The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-29
THE BLAIR FAMILY.


sPRINGs-A ROMANTIC EPIsoDE--A REcoI.-
LECTION OF THE LATE WAR.
Washington July 23l correspondence OF the Chi.
cago Tribune.1
The death OF the younger Frank Blair recalls
the mode OF life OF the cider Blair, VINO survives
his fortunate son. The Blair family have
long been one OF the historical families OF Wash
ington. Inc summer home Of The Blairs Is at
Silver Springs where Tor a third or century
they have lived alter the manner OF an English
squire.
ROMANTIC EPISODE.
0lG Francis =. Blair. father or Frank Blair, has
haa mis- summer home at Silver Springs, little
suburb north OF Washington. since the year 1910.
The luck or the good fortune which led Old Frank
Z. Blair to this place is characteristic OF the re-
markedly successful career of most OF the Blair
family. rhirty-nve years ago, when the OLD
man Blair was an acive Washington jour
nalist and mad q young wIe, NE was ae-
customed 10 DAILY horseback exercise, which
ne nas continued tn tfs day While riding ON
horseback, accompanied by Ills vile, the horse OF
his wife look rrghy on the Maryland road, north
OF the city and after throwing her near the spot
where the corps of General EARLY had It's skrmish
ngnt VITA the Old Potomac sixth corps, ran Away
Mr.. Blair. following up the runaway horse, dis
covered MIN drinking at the very peculiar SILVER
Spring which, since that day, has given the
name 10 that LEGALITY The spring is alEoost as re-
markable after its Slno, as Is the OLD gentleman
blair himself 1t bubbles ap rom shining silver
serves the sparkling color winch 8t nrst seems TO
he reelected from the silver bed at It's source. fhs
spring, with It's surroundings, Iulnled the condi-
tons or the country seat Ior which Editor Blair
had long ueep seeking. II was located on a nign
taDlelahd, with AN abundance Of natural wood
and shade, sufficiently near 20 Washington for
the purposes OF his business, yet far enough
removed from tue heat ano hustle OF the
national political metropolis Those were not
tue days OF the telegraph, aud the organ editors
Here Mr.. Blair pitched his tent, purchasing In all
nearly LOCO acres, ut about $40 per acre. He has
preserved this od estate in act and, according TO
the valuation OF the neighborhood. 1t Is, Doubt
less, now worth 500 per acre. inc soil Is dry,
thin AID SANDY, but furnishes abundant grass Tor
paSturage. while there are grand OAK forests and
numberless springs, which combine to make
silver springs larm one o. the most attractive
ridge midway between Black Greek and the East
ern Branch.
HEALTH BY THE SADDLE
At twenty years OF age, now more Than sixty
years ago, Francis p Bar, Sr pronounced
BY mis- physicians an incurable consuinptlve. All
remedies had been tried aud lailed and his doc
tors toa him that the only thing wnich could keep
HIM from the grave was the saddle. Study, over
work, or inherited conSumptive tendencies had
given him u cough. which was causing nm rapidly
to waste away. he accepted the advice OF his
long horseback journey, winch mas not ended
yet. When ne began rldlns he mad to be lifted tn
mis- horse, as lie has mad TO be Tor the last ten
years. but he Kept on riding tnen, as he tries To
keep on riding now at eighty-six. From that day
u horse has been his constant companion, and
during tnat long course OF years many horse has
served his old master ialthIully, and gone to the
recent Increased ieeoleness those who passed by
Silver Springs could every morning see TWO horses
saddieo near the old mans door. One was Tor The
young woman. now come tn be more than three
score years and ten, whose runaway accident, so
many years ago, resulted in the purchase OF Silver
Springs arnl the other Ia Tor Mr.. BLAIR himself.
An immense stone, assembled by easy steps, con-
stitutes the mounting block, IRON winch faithful
body servants assist the aged feet to the scarcely
less aged stirrups, The old gentleman ana lady
seem TO start or with as much pleasure, though
scarcely with the same vigor, as they did hall a
century ago Tne, always ride for two hours, not,
TO be sure at the speed OF the steeple chase. but
at comfortable, heaitn-sivlng, old lolks' gait.
WAR MEMORY.
The nelghoornood oil the Shver Springs farm it.
self is occupied py community OF Blalrs. more
elegant country seat than tnat OF the senior Blair
| Is mat or his son, Montgomery Blair. TINS latter
| house has borne witness TO very remarkable
| history. 1t was about THIS rouse That the advance
guard OF the rebel army, under General Early and
| General Gordon, now United states Senator Cor
| don, encamped while on their way to attack the
then deienceless national Capitol rom the north,
Confederate commanding officers, and 10 the bac-
chanal festivities OF the Confederate line In the
dld not enter and burn Washington Four hours,
probably, stood between Washington ana
IT'S destruction; Those VINO nyei curing
The home guards were prepared to 90 tnelr
best duty. and the conyalescents even
from the hospitals struggled to shoulder their ola
guns. The CONSERVATION at the State Depa tment
was SO great That ail the valuable archives oil the
government had Deen packed upon steamer ut
the Seventh street wharf, and the steamer was
ready TO be cut rom her mornings, and to run
the gauntlet TO the Army OF tue James at the word
Of command. Tne scouts brought Word OF the ad-
vance oil Early's DIVISION. The hasty rumor swelled
the division into an. Immense army. The army
which should nave defended washington was io-
loving the shovel and the hoe IN the southern
Potomac country and along the James. the IA
ordered to Washington with the utmost
possible despatch. Ths famous corps. reused
almost before they knew ii, and were landed
at seventh street wharf III quicker tune
tnan the strength OF the boilers ol tine good ships
| would nave allowed. TINS brought them to tue
northern line or Notifications lour hours before
| tue break u day, and the same hummer of hours
| before tue Cohlederates, conscious or an easy
| victory were aware of tue presence OF the noted
| Fighting sixth" Meanwhile, the Confederate
| generals, Tor what reasons has never yet been
| clearly shown, mad stopped their advance ut the
| SILVER Springs boundary, intending To march Ia
| along the Seventh street road to Washington
corps Lalted ut the elegant manson OF Mont
gonery air, and the house was speedily burned.
1t IS related tnat as sOou as the names Mashed up
! THE repels shouted through their drunkea leers,
| "REMEMDER PHIL SHERIDAN AND THE snENAN-
| DoAH VALLEY"
! They tried in like manner to Destroy the house OF
| OLD Francs Blair But frlenus, who in the Tevels
the night dld not forget the Ties OF the OLD days.
! and the respect due 70 ola age, nad placed cor
don OF soldiers around The home Ut SILVER Springs,
| with orders to protect 1t irom Instruction at all
| hazards. This was done and Francis Blair has
to-day 10 thank the present United states Senator
| GORDON and the dead General Brecklnridge that
| his home was not reduced ~ ashes. The morning
! came. The advanced reuels awoRe from their
| reves 10 hn6 That there was facing them on the
| heights OF the North Ridge, something more than
| the picket oil the nome guard. They saw there
! In their well known badge, The famous Fighting
Sixth" Drawn up IN line ready Tor battle Tue
| Confederate commanders were dlsnay ed, but
! they were rasn enough co volunteer skirmish
Ihe result was l0J dead ON both sides and saved
city. Inc 100 ueao lie sleeping togei ner IN the
little enclosure east OF tue seventh street road
and the Union dag now waves over the ashes VI
Dotn the blue ana the gray.
GINGTITAR CASE