The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-30

ton a short time ago revealed a sad
spectacle. A dozen or more ifrican Cali
bans were TO be seen crouching on the
ground manipulating the fragments Of
the walls. like Sexton beetles at
carcass or ruin-ghouls among The
disintegrating remains of the old
house. preparatory 10 the coming of =
new arrangement for the habitations OF
strangers.
Nearly all the historic dwellings in
Richmond and the neighboring country
belonging TO the past generation have
disappeared The time ia not far distant
when the descendants Of those now living
win have no idea what kind Of houses
their ancestors lived in. They will not
have the slightest knowledge OF how they
were furnished or how the affairs Of such
establishments were conducted. The
abolition of slavery so entirely changed
the structure Of society, that they will be
at loss 10 account for the number of
servants necessary 90 the demands of a
gentleman's establishment Two genera
tons ago. II such matters appear TO the
readers of the present day as unworthy
at consideration, and therefore, beneath
the dignity Of history, it will only De
necessary 10 refer them 10 the pages OF
Macauiy or TO the more recent paragraphs
Of Green's account OF the English people,
to show what value they put upon the
domestic and economical habits of their
countrymen in the past centuries. This,
indeed. Is real history The large space
devoted to the policies Of governments,
the changes Of administrations, q G
causes OF war, and the framing Of treaties
are of undoubted importance in the
construction of history. On the other
hand, how often have even these grave
and important themes become the
sources of such bitterness and strife by
the partisan and the politician, that 70
doubt the truth of history now has be
come the acknowledged right Of the most
pronounced agnostic.
The venerable mansion on CANDLES
Hill. in all probability, was planned by
M Jefferson. Mr. Randolph, VI DO began
its construction, was his near relative
and a. the former was very fond Of
building and planning houses. the latNr
may have gotten suggestions from
him. We know Of several houses Of the
time. now DESTROYED or rearranged. that
tlE iut tighilbNa OF vi 1tNfi1'h liN
culiar taste The mansion so long Occu-
pied by the Booker family, on the corner
of Clay and Twelfth streets, but now pulled
down. was built By Mr. +. y. Nicholas,
afterward Judge Nicholas, Of the Circuit
Court, and planned by Mr. Jefferson. He
seemed q delight not only in broad halls
and ample apartments, but had an es-
especial fondness for octagon and circular
rooms This peculiarly is strongly illus
trated In the house at Monticello and in
+ that al Pennington, the former seat Of
his intimate friend the late George Dt
vens, Esq. In the rear Of the Gamble
mansion was large semi-circular room,
with windows looking ont upon the land
scape over the riyer-yery suggestive Of
/ the style 10 which Mr. Jefferson was so
much devoted
+ BE this rs it may, we take s0rfowful
/ leave of this one of the last remaining
specimens Of the old Richmond home
sieads but at the same time, with the
purpose Of putting upon record, if pos
sible, not only description Of others, but
Of the manners and customs OF those
who occupied them.