I have visited the Mount many times in the past 20 years, the first time in 1988.

The Mount was not in great condition then, still bearing the ravishes of having been a girl's school, and home to Shakespeare, etc. over the years.

What I took away from the house after my first visit was 1) how reality often intersected with Wharton's ideals in building the house ( finances, and ledge where her basement was to be causing signficant adjustments in design.) 2) The number of false doors and windows in the house, dictated by her rigid rules of design. Such artifice in home building and decoration probably suited and author whose work is based on artifice and 3) How the Mount, like so many other stately homes, rarely survived as a house more than a decade past the lifetimes of their original owners. (Think of the Breakers, or Vanderbilt's estate in Asheville, NC).

The Mount did not last as a residence because it wasn't practical. As I type, I am surrounded by houses a mere 10 miles from the Mount, all of which are 150 years old. I can easy drive around Berkshire County and see houses that are close to 200 years old which still function as houses.

I'm afraid the new management for the Mount wasn't practical either. One does not borrow money to meet operational expenses. I suspect a lot of poor economic decisions were made down the line. Now they are asking for money when many people are cutting necessities to pay for direr necessities such as gas and fuel.

The Mount is inspirational. It's a great place to visit. I don't think the bank will reposses it, because what would the bank DO with the place?

Strange how this situation plays like the current subprime mortgage crisis, which is probably why no one has been able to leap to the Mount's aid.