Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-19
SLASH COTTAGE HoTsL.

n
emitting, with becoming humility, the kind
mention Of ourselves By the atter) of the de-
| lghtful day passed nj this interesting place on
Thursday last. We do not hope to improve
them, but desire to add something of our own,
as in some degree conveying our high appreci-
alton Of the elegant hospitality which greeted
us all.
We were kindly rendered an invitation to be
present at the opening Of the "Slash Cottage
Hotel, on the 18th instant, the native place and
anniversary of the birth of Henry Clay. We
had so long and SO often passed this spot, that,
influenced, perhaps, in some degree, by the slurs,
not less fashionable than impairment, upon
Virginia "stagnation" and Virginia "indo-
lence,' we could scarcely believe it reality
that hotel had been erected upon it. Always
glad of an opportunity to visit our native
State--ever happy to meet those congenial
spirits whom we choose to think are the best
people we know, and delighted at a reasonable
excuse for getting our foot loose from this, the
| theatre of our labors, on Thursday morning,
as the sun cast his earliest rays upon the beau
tiful Potomac, we babe farewell to all our
cares, and with grateful abandon, cleft all
meaner things to low ambition and the pride of
kings" Those who live in the busy whirl of
life, of political life particularly, too often en-
gendering, as it does, asperities, instead of
| good fellowship to our kind, only can estimate
the value of the reflections that ensue from
such release from it. To see, on q bright
morning, ones own native hills, washed by the
grateful river of our boyhood's admiration; to
feel that, in our heart at least they still are
home; for it is only home where the heart
is ]" to know the welcome that is ready and the
fun that awaits US, is indeed a holiday to tie
heart, not less than to the mind. Add to this
the beautiful steamer Baltimore, rendered per-
feet in all its appointments by its late over
hauling, the whole-souled Captain Peck always
on hospitable things intent, and who would
blame us for being happy, most happy? Land
ing at Acquia Creek, to which point the Rich
mond and Fredericksburg railroad comes, the
found ourselves nearing the scene of our con-
templated festivities And now, what was our
surprise to find this point on the road, hitherto
only adorned by pater station, grown in a
few months into beautiful and picturesque
little village? We were scarcely less snsprised
than the sleeping caravan before whose aston
ished view busy city sprung up in a single
night. A most commodious hotel, elegantly
fitted up, tasteful grounds, beautiful grove, a
cellar filled with the choicest liquors and wines
among the latter, most delicious cham.
payne, "Cottage brand; !" servants cheerful,
happy, well dressed, with nice white aprons all
gave token that We were to have day not soon
to be forgotten. We squared ourselves for the
frolic, and having been schooled by what we
thought as a doy-a rery absurd rule-not to
hollow snuff" eren If zoe had IL, we were the
last to do it on this occasion.
We sat down to the most sumptuous dinner
about five p. m. 1t is not quite admissible to
tell what our host has for dinner particularly
if it be bad one; but, really and truly, we
have rarely seen such banquet. Every luxury
of the mountain and seaboard, every delicacy
of the North and the South, had been prepared
and not as delicacies usually are, in slim guam
titles, but in the utmost profusion. Edwin Rob-
inson, the popular president of the railroad
conceived the idea, built the house, improved
the grounds and was tie man, by his inventive
genius and indomitabe energy, who made two
hundred Of us happy that day.
| Ac,ar The folo.b 80, ~ornn,.ol .o.a4u -.
drunk, speeches were made in which the best
humor prevailed, and every element Of nno-
cent and joyous hilarity marked the after din
ner proceedings. As night drew on and the
period when darkness is made visible was APP
preaching, we felt curious to know how we
were to be lighted up. We knew full we'll that
the spacious dining room and halls would defy
an army Of "dips," and that the beautiful
piazas and grounds would be gloomy enough
under the dim agent Of the "lViH O. the Wisp,"
heretofore the only earthly'agent of light in the
Slashes Of Hanover Would you believe that
twenty miles from any incorporated city or
town, most beautiful gas dispelled the twi
| light, and all was as bright and cheerful as in
the rich saloons Of our first class hotels. Gas
in the Slashes Of Hanover
But to conclude our hasty and imperfect
sketch of this delightful day, we really know
few places which offer greater attractions 10
pleasure parties from Washington than the
"Slash Cottage" and beg leave to demonstrate
with our friends Of the Dispatch and Ne,es,
that Richmond and Fredericksburg are only TO
enjoy its pleasures-and insist that it is open
alike TO all, and that Washington has an inter.
est init which we feel, we may predict, she will
fully vindicate.
From the Richmond Dispatch.
The Slash Cottage HoteI-Tho Celebration
and the place ms n summer Retreat.
In the hurry with which the notice of the
cornwall party at the Slash Cottage Hotel, on
Thursday, was prepared, at the late hour Of the
return OF the cars, many things were necessarily
\ omitted, few Of which we proceed to supplv.