The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-11-03
MARsHFIELD.

The Webster Homestead as De-
scribed by the Immortal Daniel
Himself.
The following letter from Mr. Webster de-
scribes the homestead as it was at the time of
his first residence there:
"MARsHFIELD, May &c, 1912 DEAR Mrs.
CURTIS: You are one of those unfortunate
persons who have not seen Marshfeld 1t
would be cruel to speak of it's beauties if your
fate, in this respect, were reversible; but as
you may, and trust do, cherish the hope of
for something like an ecstasy. And yet
single sight would hardly produce
that effect Superficial observers see
nothing at Marshfeld but rocks and sands and
desolation, as one uninitiated runs his eye over
the pictures of an old master and wonders
what folks can see that is pleasant in such a
grim and melancholy looking thing. Marsh
field is to be studied Do not come, therefore,
without weeks before you. Some may tell
you that its excellence is, like transcendental-
ism, so refined and invisible as to hang on the
very verge of nonsense or nonentity. But
these are malignant persons, and not to be
believed And now from generalities
to facts An old-fashioned two-story
house, with piazza (stoopO all around
it, stands on a gentle rising, facing due south,
and distant fifty rods from the road, which
runs in front Beyond the road is ridge of
hilly 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
20, oG@D
feel them now coming, not over beds of violets,
but over Plymouth Bay, fresh if not fragrant
A carriage way leads from the house, not
bold and impUdent, right up straight to the
front door, like the march of column of sol
diers, but winding over the lower parts of the
ground, sheltering itself among trees and
hedges, and getting possession at last, more
by grace than force, as other achievements are
best made. Two other houses are in sight, one
farmhouse cottage, built at the end of the
avenue, so covered up in an orchard as to be
hardly visible; the other little further off in
the same direction-that is, to the left of the
road, very neat and pretty, with beautiful
field of grass by its side.
"Opposite the east window of the east front
room stands noble, spreading elm, the adj
miration of all beholders. Beyond that is the
garden, sloping to the east and running down
till the tide washes it's lower walls Back Of
the house are such vulgar things as barns,
anu Oh Un6 OUn0r Sue, ClaC Is, Oh
the north and northwest, is a fresh
/ water pond of some extent with green
grass growing down on its margin, and good
walk all around it on one side, the walk pass
ing through thick belt of trees. planted by
the same hand that now indites this eloquent
description. This pond is separated on the
east by causeway from the marshes and it's
salt water, and over this csuseway is the COM
mon passage to the northern parts of the
farm. 1 say nothing of orchards and copses,
and clumps interspersed over the lawn,
because such things may be seen in vulgar
places.
"But now comes the climax. From the
doors, from the windows, and, still better,
from twenty little elevations, all of which are
close by, you see the ocean, a mile off, repos-
ing in calm or tossed In storm, as the case may
be- Here you now have Marshfield and let
us recapitulate. First, the ocean; as to
that, when it is mentioned enough is
said. Second, a dry and pure air; not
bog, nor ditch, nor an Internal gutter
in five miles; not a particle of exhalation but
from the ocean and running New England
stream. Third, walk of a mile, always fit
for ladies' feet when not too wet, through the
orchard and the belt Fourth, five miles of
excellent hard beach driving on the seashore,
commencing mile and half from the house.
Fifth, region of pine forest three miles back,
dark and piney in appearance and IN smell as
you ever Witnessed in the remotest interior.
"Your truly,
"DANIEI, WEBSTER