Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-16
miscellaneous.
Home or Webster.


Marsbfield was prominently the home
Of Daniel Webster, and picture OF his
house and farm cannot fail to be interest
ing at this time. When he first looked
upon the town it was as sparsely settled
hamlet as the most retiring citizen could
desire. Close down by the seashore IN
1924, on the Thomas farm, stood the Old
homestead Of Captain Thomas, OF Revoiu-
tionary fame. The house and farm, the
latter combined from those OF the Royallst
Thomas and Winslow, charmed Mr.. WEB
ster and in 1927 he bought the place. The
estate consisted Of some 1000 acres OF
undulating, marshy land, and under his
care it came to be one OF the best farms IN
New England. There he gratified his
taste tor, and manifested his knowledge
Of, the science of agriculture The man
who taught Benton manners, Calhoun
logic, Hayne the power OF Massachusetts
orat0ry and the entire South the supreme
authority of the Federal Constitution, also
instructed the farmers Of Plymouth county
as to the value Of kelp, seaweed and
menbaden fish as fertilizers. lie dIscoy-
cred tie value of these inexpensive iertil-
izers. and furnished most OF the funds Tor
building road to the sea so that they
might be easily obtained by the farmers.
Not a single load Of these products oil the
sea was ever drawn from the beach until
Webster set the example. He was also
instrumental in cultivating among
his neighbors taste for better
houses than they have been ac-
customed to. II has been said that If the
town Of Marshfield has given Webster
$50. 600. the inhabitants would have re-
ceived far more than an adequate recon-
pense in the extraordinary stimulus which
be gave to agriculture. His farm was
we'll stocked with fine cattle. horses and
poultry, and his flower garden covered
more than an acre. From seed planted
by his own hand he had in 1852 raised
more than 100, 900 trees to a fair growth.
The estate was admirably LAID out. the
walks, parks, avenues and drives appear
ing to be exaclv where they should be.
Near the house were three lakes, fed by
the purest of springs. In the center of
the largest of these Mr.. Webster placed a
small island. upon which he domesticated
q flock of wild geese.
Upon the estate there were in Mr.. Web
ster's time about thirty buildings Of all
kinds. The main portion of the mansion
was built in IVA. and the newer portion
had more than doubled its original size
and completely modcrnizedits appearance.
Il stood on the summit OF IA beautiful lawn,
completely girded by a piazza. On the
ground floor were nine well-furnished
rooms. including the Gothic library. Ar
ticles Of virtue abounded throughout the
house, and the results of womanly taste
we're everywhere manifest. There were
portraits of Webster by Stuart and Healy;
one of Lord Ashburton; one of Judge
Story by Harding. and portraits of other
members of the family. together with
many other excellent productions by
painter and sculpture. To his daughter
Webster was indebted for his finely de-
signed library. in which he placed books
valued inst before his death at $40, 900,
There were plenty of firearms in his
house. but no one was allowed to kill any
bird rabbit or squirrel on his property. In
one of his letters Webster thus described
his home: IAN old-fashioned two-story
house, with a piazza all round it, stands
on a gentle rising, facing due south, and
distant 80 rods from the road, which runs
In front Beyond the road is a ridge of
billy land, not very high. covered with
oak wood, running in the same direction
as the road, and leaving little depression
or break exactly opposite the house.
through which the southern breezes fan us
of an afternoon. feel them now coming,
not over beds OF violet. but over Plymouth
bay, fresh. II not fragrant. A carriage
way leads from the road TO the house. not
bold and impudent, right up straight to
the front door. like the march of a column
of soldiers, but winding over the lower
parts of the ground. sheltering itself
among trees and hedges and getting pos
session mt last more by grace than force.
as other achievements are best made.
Opposite the east window OF the east front
room stands a noble spreading elm, the
admiration of all beholders. Behind that
Is the garden. sloping to the east, and run
ming down till the tide washed its lower
wall. From the doors, from the win
dows. and, still better. from 90 little ele
vations, all of which are close by. you see
the ocean. mile off. reposing in calm or
terrible in storm, as the case may be-"
Webster died October "a. 1852, at
Marshfeld. and nearly 26 years later
February IL. 1879 his house was burned
about two o'clock in the morning. Mrs.
Webster. his son Ashburton and Miss
Cowing were in the house, and with the
energetic labor of the servants and some
neighbors. they succeeded in securing the
family portraits and most of the furniture
and ornaments on the lower floor. The
upper part of the house was completely
destroyed. few years ago Mrs. Web
ster built modern house upon the site of
the burned building.
An effort existing without cause is an
impossibility; tickling in the throat, husk