National Republican., 1882-04-29
OUR SUBURBS.
ELEGANT HOMES NEAR THE CITY.
The Old City Of Georestoun-Ancicnt Residences
The Tennallytoun Road-Roscdale-The
Nourse Mansion -" Belvoir"--
The Porter Home.

No city in the country has such interesting sub
urbs as this city has. Others may. surpass II IN
the number and elegance Of their country resi-
dences and in the variety and extent Of their i'm
provoments bat none con equal II In general IN
terest Why, every hilltop, every farm m-house,
and every mansion house around Washington
within q circumference Of ten miles has history
Of its own II may be Of love or OF war, or IL may
be a story Of some one closely connected with OF
greatly distinguished in the political history OF
the country; and now that nature is robing her
sell in her most becoming spring dress she smi-
iIgly invites hey admirers out into her domain 10
visit these places and to view her success in the
work OF adornmcnt That her dress ia extremely
charming and fully equal to anything shc has
worn in preceding years all will admit, and the
charming hooks and beautiful drives found in the
domain will repay them for a visit to IT. nthey
will drive out through
TUE OLD TOWN OF GEORGETOWN
lhey viii find on the heights many fine mansions,
some Of them of many years standing and all OF
them surrounded with beautiful grounds, filled
Bowers and shrubbery of every variety. Among
these residences are those belonging to the Linthi-
huns, the Peters, the Robinsons, and Mackalls,
and TO Mrs. Kepnon. The latter Is relative OF
George Washington Parke Custls. Also the prop
erty belonging at one tmeto Mt George Mas Masning-
sion has been destroyed by fire and the property
now belongs to the Cooke estate. The foundations
90 far mas not advanced beyond the foundation.
Mr.. Washington was twice married and Il is re;
lated Of him that upon the occasion OF the iuneni
Of his wife into the carriage, he embraced the op.
portunily 70 whisper to her, Cousin Ann, don't
Engage yourself 70 any one fot six monthsP'
THE LADY WAS GREATLY SHOCKED
at the abruptness of the suggestion, but did not
mil to act upon " and in due time became Nrs
Washington N9;2 AsoTof this same gentleman S InS,,
Brown excitement, and was awakened one night
to find six men with flaming torches standing
him to arise, dress himself, and follow them. De:
lcendng to the door he found his horses harnessed
to his own wagon. and with his servants was put
Int prison. where he remained until he WINS ro-
leased by Governor Wise. Extending the drive
out upon
THR TENNALLYrowN ROAD,
one win find old house nestled among the trees
which has stood the storms I'D the sunshine OF
nearly one hnndTed years the 9roSs Sso changes as
upon which the old house has been silent wit.
ness, were written out 1t would DO a story OF
the year 1856, and there is tradition In the fam
lily of General Washington selecting the site for
The proprietor, The land upon which 4 is located
belonged to Uriah Forest a. grandfather OF Mr
from Pierce'a Mil to Georgetown. He aneryard
The author Of the "staf- -sp0neled banner" Mr.
Key aud Mr.. Forest married ssters-the Misses
Slater ANOTHER portion Of the land was sold 70 70
lho site for the new observatory. Rock Creek
bounds the tract upon one side The view from
finest In the District. The beautiful dome OF the
Capitol rises in view as the most prominent build
Wien the Foundations Of the old house were Iaid
The winding river and the rugged bills
OF THE VIRGINIA MDE
are plainly seen. A daughter Of tho house mar
who died in The city 9f Mexico ip 1872 leaving
her a widow with one son Beyond "Rosedale y
IS the old Nourse @s~ii, hich is still occupied
Sic MS s the oa iSds snd rarely sI
nils to be in her seat at st. Adams Church every
sne Of ho % pam Il tRe chufeS se os employs the
greater part OF her time in drawing and painting.
There are several
OTHER INTERESTING REsIDRNcEs
In this immediate vicinity Among them Is " Nor
manstonc," which vas built many years ago by
Mr.. barnard an English gentleman, and was
S an Eh SsfF SsS
upon such high ground that one can sit upon the
porch and take In NJ glance a Landscape exrspd-
wihnsa hh s 'fSSS sGs sH Hems and ss h.
hs ss an
pied by the Messrs Riggs, Corcoran, Agg, Wood
and Beale come IN view, The cottage at the Sol
was built By Mr. Rsgs and was originally known t
park always point out this house to strangers as
one of the chief objects ofinterest
GREENWOOD" THE HoMK
Of the late Captain Carlisle Patterson Is q hand.
some mansion, and was noted during the life OF
extended to the citiEens OF washington. About a
mile from Bladensburg stands "Rlversdale," the
% and sy " t Ssys
This may not be true, but the house possesses
sufficient interest apart from that. 1t is probably
Italian villa and was at one time n very imposins
place Many distinguished politicians werein the
habit of visiting there, and Henry Clay wrote the
Missouri Compromise bill under this roof
QUITE NKAR THE CITY
and within u pleasant walk of II Is Kalorama.
built many years ago by II Mr.. Butler, There was
of one Of the daughters which is very interesting
ana g9ss sr 70 prove the & truth St the Gid adhgS
Hill, on the very edge Of the city and soon to be-
site Of the Porter homestead. The house was
of Il has been removed Some of the fruit and
shade trees for which the place was 30 celebrated
are still standing, but they show unmistakable
signs of old age. A square stone monument on
the grassy hillside marks the spot where young
daughter Of Commodore Porter was buried, and Is
war soldiers made II target for their rifle balls
and the urchins OF the neighborhood now find \
M ShSs for so cracking nuts upon Sne
The view from the hill is beautiful, but the eleva IA
ton will soon be thing of the past, for very soor
the whole hill will be cut away 10 conform to tn,
grade of Sixteenth street.
THE STONE MANSION,
Just beyond the boundary is a rambling, cunou
old house. and Il very good specimen Of a comfort
able Southern home fthirty or forty years ago
1t is at present unoccupied During the war th
spacious rooms were filed with cots, and sick ant
suffering soldiem were tendery cared for anC
unused by loving hands and hearts who servet
the country. quite as faithfully in that way a
those did who entered the ranks and faced tn,
storm Of battle. Every ono is familiar with tn
historical old house on the other sido OF the river
for 30 much has been written about It and s.
many thousands have visited 1t, either to gaz
upon the the weather beaten walls or to trea,
with uncovered head among the twelve thousan,
graves near by. And yet somehow there seems b
be perennial freshness about It's history, and on
never tires OF hearing the story Of war which ha
given 1t 80 much prominence, and Of the BRAY
deeds OF the men whose bones are resting there
A very intricate question of law regarding thi
place is before u. courts at the present time AM
those having relGeiyes and friends buried ther
Will no doubt watch It's course with deep interesi