Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-01
m rRE VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN.
a Visit Co An Old Time sessh era Heu.-.
stead.

oArLASDs, Va, August 81. isss
We are 90 accustomed To travelling due nOrts IN
the summer time that many or us remain IN lgsor.
ance OF how much beauty lies at our very dooT a,
rather AZ the door Of our next ncaghbOr's IN tar.
ginia. short journey brought our party 20 les
bur-, where we found a carriage In waiting &c
take Us 10 oatlandS pleasant drive over sOod
roads through lovely country with the whole
landscape green and sparkling from recent show
erS brought u IN sight of one OF tkoss
old Virginia mansions 30 favored in story.
A second gate brought IN view q noble cluster OF
oaks and a long avenue OF trees leading u the
entrance, where the iyy-grown wall the bfick
columHs covered. save for their granite caps save
luok OF anCeslt al Inheritance. lacking IN of
our OeaatlIui country residences short curve
Virginia mistress stood waiting our arrival sur
rounded by her attendants The house iiscif u
beautiful aud built IA the stsle alent he
sOuJh. The Greek piilsred portlco Is more thah 20
feet long, while the proportions OF the house aud
greatest harmony and tnc most gracvS effect.
On either side OF the porch blooied PINK aud
white oleanderS and among the stately colunns
OF the portlco stood rare plants. alOes aud booin
Lights g'eSang through the house but added TO
the bewildering effect, as our Tired party algbted
after our long drive. our dusky attendants iel Us
nrst into tn spacious hail. adorned On either stde
with large portraits 81 the original owners OF mis-
beautifu estate, and on the massive sideeoard the
family plate Was arranged In the same honleiiEe
way that IL had always urcn Leading Us In throigh
the dining room, ended a circular stair
aud passing Through long and diinly -lil.sted
hail. found at last tue apartments Intended for our
use.
The mansion was most soiidly built In the year
1900. ana Is, save for few detects almost Intact.
The carved wood work vas brought frum England,
well as the rare ana curious brass rings that
adorn the doors ana take the place OF our more
modern knobs. The nnIshings OF the walls are vet
perfect, and 10 II all the beautiful plaster-w TX
that IOrlis the cornices and center-pieces OF enc
ceilings. IL - almost without a nav, and looks
II IL would stand for another eighty years just as
Al Is. The mantel-pieces are carved wood-wtrk.
and That IN the dining noon Is most ella crate. In
the garden the neglect n more apparent the de-
serted ana ruined grccn-house, Tue grass -gruNn
steps OF the terraces, and the over-grown and
trimmed hedges show the want OF and AZ
tentiOn. In the tail grass one Is apt % stumble
over broken-narole pillar or the loot
may slip On the In0ss-gIown steps The
glory OF the garden has departed, puJ
The fascination OF deserted garaen
remains. The fuses have grown over every IhIisg;
The box has grow into trees and the great pltles
ana mrs smut cut al view. close aud 80 tall
they, while over ali grows the climbing ivy, the
English IVY, anu the still smaller species knOwn
as The hcnii~ortn iyy, its very maine suggeetlAg
rum and disorder. Beyond the garden IL the gIeaJ
barn, looking as II IL had been buiIt 90 hold the
produce OF Thousand acrea ON the Circular
lawn In front OF the house Il q mag nincent Mag-
noha grandifiora, ITS snowy. fragrant blossoms
cleaning amid It's glossy darG green leaves And
mere one can see how carefully the landscape
gardening has been done, Tor just over the green
house aud beyond Is a glimpse OF green lawns
ana noble trees. giving parfl-lke elect wherever
The great trees permit view. ".