Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-04-29

What better Sunday reading could
TIE C-pitgiaaee than will be found IN
a brief sketch Of The home Of Bishop
Pinkney, whose name is so well known
and whose face is so familiar to us in
Washington : The estate is called
Blenheim, and is a charming spot-on
one of the wooded heights framing in
the ancient town Of Bladensburg, Prince
Georges county, Nd, situated nine
miles from our city. 1t is a century
old house, built after the fashion of an
English squire's home; the center two
storied, hanked Dy long rambling wings
one-and-a-hall stories high. 1t is OF
brick, with an infnitude Of bay and
oriel windows, filed in with diamond
shaped pains Of glass; and in one OF
these Eindows-the evening we called
was blooming a great variety Of ge-
ranioms, their rich, vivid hues brought
out more distinctly bv the intense green
ness Of the leaves. The main doorway,
Of oak, Is nrnamented by brass griffin
knocker. In response 10 the summons
we raped there came a tall. well-ap-
pearing, courtly gentleman, the owner
Of Blenheim and brother-in-law Of the
Bishop-Mr. Lowndes. He gave US a
cordial greeting, and invited Us to the
sitting-room, where burned glowing
FIRE. Down the center OF the house
runs a spacious, generous hallway, at
the end of which, quite out Of sight. Is
the broad stairway, xfith substantial
balustrade OF the style so common in
colonial days. The room into which
We were ushered is low ceiled and fur
nished with quantity shaped, BRASS
trimmed chairs, sofas, desks, a side
board and chest Of drawers; the wood
mahogany, its rich. glowing surface
kept highly polished, and every line oi
carving standing forth in bold relief
The tables, claw-footed affairs, needed
no cover; their faces shone ike mir
rors, and the brass ornaments lighting
them glittered like gold. The mantel-
shelf, placed, as was the custom in
those times, well up out Of reach, IS Oi
wood; every niche Of the shelf covered
with flowers and fruits, carved BY a
deft knife on the yielding material. On
this are bionzes, q clock, bis Of family
china, odd pieces of glass and scraps"
OF everything unique. The long, wide
windows open TO the lawn, which on
that far October evening looked mosi
attractive. In few moments, during
which our restless vision took in much
more than the pen has told. the Bishop
entered. II his lips did no: utter q
''Benediciie" as be came across the
threshold his presence did. He is q
man Of common height, very Inclined %
obesity: has benign. attractive face; he
is quite bald, and hat hair fringes tbC
bare center OF bis head Is Of snowy
whiteness. In general appearance be
IS moi unlike The late Reyerdy Jehnson,
He is a man Of great intellectual abiii-
ty, and one Of the most jealous shep-
herds in the Episcopal church. He is
rarely at Blenheim, Tor the reason thai
once IN each year he visits every pa.
Tish in has diocese. His works show II
the improved condition Of the church In
MARYLAND, and in every act OF his use
fui life does his anxiety to serve God
shine forth. His 4, ck- are 10 sympa-
thy with him. and be finds ready res.
ponse IRON al called on to aid hIm ia
any undertaking. Through his kinl
counseis, wisely and iudicIouslY sd-
m.nlstered, Dir. w. w. Cororsn joined
the church. and from him the jealous
Bishop constantly receives generous
proofs Of gratitude and love. Al Bien-
helm be has a fine study. of in tie ca 4