noon
Major Amberson bought two hundred acres of land at the end of National Avenue ; and through this tract he built broad streets and cross-streets ; paved them with cedar block , and curbed them with stone . He set up fountains , here and there , where the streets intersected , and at symmetrical intervals placed cast-iron statues , painted white , with their titles clear upon the pedestals : Minerva , Mercury , Hercules , Venus , Gladiator , Emperor Augustus , Fisher Boy , Stag-hound , Mastiff , Greyhound , Fawn , Antelope , Wounded Doe , and Wounded Lion . Most of the forest trees had been left to flourish still , and , at some distance , or by moonlight , the place was in truth beautiful ; but the ardent citizen , loving to see his city grow , wanted neither distance nor moonlight . He had not seen Versailles , but , standing before the Fountain of Neptune in Amberson Addition , at bright noon , and quoting the favourite comparison of the local newspapers , he declared Versailles outdone . All this Art showed a profit from the start , for the lots sold well and there was something like a rush to build in the new Addition . Its main thoroughfare , an oblique continuation of National Avenue , was called Amberson Boulevard , and here , at the juncture of the new Boulevard and the Avenue , Major Amberson reserved four acres for himself , and built his new house -- the Amberson Mansion , of course . This house was the pride of the town .