The New York herald., 1845-09-24
NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY MORNING SEPTEMBERE24 lsA5
WASHINGTON, Saturday Evening,
September 20. 1915.

WASHINGTON, Saturday Evening,
September 70, 1915.
Am afternoon Jauni to " arlington" the Seat of G.
" p. Cnstis, Esq.-Bnd's-eye Viep Described
Entertainment by and conversation NTH our rene-
rabie t,fend-Iaefics of the Revolution and of Wash
ington, Paintings, &c.-Lafayette and the Forest
Irees-1he Picaic Spring and its accommodations
for the Young People-A Specimen of Farmng-
List Of Pictures, &c.
The most agreeable aunt that we have made for
years. for recreation. novelty, and profitable insruc
iion Was our visit to-day to darlington" the vene
rabe seat of the venerable George Washington
Parke Custis, Esq on the green heights across the
Potomac river from Washington With an inter-
resting and intelligent company of young ladies' and
gentlemen from Kentucky we left the dust Of Penn
sylvanla Avenue IN u chartered omnibus, at two
o'clock p M, and alter pleasant ride across the
long bridge, "a mile and quarterly the causeway
over the swamps OF the invisible Jackson city, and
round the green fields beyond, and the luxuriant
woods, we came, suddenly eme rging from the trees
upon the old castle that stands Out in such fine relief
from the Western portlco OF the capitol. masni-
hcent bird 's-eye view burst at once upon us. I'M
mediatey beneath lay the broad Potomac, dotted
here and there 18th the white sails of the wood
oyster sloops, with its nermnable bridge stretch
ing across both channels, and the broad shoal be-
tween On the opposite bank, in all its nakedness,
stretched the city OF the Scrlbes and Pharsees, alias
the city OF magnificent distances, for three long
miles; and dispersed along the struggling mass OF
bricks and8 frames, the public buildings, such as
the National Observatory, the Presidents mansion,
the Treasury Department the Patent Office the
beautiful General Post Office, the wretched looking
City Hail. the Penitentiary, the buildings-of the Ar
senal, &c., stood out In conspicuous majesty and
masslyeness. But high above all, on his emerald
throne, with grove OF green trees at his feet, and
lev the
chimneys OF Pennsylvania Avenue, lowered aloft the
grand and massive pile of the capitol of this grea,
nation, the big dark dome of the rotunda contrast
ing finely with the shining whiteness of the body of
the edifce. Beyond all this demonstration for a
great city, there was relieving outline of semi
circle OF wooded hills OF sweep OF ten miles, from
Georgetown on the West, round to the Navy
Yard at the Southeastern extremity Of the city
We left our friends on the lawn contemplating tlis
scene, while we stepped up into the majestic portlco
OF the mansion, to look up the lord of the manor
The mansion, from an outside view, appeared to be
uninhablted, so, without knocking, we tired the
main door, and it opened readily to its full extent,
the strong current of air against it bearing US prec
pitatey into the hall. Otherwise had at first de-
signed mere peep, and then, If necessary, to sound
halo :! There we stood, in the midst of gallery
of pictures, with the lord of the manor in his Mac
donald plaid, rising from lounge, where he had
been taking a nap
His custom in the afternoon"
and coming forward to greet u.s. Ha ha ha !!
a little more you would have caught me mapping
Come at last, hey my young friend. | declare
had given you up" Our friends were introduced
to the courteous old gentleman /; he showed them
his collection OF plctures the walls of every room in
the lower story, in addition to the hall, being CO.
vered with paintings and engravings. Then he
took the ladies' under his escort to the flower gar
den, gathering tor them the most beautiful roses,
dahlias, &c. Returning, the whole company sat
down IN the paror, our host having ordered some
vnous refreshments to be placed on the Round
Table" Then he talked to us OF the past, of Wasll
lngton and his compeers of the battles of the Revo-
luton, OF his late visit to the North, of the asonsh.
he said, "Why, ladies', when was last there, fifty
years ago, st. Paul's was IN the Northern suburbs
and the Bowery was in the country" And then he
dwelt upon the magic of our free institutions and
again upon the glorious old names of the Revolution
and the Federal Constitution.
lie entertained US In this manner for nearly an
hour, when we proposed that he should go with us
IN our omnibus down TO his brave old oak" and
the spring at Its root. Our omnibus stood 10
the shade of the woods, in the rear of the
mansion. Coming forward, Mr.. Custis asked us
how we liked his household trees? Beautiful.
very beautiful forest, Mr. Custis," said Miss Julia
yes, my fair irend," said he; cat the close of the
revolution, Lafayette, God bless him-a noble, brave
man was the French Marquis-Lafayette came
to see me, and SAID he, remember, Mr. Cuss, it is
easier TO chop down ten OF these trees than to re-
place single one of them have remembered it,
Tor love this grove for the sake OF Lafayette"
The venerable Virgnan then entering the omni
bus, we descended the hill, halt mie through his
flelds, passing through tunnel under the Aexan-
dria canal, down to the Picnic Spring He showed
us field on the way, IN which dozen of his ser
wants were at work, with spades, hoes and rakes,
as il gardening. They were thus preparing piece
OF meadow land TOR timothy and clover. Arrived
at the spring, the old gentleman had further explain
atons to make: - This IS the boolh," said he,
(Which have had erected for the accommodation
of the young people who come to see ME from the
n Iust here in fhe,r hnat
and when they are tired OF fishing, they can have a
dance anu this past summer they have often Kept
1t up of moonlight nights, till II o'clock. like the
young people. like to see them enjoy themselves
had this little spring house built for then to keep
their refreshments in, you know, ladies'. | shall
have to enlarge the dancing booth next summer so
that we can have concerts of summer evenings
sometimes. like TO see the young people enjoy
themselves" After further conversation with ma
ny thanks, we left hospitabe old friend and re-
turned to the city delighted, the ladies' particularly
with the fortunate visit selected The estate of Ar
lngton embraces about eleven hundred acres
We subJoln list OF some of the paintings that
grace the walls of Arlington House. Mr.. Custis is
artist thlmselt-self-taugh, and has many pictures
IN his studio OF his own workmanship; among them
we may mention the Battle of Princeton, the Battle
of Yorktown, the flight of Champe, and number
of portraits Wollastin's picture OF lady Washing
ton in the glow and maturity OF her beauty, is GER
tainIy, as work OF art an admirable chef d'Guure !;
but as presenting ia thful portrait OF tile loveliest
woman OF her time, and perhaps of any time-it is
eloquent of inspiration. But our observations are
becoming lengthy:
or the five original likenesses Of Washington by dis.
nguished artists that taken of Washington four
oil them are at Arlington House, viz -
L. The Provincial Colonel, his Britannia Majesty
service Taken at Mount Vernon, l772, by &. w.
Peale.
.. Basso Relieve at Mount Vernon, l7s5 by Houdon.
B. Equestrian Portrait at New York, $780, by II UNI
bull.
L. Profile, in crayons, at Philadelphia, 1885, by Sharp
less.
U,.a
Inc washington OF l772, then in the prime of life, is
remarkably fine picture life size three quarter length
and was pronounced capital likeness by the cocmpo-
rares OF Washington before the revolution. This pic.
ture has been thrice copied and engraved
The bas relief by Houdon, taken from the life 1885,
formed in part the model of the celebrated statue in
Richmond, Virginia. There many busts from this
The Equestrian Portrait, by Trumbu tho man and
horse both painted from the e The large COPY in the
Ciay Hall, New York, appears to be much faded.
me Grayon profile BY sharplsss, I796 the last
original is critically correct having been execu,
by penegraph.