The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-20
woopLAwn RETREAT.

i s.o,n an, ala friend Charles r. Allen, ana eA-
.c,lv a. The clock struck one, taking our scat
beside him in delightful conseyance' uia"u
bv two spirited bays, soon hew over the space
hs,w.ep our Office and Woodlawn. The road
!; one Of the pretsiest. If not the very prettiest
,h.t ;.sues from the city. Az you approach
Woodlawn the woods become deeper, and al
most over-hang the road. so as to break the
heat of the sun either in the morning or 10 the
evening. Woodawn House 10 situated on the
left hand side of the road, as you go from the
city, on gentle eminence, towards which the
ground ascends in oil directions. The lawn
by which il is surrounded, on oil sides, retains
the primeval forest growth, at all times, and in
every country, far preferable to exotics. The
trees grow at a sufficient distance apart to al.
low Of their attaining their full growth, and
they spread their branches so as 10 interlock,
and, without excluding the breeze to form
shade impervious 10 the sun, save where
struggling beam penerrates the rich natural
canopy thus formed, and descends upon the
earth in a shower of gold. When Mr.. Allen
shall have succeeded in setting it with green
sward, which he is making preparation to do.
it will present far more lovely prospect than
it does at present. for the rich foliage of,he oaks
serving for screen to the sun, and the deep
green OF the grass forming sylvan carpet un-
der foot, when Illuminated by brilliant Gun,
and catching all the hues and tints that its re-
fracted rays can create, twill have the appear
ance of palace created by fairy hands for the
revels Of Oberon and Titania.
The house, as 10 its exterior, is building
forty four feet in length, Of wood, with wood
en- pillars supporting the roof of the porch
through which is the front entrance. The
pillars are doric, simple, but elegant. The
passages we regard as the peculiar small lion
of an establishment, which, as whole, is tself
lion on large scale. They cross each other
at right angles, are as high as the house itself,
and in the centre ascend to sky-light which
Eliminates them from above. A gentleman Of
taste who lately visited the establishment, was
much struck with the peculiar aptitude of this
central portion or dome flor such it appears to
be,) to all the purposes Of picture gallery !;
and indeed it would make very fine ONE
The only defect which we could see in this SUI
perb passage, was one pointed out by the pro-
prietor himself; the sky-Ight should be of
stained glass. They run North and South and
out their getting share of it. Just beyond
the point of intersection, two pair of stairs as
cend in opposite directions to the second story,
one running East, the other West. These
stairs are fitted up with banisters of mahoga
ny, light and tasty, yet strong enough for any
imaginable purpose. The steps are covered
with superb oil cloth, of fancy patterns, select.
ed with view to effect Indeed, when we stood
on the landing of the Eastern flight, and look
ed on those of the Western we thought we had
hardly ever seen, out of the dominion of ma
tare herself any thing more strikingly pictu-
rescue.
The first floor is divided into four rooms,
| which are, of course, isolated by the passages
crossing each other at right angles. Two of
| these rooms are used, 1--WE believe,) for drawing
rooms and pariors. A third is intended for a
dining room, and fourth is TO be used as la
dys's ice cream saloon. The papering, gene
raj fnish and furniture of all, are neat, elegant,
| and Of the latest pattern. The papering of the
LADY saloon has very fine effect, being oflaree
reses in full bloom. Not less appropriately for
sylvan festival ball, the dining room paper re.
presents whole festo0ns OF game, deer, llares,
partridges, ducks, &c. which have an appetis-
ing effect, and seem to say. do come and eat us!
Above stairs, are four lodging rooms, divided
from each other byspassages, after she fashion of
the regions below. " Each room has three large
windows, and by opening the doors Of the pas
| sages, can have the use of two more, so that
| if lodger should ever die there for want of
air, he must be more short winded than com.
1 mon.
| In the rear of the main building is gothic
structure, of smaller size, containing a superb
ball room, &C., and between the two is space
which is to he exclusively devoted to flowers.
The whole arrangements speak highly in favor
of Mr. ALIENS TASTE, for every thing was planned
by him, and indicate a high az probation of the
beautiful in art and nature. He has achieved
marvels in the time he has been at it. His cai.
sine is superb, as we can testify, and Indicate
| more than ordinarily intimate acquairft.
ance with the science of gastrenomy. His
wines, SO we hear, are of fine quality, but
alas! they are to us as if we were Mussul-
man TOR Maimeluke, as some of our neighbors
would say.) The cuisine we understood to be
sup srinsended by French lady, who is per-
lee mistress of her ART Eyary th;,r =; -
ne a. 50 clean, and served up in such an ap-
ass'ag style, that the most languid appetite
aust be stimulated by the mere sight Of Mr..
Aliens rabie.
Mr. Alien has explained the uses to which
he wishes 10 devote the retreat. Ii is Designed
for clubs of gentlemen who wish to have an
elegant dinner in the country-for parties Of
ladies and gentleman who wish to pass an
agreeable day-for all purposes of quiet, ele.