Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-30
Romance orthe Biair Family.

3 tttbE'.. 'OrffSY GT.'t1t'c fhfcTrD IritUIC ?
The death OF the younger Frank Blair re
CaIis The mode of life of The elder Blair VINO
survives his less fortunate son. The Blair
family hay" long been one of the historical
Of the Blajrs is at Silver Springs where / -
third OF century they have lived after tie
manner OF an English squire. Old Francis
+. Blair. father Of Frank Blair. has hal his
sn}amCT house at Silver Springs a little
suburb north Of Washington, since the year
j~+", The luck or the gOr4 fortune which led
OF FRANK L. Blair 10 this place i character
g. Of me remarkably slIcC essfIl career OF
most OF the Blair family. Thirty-iiye years
&gC. WHeI the old man Blair was an active
Washington journalist and hat a young
VIE, he was accustomed to daily horseback
exercise, when he mas continued 10 this day.
While riding on horseback, accompanied ID.
his wife, the horse al the wife took fright on
tic Maryland road, north Of me city, ami,
AFTER throwing her near the spot where the
corps OF Ger eTaI Early had its skirmiSh iglt
WITH the Old Potomac 9Th corps, ran away.
Mr.. Eiai-, following up the runaway horse,
ClScON cred him drinking at the very
peculiar Silver spring which, since that
DAY. has given the name 10 that l0C tity
The rp~I.g = almost a. remarkable, after lis
KIND. as Is the old gentleman Blair himself
II outtieS up from shining silver sand,
fresh 81 4 remarkably cold, and always pre-
SCC|es lie sparkling color which at first
seems - be reflected from the silver bed at
It's source. This spring, with its surround
ing, fClfllcI the condition OF the country
seat tCr which Editor Blair had long been
>esEiEg Il was located on a high tableland,
with an abundance Of natural wood and
shade. sufficiently near 10 Washington for
HE pUrI USe> OF his business, vet far enough
removed from tie heat and hustle of the Ia-
tioLa! political metropolis. These Were lot
tAe Gays or Inc telegraph, and the organ ell
l;crS were not he slaves of a Hoe press and
a battery. Here Mr.. Blair pitched his tent
purchasing IN all nearly 1000 acres, at about
10 per acre. lie has preserved this Old estate
Intact, and, aCcOrCiiI z TO lie valuation of the
valuation Of The neiChbOrhOOd. IL is, doubt
lesS, now worth -l1U per acre. The soil is dry,
ClHH, aIu sandy. but furni shes abundant Grass
Tor pasiUrage, while there are grand oak for
e>iS and HumberleSS SpriL Is, which combine
10 make Silver Springs farm one of the most
attractive rural places about WASHINGTON
IL lies upon "a ridge midway between Black
creek and the Eastern branch. Old Mr.. Blair
has always had great laith in the advantages
10 health, happiness ana longevity which are
10 he derived from country life. He has been
a. earnest an advocate Of this kind of life as
Wa ever Bulwer LyttOn ana the columns OF
Inc Old Globe attest the love of country life
IN EhgtiSh rs vigorous II less graceful than
D'2i 81 BUiWgr The health Of the old gentle
man has proved the correctness of his theO-
rlts At twenty years OF age-nOw more than
81 Ny years agO-FranciS u. Blair, Sr.. was
pronounced by Ms physicians an incdrable
cCEACmptlVe. AL remedies bad been tried
ard failed, end his doctors told him that the
only hing which could keen him from his
grave WIS The saddle. Study, overw0rk or
lEh"r!ted cOnsumptive tendencies had given
nm 4 cough, which was causing him rapidly
20 waste away he accepted the advice of
his doctors. and took to the saddle He
started OF on long horseback Journey
which has not eEde1 yet. When he began
riIiT :, ne had TO be lifted TO his horse as ne
has had TO he for the last ten years but he
Kept on riding then, as he tries TO keep on rid
ing now at s.. From that day horse has
been his constant companion, and during that
long course OF years many a horse has served
his Old master faithfully, and gone to the
"horSe heaven All these years, until his
recent increased feebleness, those VINO passed
by Silver Spring could every morning see
One was for the young woman, now come TO
be more than three score years and ten whose
runaway accident, so many years ago, re-
suited IN the purchase of Silver Springs
An immense stone, assembled by easy steps,
constitutes the mounting block, from which
faithful body servants assist the aged feet to
Inc scarcely less aged stirrups. The old gen.
tleman and lady seem to start off with as
much pleasure, though scarcely with the
They always ride for two hours, not, 10 he
sure al the speed of the staple-chase; but at
comfortable, health giving. old folks gait.
Moralists and physicists can find a good deal
Tor reflection, and draw very wholesome
lesson iCr prudent living, from the course OF
life of the Blair family at Silver Springs,
and, perhaps one is that there is more hsalIh
In the horseback rides than in all drugs.
80 The Oregon democratic state conven-
t4Ou met yesterday II Salem, and spent the
Gay in OTEan Zing.
HS-Gen. +. + Spinner Is nov named as the
republican candidate for state treasurer in
New YORK this fail.
~ \ Pennsylvania man captured a rat
tltsn:ske and set about teaching IL come
tricks. He was on the high road 10 sunoass
when Trey tad to bury him. The s1aks
t2lIC(A Illak Ter and gave Just one lesson