The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-05-21

NOllllhlllllg our travels from lllr village Ol
| Chenille, amid the surrounding scenes OF
which our last letter was concluded, we take
| the public highway that leads in the direction
of priesthood Bridge, and after journeying bnt
| short distance-less than half a mile-we
| come within view of Kenton, beautiful Ken
| ton, the home of our widely known and
much esteemed friend, and fellow citizen
Thomas King, Esq.
Unlike the majority of the homes of which
| we have hitherto written, that occupy ele-
waited locations, Kenton lies sweetly embow-
| cred in the bosom of beautiful vale.
From the public road, which passes in front
perhaps five hundred yards distant from the
buildings-we look down the charming vista
and catch interesting glimpses of this historic
mansion through many stately forest trees
about the house, and many of the more orna-
mental varieties that. in their beauty, are
evergreen, which thickly grow and cast their
cooling shades around. Such vision as this
presents must have been in the poets mind
when he sung of the beautiful spot
Where smiling Spring its earliest visit paid,
And parting summers ling ring blooms delayed ~
The grounds between the entrance gate at
the highway and dwelling, extending several
hundred yards in each direction, constitute Il
magnificent lawn, which comprises several
acres within its bounds, and affords one of
the chief attractions in interest and beauty
outside of, or apart from the residence itself,
that can be connected with country home.
The carriage-way leading to the house,
with Il rustic, old style gate across it some
distance from the entrance, and adding to the
picturesqueness of the view, winds gracefully
down the hill, and, at its base, crosses rustic
bridge which spans a small stream that
meanders through the lawn and forms a
81, Inly nl,
and supply of ice for the ice-housc in the
winter season, at the lower extremity of the
| lawn. Such u beautiful, natural water course
flowing through the grounds Immediately in
front of the residence, is an acquisition to the
landscape connected with ornamental country
mansions that is attainable but to few. What
Nature, in her beauty, here supplies, Art
elsewhere has often expended much in vain
to gain.
After crossing the bridge, there is quite
an emnence to be assembled before reaching
the house; the roadway winds its serpentine
course to the left the carriages passing either
| entirely around the house, in the direction
| of the barn, or across the grounds to the front
door of the dwelling Many of the trees
standing around, upon all sides, are natives
of the American forest, as before intimated
| and some of them are venerable and grand
histories connected with them, not now re-
mcmbcred by the writer, and one of them
| has had n succession of coins yearly inserted
beneath the bark, Immediately over each
| other; each coin being covered with one
years growth of the tree. One large tree
large at this time-hns an iron hoop hung
| loosely around it. The cOnundrnm is, how
did the hoop get there? Since the tree has
attained such size very few can guess, but
the fact is that ii was passed over the root OF
the tree many years ago, when it was first
| planted in the lawn.
| On the brow of the high ground to the right
looking from the public road, and immediate
| " in front of the house, near n little rustic
and coy arbor, stands life-size and liic.like
the moulded form lin from of deer, with its
numerously branching antlcrs AT short
distance to the left sits, in like enduring form
the faithful and "honcsl Watchdog, both APP
! pearing in scmblancc of form and in positions
80 natural and lifr-like, as al first glance to dc
ceivc the belIoldcr with belief in their reality
and vitality.
Between these representatives of the wild
and of domestic life, rather nearer to tho
house, and opposite the front entrance door
is located very handsome fountain jet dem
the spray from which, besides its beauty in
the sunshine, is delightfully."- refreshing during
the long ana not Gays Oh summer. AROUND
this fountain, to be believed by its spray, in
the summer season, the proprietor, with adj
mirabe taste-possibly through the taste O
some of his lady friends-arranges pots o
many-hued blooming flowers, much to the
delight and pleasure of his numerous lady
visitors, as well as to his own qualification.
When this fountain is in full play, and sur
rounded with the gay flowers and beautiful
green trees, and the many singing birds thai
annually build their nests and rear theil
young, secure from harm, in and upon thu
waving branches of the trees, and undisturb
ed sing their joyful songs, the scene is ont
that the busy business man of city life, who's,
hard fate it is to tramp day after day over tn,
dry, hot pavements to and from his never
ending tread-mlll duties, might yearningly
long for, and look upon as the realization 0
the Elysium of his enchanting dreams, wher,
the busy man atlast may rest in this life
before passing the inevitable portals Of Eter
nifty, the last long rest, which, unhappiy, ap
pears to many poor mortals, i'll their endless
strifcs and conflicts here, AS the only one I,
them attainablc. TO all such, who are hcavi
ly ladened and weary, and who are hopeless
of finding peace and rest, and even happiness
in this life, let them come and gaze upon tin
beauties of fair Kenton, where the birds sin,
and where the flowers bloom, and il the In
spiration drawn from the scene does not serv