The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-15
BRANDON HALL
The Beautiful Cour try Seat Of the Vir-
ginia Branch of the Harrison Family.
r. 81. I1,.4.ka,~9 TlssTsafrb

/ atlVelY good repair. Inc present occupant
and owner is the widow Of George Evelyn
Harrison. This lady was Miss Isabel
! Richie. the daughter Of the famous FEATHER
/ RltcIie, Of the Richmond Enquirer, who
! was called later 70 the edItorship OF the
| luton a democratic paper IN this city
under the patronage Of the late w. w.
COrcoran.
Tnis Mrs Harrison Of Brandon is an ele-
CANT and hignly-cultivated woman. Her
son. George Evelyn Harrison, died about
FIVE years ago, leaving widow and four
| children. She lives on q small estate be-
longing 70 Brandon Her Oldest son, the
future neIr Of the estate, who is also named
George Evelyn Harrison, is now in New
York STUDYING 70 be an architect. He is a
fine young fellow, just q years old. and has
c -ossn this Drr fe-S,on on account Of his own
taste in this direction.
He WONT NEED TO WORK HARD.
II viii not be necessary, however. for the
Young nan to work very hard for living
a Brandon is rich plantation and the
produce it yields brings good price in the
market and amply supplies the family with
all they need.
The present mistress Of Brandon, Mrs
Isabel Richie Harrison, has a daughter
VINO, while size is perhaps about A. years
old, IS one Of tne most beautiful women Ill
Virginia. She is named for her mother
Isabel Richie. Sne has had offers by the
score, but, loyal 70 the memory Of a gallant
confederate colonel who bore one Of the
most distinguished names in VIrginia's his
tory. and who Was shot while leading a
desperate charge in one Of the battles Of
northern Y rginia, she has firmly declined
them all
Miss Harrison is a decided brunette, with
clear, onve complexion, a bright color,
large, dark eyes and hair. is an acc mplished
musician, and is something of an artist
Her education, like that Of Mrs. Amelie
RIves Chenler, was mostly acquired at
home. She Is an omnivorous reader, and
has spent much Of her life in the rare old
library at Brandon.
MISS HARRISON A STRICT DEMOCRAT.
Miss Harrison is a good politician in a
way, reads all the papers, is a democrat of
the strictest sort, and she and her imne-
diate family uncompromisingly condemn
the political creed Of the President-elect
They neither indulge in, nor permit in their
hearing one syllable that is derogatory Of
him as a gentleman and a Harris IN. They
are clannish t. the backbone. They do
not expect to ask single favor of President
Harrison, but If he should choose to visit
the home of his forefathers, the doors OF
Brandon will be open to him. as they would
to any one who bears his name.
Aud Brandon is beautiful enough to
tempt man, especially a Harrison, to
leave the white house. even, to visit. About
200 yards Of the porch which fronts toward
the river is broad sweep of the James
two miles wide, where the Brandon" a
trim yacht, is always ready to take the
family and guests of Brandon house for a
sail. A broad avenue, with old fashioned
border Of box, leads from the house to
Brandon wharf. On either side of this
avenue is an extensive lawn, dotted with
flowers, shrubs, trees, and other ornamen-
ral plants Two very ancient white marble
urns are about half way between the porch
and the river
THE BUILDER OF BRANDON HOUSE.
In the middle of the irregular brick
structure is the Oldest part OF Brandon
house, built of English brick for the first
Harrison who settled at Brandon, the father
of Col. Benjamin Harrison, the sigaer Of
the Declaration of Independence and the
friend of George Washington. This part is
two stories and half high Antique
dormer windows are on top of the slanting
roof, and four round brick columns, some
what similar to those at Arlington, support
the roof Of the porches, which are of the
same height as the two stories, aud which
ornament both the river aud country en-
frances to the house 1t is named Brandon
house after the Duchess of Brandon, fay
orite friend and kinswoman of the first
Harrison of Brandon.
Additions have been made to the house
from time to time Two wings connected
with the main building by long halls, one
used as billiard room and the other as a
ten-pin alley. now constitute the entire
house. 1t contains fifteen large rooms.
AN INTERESTING INTERIOR.
On entering the house one finds himself
in large square hall, hung with stag horns,
rusty old swords, ancient-looking guns, and
other implements of bunting and warfare
This opens on one side to drawing room
of magnificent proportions, on the other to
an equally large dining room. These
rooms are filled with very handsome old
furniture, some of which antedates the
revolution. The sideboard in the dining
room is weighted down with silver of a
unique and ancient pattern. In these two
rooms, also, are hung greater portion of
the family portraits. Some of
these portraits are Of unusual interest
and several were paintei from life by Sir
Peter DEFY. The collection includes the
Westover portraits.
Westover. situated somewhat further
down che river, was the country seat of
Col. William Bird, the son-in-law of Col
Benjamin Harrison, and husband of the
eldest sister Of Gen. William Henry Harri-
son. Westover has not been managed as well
Is Brandon, and it was sold to Col. Drury OF
Virginia several years ago, when the por-
traits were taken TO Brandon.
SOME OF THE MISSIONER PORTRAITS.
Among these portraits is one of the Duke
of Albermarle, painted by Sir Peter DEFY e:
one of Col. William Bird, another of the
beautiful Evelyn Bird, one of Virginia's
old-time bellies, who died when she was a
young lady. Between tbs portrait and
that of lady Betty Cromwell hangs a fine
portrait of Colonel benjamin Harrison,
taken when ne was delicate, slende look
ing young man. On the opposite wall is
portrait OF Mrs. Col. Benjamin Harrison,
who was Miss Julia Randolph. Over the
mantel is a modern-looking portrait of Mrs,
GiddIngs of Baltimore, a kinswoman
painted by Guillaume In the dining room
are portraits Of Lord Fairfax, Sir Robert
Southwell Sir Robert WalDole. the Duke
of Orrery and the Duchess of Brandon.
The walls of both rooms are literally COW
cred with pictures, and beside those men
toned are many more interesting portraits
of the Harrisons and Randolphs of this
and of past generations. The library is in
one wing of the house, and contains a large
and miscellaneous collection of books. The
Bird memoirs, in manuscript, beautifully
bound, contain almost complete history OF
Nirgiuia.
CHURCH SERVICE AT HOME.
Every Sunday the Episcopal service is
read by Mrs. Harrison, the Chatelaine, in
the large drawing room of Brandon, no
church being near, and all the neighborhood
DeoDle regularly arfeni She also DlaVs tho