Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-22

| known cause. 1hey iounu from Ietteis oh
his person tnaI his name was William Old
ing.
MIR. EVARTs' SUMNER HOME.
The Fine Farm and Uospiinble Mansion OF the
| Secretary Of State, NJ Winusor'h
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE EVARIs
| FAMILY FROM COUNTRY SCHOOL MASTER $
DESK TO THE PRIME MINISTRY "A SPLENDID
| FAkAI, An ELEGANT AND HosflrABLE RESI-
DESCE AND AN INTERESTING AND PLEASANT
| FAMILY CIRCLE.
Written Expressly Cor tho Advertiser.
About the time of ''Ilppeeanoe anu !yief
too. before his illustrious predecessor, Dan
| lei Webster, was Secretary of State, Hon.
| VIM. NJ Evarts, who was then IN his 18Th
wear, and had graduated from Yale College
and passed through the law school OF Har-
ward, came to the quiet and beautiful village
of Windsor, on the Connecticut; hemmed
in on one side hy the towering CORNISH Hlils
of the Granite State, with Ascutney Noun
tain, 1900 feet high. sentlnel-ilke. standing
opposite Mr. Evarts' father was native oi
Vermont who removed to the Bny State,
from whence the son came To Wlndsor,Mhete
n sister who had married Mr. f. I. Tracy
was living, and established private schooi
Of education. The young teacher met win
in a blithe and winsome Miss, who was one
of his pupils and daughter OF Hon. Allen
Wardner, then President of the windsor
Bank, who still lives at the advanced age oi
81 wears to see his daughter Helen the non
ored wife of the worthy successor oi wen
ster, Seward and Fish. This grandson OF that
sterling soul, Roger Sherman, was admitted
to the New York Bar in 1871, and today,
after 81 years OF successful practice, ior emil
nent services III the legal arena IS Without
peer. After President Hayes, there Is no
member OF the new Administration that Is
so prominent a representative of the liberal,
progressive and reform element OF the coun-
try. as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.
The gossip that has been so extensively
circulated, and the publicity that has been
given to the family matters IN the Secretary
household by the public press, have not Only
been an intrusion into private affairs, put
very annoying to the family, not only from
the indelicate personal illusions. hut from
| the inarcuracy of the statements made NO
| tahlv SO was the Chicago IrbntS account,
which transformed blondes into brunetts
and described features and characteristics OF
personal beauty and accomplishments, which
| certainly to be admired when met with, but
| should not lie paraded in the public prints
| like IL criticism of IA statue or q painting, that
| is without heart or feeling; to say nothing OF
| omitting all mention of four members oil the
family.
Your representative. having occasion to
visit his old home in Windsor, recently, had
! the pleasure of sharing the hospitality OF the
| Eyafts mansion, or mansions for there are
| four of them IN close proximity 10 one an
| rr-and to meet several members OF the
| household, which afforded him the opporiu-
| nifty TO become familiar with much that the
| public are interested i'll regarding the Secre-
| tary's family, their Summer Villas and the
| fine lands OF "Runneymede," some SIN hun
| dred acres in extent: which name, the Secre-
| tary cave his beautiful farm, on his return
| from European trip, few years since
"Runnymede' is the place where King james
delivered the famous Magma Charta, which
fact did not occur to MIR. Eyarts when he
give the name but on his sons calling his
attention to it, he said he was glad IL vas
nothing worse than this.
The three youngest daughters, Louise,
| Dette and Minnie aged respectively III, II
| and - wears, are now in Windsor. They re-
semble their father in finely cut features and
| light complexion, markedly, and somewhat
| in expression and reserved manners. lhe
oldest daughter, Hettie, was married some
three years since to Mr.. c. {. Beaman, of
| New York city, and occupies III Summer the
fine brick residence adjoining the home place.
Miss Mary, the next younger, twenty-five
| wears of age is at present IN Washington
with Mrs. tyarts; both OF these daughters
having the darker complexion of their moth
er. OF the six sons, Charles is the elder and
las the management Of the extensive and
| beautitul farm lands III the vicinity of Wind
| sor. While pursuing course NJ 1ale toi-
! lere. he entered the ranks OF the lannon's LIN
coin regiment from New York city,and served
under the old flag. Afterwards graduating
from the New York School OF Mines, he ac-
quired Il practical knowledge OF much that
| has tended to make success oi ms farming
| operations The second son, Allen Wardner.
is following the legal profession, and is on
| the path to fame; he is connected with the
prominent law firm of Eyarts, Southmayd
| ana Cboate, ON Wall street William, the
! tbirl son is "A successful tea merchant IN
| China The twins, Prescott and Sherman,
with the youngest son Maxwell, all III their
teens, are pursuing a course OF education ut
| ST. paul's School Concord, n. IL.
At this writing, n part of the family have
| arrived and are keeping house III the old
family mansion OF General Forbes, which
Mr.. Evarts purchased in ls5j 1t was built
in the last century, and remalna substan-
TALLY unatertd to-day; having the wooden
blinds, the brass door and window hstemngs,
the oddly figured wall paper, and much that
reminds one of Eve olden time. The turnl-
ture Is TO II great extent, ancient, and OF
course highly priced. The house Is spacious,
and adloins the family residence proper OF
the Secretary, which was built some ~ years
ago 10y Mr.. Curtis, but has been remodelcd,
ami Is furnished in modern style. II was
purchased nearly 80 y,ars since 10y ITS present
owner, and II occupied yearly IN common
with the first place mentioned, 10y the ininlly
Of Secretary Evarts, and their friends. The
third purchase OF property Was about ls6o,
when the "Jahonnet place next South "l
the old Forbes house, came INTO Mr.. EVarts
hands. Ii Is IA square-bulli, old-iashloned
residence. and has been finished very hand
somely inside, hnvinga blliard-room and
beng supplied with furniture that denotes "A
resort for recreation and pleasure. fourth
house. lust North of the family residence,
was BOUGHT some ten years since. IL Is oi
brick, oi cummodious build and is tinshod.
ia the interior, IN neutral tinted walls, maple
and walnut floors, and has furniture of ma
hoguuy and oak, ancient and modern make.
Tins * occupied Us stated elsewhere by the
married daughter OF Mr.. ENaTts The pro
prrtv is ali connected, and | cs n the centre
OF tins pretty village. On rising ground.
Stately clus and spreading naples front the
ample grounds, while finely kept lawns and
shrubhcry lead bncl. ont of sight from the
passcr-hN.
Ihrsr tgr villas Of the Srcretnry's are
furnished IN n substantial and tasty manner,
and evidently "n the principle that comfort Is
luxury They are always open for the rcrep-
ton and entertainment OF friends. and hun
drcds can testify to the hospitality and social
ntlaInmeuts of his family circle. on one "e-
ciisIun some 10 persons were provided Tor
under these four roofs Tor several days Stand
ing on u knoll M the rear oi the residence
: proper, the eye tnkes m one oi the most