Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-11-30
THE ARLINGTON HOUSE.
Memoirs Of Half a Century or More
Ago.
LAFAYETTE ON THE VIEW
That Spread Before His Gaze as He
Stood on the Portico
of the
LAFAYETTE ON THE WEN
FAMOUS OLD H0STELRIE
Glimpses of Former Grandeur and
Glory.

SpccAal 10 tAe Register.
WASHINGTON, November 29.-Oyer half q
century ago General de Lafayette stood in the
magnificent portieo OF Arlington House,
as it was then called, and after looking for
some moments down the broad sweep Of
fertile valley that stretched beneath his
gaze, turned to Mrs. Curtis, who was stand
ing near him, and said, with tears in his
eyes: Madame, this is the finest view have
ever SEEN" Magnificent as was the vista,
the memory Of one that had gone before,
and with whom he had made the grand
struggle that created US free people, gave
it sacredness as well as beauty. The river
that crept under the sacred banks of Airing
ton Park gided by the last resting place of
his old friend and commander, while the
Capitol City opposite was growing monu-
ment to his name. Maryland heights and
the distant fort were all fraught with recol-
'ectiOns Of the past. as was Georgetown, too,
withits quaint streets and busy wharves, lined
with vessels from every cline, for then, be-
fore the encroachment of long bars of land
ard mud in the channel, Georgetown was one
Of the most important shipping places
in this country To-day We
see reminders Of the fact in long rows Of
rOttiDg wharf timbers, revealed at eb5 tide
when they stand, bare ribs of dead COM
merce.
The superb Forest Trees
in Arlington Park were objects Of great ad.
miration to Lafayette, who said on the oc'
casion of his last visit to the mistress Of the
mansion: "Recollect my dear lady how much
easier it is to cut down q tree than to
make one grow during the life time of
the then owners, and others Of the family
that follow them" This sdmonition. was
reEgiously respected, until war with ITS
rayages put all at naught for a space.
Many grand old trees, however, still keep
sentinel as they did in tho days when the
venerable French MARQUIS commended
their lofty bearing. Mr.. G, W. Psrke
Curtis vas an enthusiastic artist as
we'll as musician, being equally
happy with bis brushes or
bis violin. Often playing for
the young people to dance in tho long high
ceiled drawing rooms, under the mellow hight
of wax candles flickering in silver sconces.
Tie white wreathed walls that once echoed
voices OF stately DANES, blushing maidens
and brave cavaliers, now resounds drearily
with the footballs of curious sightseers. The
mansion then contained numerous objects
of art, many of which are now transferred
to Lexington, Virginia.
The Principal Treasures
were four original portraits of General
Washington, the oldest by Peale the elder
painted in lIT2, full size, th-ee-fourths
length, and representing him attired as a
| Provincial colonel IN the Colonial uniform
blue, with scarlet fscings, silver lace and
scarlet breeches, with sash, gorget, and
what was generally known at that day as
the Wolf hat.
After the revolution Madame de Brienne
with her own fair hands painted picture IN
relief representing Washington and Latay:
cite. The third likeness was bust executed
by the celebrated sealptor Houdou, being
| full life and after the antique. The fourth
was made by Sharpess in 1876, and was
critically correct being taken with an In
strument. Two original Eandykes-por'
uaits-oi almost priceless value made up
part Of the collection, as did also picture
painted bY Sir Godfrey Kneller in l7O1.
Among the engrayings we're superb PIC
lures of
| The Death of Chatham,
presented By Copely; the death of Wolfe,
presented BY West, and fine picture Of
Napier, by Merchiston. This last was pre-
sented by the Earl of Buchan, and bore
the legend. TO Marshal General Washing,
ton" 1t was military etiquette under the
| old regime of France that an officer of the
| rank of Count de Rochambeau could only
accept service under Mareschsl de France.
/ In this difficulty Louis WI. conferred the
| distinguished title upon General Washing
ton, which brought very Insignificant honor
to the recipient in comparison with that
which Rochambeau received for being al
| lowed the privilege of serving in his illustrl-
GUS command. Much of the Mt Vernon
plate was formerly in use at Arlington, and
| a set of china made 10 order by Van Braam,
/ bearing the names and votes Of the old con-
federation, also an odd-shaped service. deco
rated with the representation OF the Cincln'
natl. were among the treasured relics.
Oflate years, since the Government has
had possession of Arlington, many
| changes have taken place, although
the shape OF the building remains
of course, unaltered. The center of the
mansion has frontage Of sixty feet, while
either of the two wings are forty feet, max
ing grand total of one hundred and forty
feet.
The design of the portico is modelled af-
ter that of the temple at Poetsum, near Ma
pies, and is sixty by twenty-five feet. The
pediment is supported by eight massive
| columns, six in front. These columns are
| Eve feet in diameter at their bases, grad
uslly declining 10 the capitals. The columns
are twenty.one feet high, and covered with
Yellow stuceo. In olden times the entire
| building, instead Of being yellow, was IN
| imitation of free stone, marked on IN
| blocks.
MANY amusing anecdotes are told of Mr..
| Cur-,s' forVetfalness. He would sften In
vite the most distinguished guests, and neg
lect to mention the fact. AS the roads lead
| ing to Georgetown, then the principal depot
/ in the neighbOrhood for all commodities,
were invariably bad, con tire temps both
lu1icrous and provoking frequently oc-
Cured Notwithstanding the bountiful prov
idence Of the hospitable mistress Of the
mansion. WV. ARMSTRONG.
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