The Daily Manchester American

Suburban Residences.

Every man of a refined taste and a genial spirit, has a love for country life. He seems bound to the soil by natural ties, and when the conflict of the world has abated, when honors have ceased to elate him, or when wealth has crowned his efforts for success, he seeks for employment in some rural retreat, or builds him a home on the margin of the busy city.

Our larger cities are all surrounded by elegant and sometimes costly mansions, in whose convenient arrangement and ornamental surroundings the proprietor may enjoy the comforts of a home and contribute to the happiness of his family. New-York extends herself in a line of elegant structures along the banks of the Hudson and throughout the country towns towards the interior. Boston has its Roxbury and Brookline and Dorchester, whose heights are adorned by the works of skilful artisans. Springfield and New-Haven and Providence have suburbs, which are beautified by the elegance of their private edifices. The smaller cities of New-England imitate their superiors in the gratification of taste, and erect their less ostentatious monuments of art, by the streams that flow by, and upon the hills that look down on the busy streets.

Our own city, as yet possessing no superabundance of wealth, with a population too active to devote time to ornament, has erected a few stately dwellings south of the Piscataquog, at the north end, and at Raybrook. She has scattered her tasty residences sparsely about the city, and on the hill at the east that affords so beautiful a view of the town. Thus she has not been wholly neglectful of ornament and comfort in the construction and arrangement of her dwellings. In addition to the few heretofore completed, new structures are going up year after year, attracting the attention of those who have a pride in our municipal prosperity and a love for rural cultivation.

Among the number of residences of this class which have recently been built up—which with others we propose to notice as they are completed,—is that of Mr. James P. Eaton, located on the extension of Hanover street, a mile and three-fourths from the City Hall.

Some four or five years ago, Mr. Eaton purchased about eighty acres of land—nearly all wild and uncultivated—much of it rough, rocky and forbidding, though with a strong and retentive soil, giving evidence of great productiveness when once brought into a proper condition. Within that period, he has built 1000 rods of heavy stone wall, dug over with the hoe and spade, acre after acre, planted 160 apple trees, 60 pear trees, embracing a great variety of new and choice fruit, and made other extensive and permanent improvements. The original cost of the land was not less than $3000.

He has constructed and nearly completed, the present season, on an elevation commanding a fine westward prospect, a double square brick house, two stories high, 32 by 38 feet, with an Ell 20 by 24 feet.

On the lower floor the apartments are a parlor, sitting room, dining room, and kitchen, with such smaller rooms as convenience seem to demand; and on the second floor are two parlors and six sleeping chambers. These are very commodious, high and thoroughly ventilated. The whole house is to be warmed by a furnace. The cellar is properly cemented, and sufficiently capacious to contain the products of his orchard when it shall yield most bountifully. With an eye to health, Mr. E. has provided a comfortable bathing room, a fine ice house and such other accommodations as a man of taste would consider essential in providing a permanent home.

The work has been executed in the most durable manner, and at the same time neatly and we may say beautifully, though without any attempt at show or extravagance. The door lights are rich, being stained ground glass, with figures of diamonds and grape vines. The entire work was done on contract to the perfect satisfaction of Mr. Eaton, by Capt. Eben French. The whole expense has been $3,500—a small sum for so good a house.

We pass directly from the kitchen by a walk to the barn and out buildings connected with it. There we find the same regard to convenience and the comfort of the stock, and the same economical thoroughness, as was observed in all the apartments of the house—high and wide stalls, a capacious cellar and warm stables.

The establishment combines the utility of the farm with the convenience of a city home, and when completed and furnished at an expense of some $2000 more, will be one of the most desirable, yet least ostentatious country residences in this vicinity. May the proprietor long live to enjoy its comforts and contribute to the social gratification of his host of friends.