Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-19
The Old Virginia Homestead.

Trom Maculuan's MaSAZ1ne.
Within the house a broad hall reaches from
end to end its floors shining and slippery with
polish; its walls wainscoted half way to the
ceiling. their upper half simply whitewashed
and covered with emblems OF rural life. Antlers
OF deer killed fifty years ago in the dense forests
on the eastern border Of the county, or trophies
of more recent expeditions across the Blue
Ridge to the wild hunting grounds Of the Ale
ghanies. Suspended from these hang old shot
TASKS and powder-horns that have served the
general and his generation i'm days gone by,
before trouble fell upon the land In the corner
stands the Joe MantOn and the long kentucky
rifle. that Internationally years ago were
weapons OF the southern squire i'm stubble
and in forest respectively: Here, on
another wall, a younger generation OF nephews
from Richmond or Baltimore, who look on the
home Of their fathers as happy hunting ground
for autumn holidays, have hung their ''Greeners"
and their cartridge belts The remainder of the
wall is relieved by map OF the county, pic
ture OF the University of Virginia, the capitol at
Richmond, and several illustrated and framed
certificates OF prizes taken by the general at
agricultural shows 1t is in the drawing-room.
however, that the treasures Of the family are
collected. Here again oak wainscoting and white
wash, with carved chmney-pieces clambering up
toward the ceiling, silently protest against YOUR
conventional ideas Of America; and here too the
foor-for the winter carpets have not yet been
laO doWn-snlne with polish and Is treacherous
to walk upon. Brass dog-irons OF ponderous
build, and as old as the house. shine against
the warm brick hearth, waiting for the logs
that the cool October nights will soon heap up-
on them. Old-fashioned tables that suggest all
kinds OF grandmotnerly skill i'm silk and worsted
cluster In the corners Of the room. Upon the
walls hang the celebrities that the good Vfr-
gilman delights to honor. Here Washington,
surrounded by the notables of his time both
men and women, is holding his first reception.
Here Mr.. Jefferson looks down upon an old cabi-
net containing bundles OF his private letters to
the generals grandfather, full of the price OF
wheat and the improvement of tie county
roads, dashed now and then with illusions to
the advantage which the young repub-
Lie would gain from sympathy with France
rather than with her unnatural parent. Great
Britain. Here, too, Patrick Henry, the greatest
popular orator America ever produced, with his
long face and eagle eye. hangs above an arm
chair which family legend treasures as having
rested the old man groaning under the ingrati-
tude OF his countrymen upon his last political
campaign. There engravings Of the Vienna con-
gress, of Queen Victoria, and OF the famous
ROyalist Col. Tarleton, after Sir Joshua Rev
nOlds remind you that blood after all is thick
than water. Two or three ladies in the costur
of the first George, and as many gentlemen e.
wigs and swords, could tell you, II they could
speak, OF the big square mansion Of English
bricks upon the Chesapeake shore which they
still looked upon as the home of their race and
there too in the post Of honor above the high
chimney-piece is the generals uncle, the Sena-
tor, who. as every one In America knows, was
minister to France In 18S-.