into effect was Louis Sullivan, but 
many others have followed in his footsteps 
or developed in a similar direction. 
In Newport, on Rhode Island Avenue, a 
house in Mexican-Spanish style has recently 
been built for the Misses Mason by Sullivan’s 
former associate, Irving Gill. His idea was 
primarily to fit the house to its environment. 
When the building was projected, the grounds, 
laid out years ago by one of the earliest land¬ 
scape gardeners, were as delightfully secluded 
as an English park, with broad stretches of 
greensward, groups of fine trees and masses of 
shrubbery; all arranged to enhance a beauti¬ 
ful view of the sea, with its waves dashing 
up against the distant rock-bound coast. 
The site wisely chosen for the house is on an 
axis with this vista instead of being in line with 
the boundaries of the lot and the direction of 
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