The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-04
aTHE sILyER Spring. D

i One Of oar correspondents in this city has recently
favored our readers with brief but charming de-
scrpton of the beauties Of Washington and its
rounding scenery; and wound it up with the follow
ing allusion to Mr. F. P. Blair's country seat:
''The whole neighborhood Of Washington is
interesting from constant and increasing improve
ment. Cottages and gardens are springing up as by
magic in every direction. Amongst the splendid and
graceful establishments TO be seen, ID that OF Silver
Spring. the seat of f. P. Blair, esquire, on the
Seventh street road Ii is appropriately named, from
| the source of its abundant water supply. The
house is spacious, chaste, and archtectura whilst
shade, cultivation, and the unmistakabe evidences
| Of abundance around, complete the picture Of an
abode of elegance and hospitality"
| We could not be content with this simple but
beautiful description Of the place, when We had
fair opportunity given by the hosptable owner to
see the original for ourselves &c. on Saturday last,
nothing 10th" we determined, for once, to cut the
acquaintance of printers devils, and leave therevses
to their fate that we might breathe the fresh air fthe
country, and view the beauties Of the Silver Spring.
Mr. Blair's farm is about six miles from the city
being on the very verge Of the District of Column
ba, and part of it running into Montgomery coun-
ty, in the State of Maryland. We pass over "the
unmistakablc evidences of abundance, of elegance,
and of hospitality" We shall not dwell upon the
warm welcome which was extended to every guest
by the propretors Of the manson-the viands, and
the wines, and the delicious fruits, which graced the
round able--more delicatey covered, perhaps, than
was the celebrated round table King Arthur himself
We must leave the hospitabe board ITSELF and all
the 'goodly creature comforts" and all the good
things besides which circulated around it; for we
have not yet taken any lessons in the school of
Mr.. Willis. Let us pass, then, into the open air,
and leave behind us even the handsome and con-
venient mansion which its proprietor has lately
erected, and approach the Silver Spring, which
gives its own name and great part of the attraction
of the scene, to the whole farm.
This farm takes, indeed, its very appropriate name
from bold and limped spring of the purest water,
which gushes from pebbled bed very the house.
At the back Of this spring, which is guarded with
great care, and adorned with taste is marble statue
of exquisite beauty, and of the purest white.
| II is a petite Venus, rising from the bath. She
stands in the recess, with her feet bathed in the
water. But there is more than beauty about the
spring. The value of this delightful fountain justi-
fes the attention bestowed upon it. Various are
the purposes which it subserves. It's stream, carried
offn small iron pipe, supplies water for spacious
dairy, handsome fsh-pond, and for delightful baths.
But the bijou ofthe whole establishment is neat COM
pact stone mill which as remarkable for the variety
offunctions it PERFORMS for the beauty of the
chinery which puts the whole in motion. The wa
ter of the spring is conveyed up perpendicular
pipe, which discharges itself into small horizontal
trough, that empties into the buckets Of small
over-shot wheel. This wheel is about twenty-five
feet in diameter; the rim very thin and very Light
made upon the principle of the arch, with iron
spokes TO bind it together. 1t appeared to as if
a quart of water would put it in motion, along with
the machinery which it moves in the interior of the
mill. Here it performs variety of functions at
NOUS machinery of this mill enable it to thrash out
grain; to clean, grind and transfer it to convenient
repositories; to shell corn, TO convert it into hom-
my and meal; and also to grind corn and cobs to-
gether for horses and cows; to cut hay, churn but
ter, and in the lower basement floor to wash clothes
by means of labor-saving machine. The whole
mill built under the direction, and, we believe
by the patent Of Mr.. Page, late of Baltimore, now
of Washington We understand that the whole
establishment was to be furnished for 81, 900; but
it SO complete in itself, and so satisfactory to
Farmer Blair, that his own generosity added some
thing considerable to the amount of the contract.
We visited, too, his stalls and his farm pens,
where we behed many noble animals of the finest
breed In single building we counted sixteen of
the best cows, all confined to neat and separate
stalls, and daily yielding large supply Of delicious
milk. We will not say how many milk-pans we
counted in the cool dairy of the lady of the man
sion. We saw, too, something of his three hum
bred acre farm. Nor, when we witnessed the pains
he had taken to lime the land, were we much sur
prised at the luxuriance of the growing corn which
seemingly dees the drought of the season, and fair
y promises eight ten barrels to the acre, through
out the field But is time to leave the farmer in the
midst of his improving grounds and his generous
pursuits.
While strolling this elegant retreat from the
hustle of the world, could scarcely help envying
the blessings which it confers upon its occupant.
We are born to earn bread by the sweat Of our
brow; and though, when it becomes necessary, it is
the duty Of every good citizen to watch over his
country, land such country as this!) yet happy is
he who can generally enjoy such retreat, and,
is able to leave behind him the hot and dusty
arena Of public strife. Francis P. Blair has play
ed with distinguished success, difficult character
in the drama Of public life. He is crowned with
the aurels which he has fairly acquired, and enjoys
the recollection Of his services in this delightful
abode Such man, in such situation, reminds
us Of the sun in his evening misunderstanding
less but pleasing more.
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The National Inellgcncer seems at a sore loss TO
know whether 1t will be in the power Of the executive to
command hat is the phrase the National Intel
hgencer uses) majoes enable TO break up the pro-