The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-01-14


maiden uunts in all the mysteries Of pas
try aud needlework. Blennerhasset
met, saw, and conquered. they were
married; large Library together with
an excellent set OF philosophical appar-
arus, was hot cgh;; and, IN 1907, they ar
rived in New York
After spending some months IN New
York they crossed the Allegheny Nouns
iains, and reached Marietta in the Fall
of the same year. Before TIE winter
was over, Blennerhasset selected for his
home an island in the Ohio River, four
teen miles below Marietta. The Mssls-
sippi Valley was then an almost unbroken
wilderness. The forty thousand settlers
in what is now the State of Ohio, only
dotted the shores Of some rivers with
scattered germs OF civilization. Puts
burg, the great mart of the valley e.
the Ohio. had scarcely four,aeI heu
red inhabitants Marietta Was a mere
village. Cincinnati counted pupula-
ton OF six hundred. Louisville was sill
smaller, and Chllicothe had not been
surveyed two wears. In this great will
derncss, Blennerhassct chose the spot,
perhaps the most agreeable to his tastes
| The Island secured solitude whenever il,
VAS wished, while the village of Bclpre
on he Ohio shore, settled by retired Of
licers OF the army OF the revolution,
Marietta cclonize' bv company of
highly educated New En1landers, aud
some Of the families Of Wood 'ouUi-
the adjoining County on the virginia
afforded sufficient society. The
Island is long. and, about the middle,
qnuc narrow. Blennrrhassct bought
the upper portion, containing about one
hundred and seventy acres, and reared
there the home which tradition and ar
alory have invested with the interest of
romance.
The traveller sailing down the river,
when some miles distant, saw the white
walls of the house, cleaning through an
opening which had been cut through
the trees on the head of the island Ex-
cep, this white speck. all looked as wild
rs nature had made it But on landing.
a gateway was seen, ornamcnlcd with
large sto.e pillars. Beyond, a well graz
icd road, with a gentle slope, led through
the forest trees to the general level Of
the Island, There spread laNn of scv,
cral acres, from which every stump and
root had been removed, and where
clnmps Of shrubbery variegaieI the
smooth shaven grass Facing the lawn
Vas spaclons mansion presenting, with
Is wings, front of l04 feet Beyond
lhe house was garden as large as the
lnwn, where deylou- paths, and arhor,
covered with traimg vines. and the
mingled hue. Of native flowers and ex
otics together with choice wall fruit
we're N strong contrast with the fore>,
that waved it.. heavy houghs upon ITS
borders. Beyond was an orchard aud a
Kitchen garden, together with farm ol
a hundred acres. The house was fur,
nished in style which then had no par.
alleI beyond the mountains The hall
was noble apartment constructed or
acoustic principles, that Rennerhasset',
excellent playing on the violin should be
marrcd by no echo the walls, panlet
with dark TINT, the guided cornice, ant
massive furniture, gave this room quite
a stately air. TO this, the curtains, ga,
CARPET, elegant furniture. aud large mir
rors Of the drawing room, presented
pleasing contrast. In The dining room
The sldehoards we're magnificent will
plate. The chief peculiarly of ih,
mansion. however, was the wing whicI
contained the study There, the an
cent classics, the standard works q
! modern literature, full collection of tn
: French and German philosophers,
! good telescope, a solar microscope, an
good collection of chemical and elec
. irlca apparatus, formed the implement
+ of this pioneer in the wilderness
The owner Of the mansion wa, ia
and slender in person and stopped sl'ghr
y. He had "A marked, though not
handsome face. which generally wore
grave expression. lie was not ma
= of strong will or firm purpose, but wa
honest, kind aud con6ding Many {
his generous acts are still remembers
in the neighborhood Ills unsuspectin
:. honesty laid him open to frequent in
positions. From a dread of earthquake
he built the house of wood, instead G
the fine stone that ahouuds near the is
anG and SO great was his fear of ligh
ming, that he closed the house and la
on feather bed, whenever there was
thunder storm. lie studied for amnsC
= meni, without ever becoming an adel
: in any branch of science. His know
s lndne of medlcinn ,uns ennunL 10 annhl