Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-03
ANALOSTAN ISLAND.
What 1t Was Like Nearly q Hundred
Years Ago.
Mr.. MAsoN's fosPrrABLE HOME ON THE ISLAND
WHAT THE ISLAND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
INCORPORATING ABOUT THE PEOPLE, BIRDS,
TREES, AND FLOWERS OF THE ISLAND.

NorEs-soMErHINa ABOUT THE PEOPLE, BIRDS,
TREES, AND FLOWERS OF THE ISLAND.
Those who have seen the Analostan Island of
to-day, with its tennis courts, baseball dia-
mond. race track and other kindred equip
ments-the outdoor athletic home of the Co
iumbia athletic club-may probably never have
read OF the island as it was when the great
American republic was young. There fes-
tivities upon the island in these days which are
fully as gorgeous as any that preceded them
by seventy or eighty years, but there is charm
In ancient history which will compel
everybody to read what David B. Warden wrote
OF the place early in the present century. Mr..
warden was man of considerable ability and
an acute observer. He was the United States
consul at Paris in 1910, and when he returned
Ne wrote much of the city of Washington
and Its environs. Here are his notes about the
island:
"Annalostan Island, the seat of General
Mason, is situated in the river Potomac, oppo-
site Georgetown, and contains nearly seventy
acres. fat-boat. of rude construction, awk-
wardly impelled by an oar, placed near each
extremity, affords safe conveyance between
the island and the mainland, distance of
about two hundred yards. The profits of the
ferry are rented by General Mason for the sum
OF 500 year. Before the erection of the
Potomac bridge it yielded more than double
this amount. On one side the island is now
connected with the mainland by an artificial
mound, or causeway, which was raised at the
| expense of the government for the purpose of
stopping the current on this side of the island
and thereby increasing the depth of water in
the Georgetown channel This current in
lIo4, was considerably deepened by the passage
down after a sudden thaw, and carried with it
large masses of the muddy bottom.
The Georgetown channel has been
but little deepened by the erection of
TINS causeway. Mr.. Gusts proposed to open a
passage fer vessels by means of flood gates
he observes that there were from Is to rs feet
OF water in the channel. Near the close of the
year 1911 1t was proposed to confine the cur
rent by one channel means and to remove the
sort bottom by increasing the velocity of the
water. For this purpose the corporation Of
Georgetown entered into a contract with the
proprietor OF this plan, engaging to pay the
sum OF $4,000 for its execution, with the guaran-
tee OF its duration for the space of two years.
Ii, at the expiration of this time, there re-
manned Is feet depth of water from the Eastern
Branch to Georgetown, they were to receive
the additional sum Of $4,000; otherwise, to ex-
pend from their own funds, for other necessary
lapours, sum not exceeding $1,000.
OF MODERN FORMATION.
"Annalostan Island is evidently of modern
formation. In searching for water, mass Of
trees was discovered at the depth of Is feet.
Gen. Mason instructed workman bryan
Duffy to cut through them. After having re-
moved several of large dimensions he threw
aside his axe, swearing by that he now
met huge ones with their tops upward In
other places water was found at the depth of
25 or 80 feet. The highest eminence Oh which
the house stands, is 80 feet above the level of
the river. The common tide rises to the height
OF feet. can never forget how delighted 1
was with my first visit to this island. The amable
ladies whom had the pleasure to accompany
left their carriage at Georgetown and we
walked to the mansion house un1er delicious
shade. The blossoms of the cherry apple, and
peach trees, of the hawthorn and aromatic
shrubs filed the air with their fragrance.
THE HOUSE.
of simple and neat form, is situated near that
side OF the island which commands a view of the
Potomac, the Presidents house, Capitol and
other buildings. The garden, the sides of
which are washed by the waters of the river
Is ornamented by variety of trees and shrubs
and III the midst there is a lawn covered with a
beautiful verdure.
In July, 1911, Mrs. NJ. gave a rural dance to
the friends and acquaintance of her son Mt the
eve of his departure for France. Though the
weather had been excessively warm during the
day there was a delicious breeze. The Young
people danced on the lawn. Tea. coffee. cakes
fresh and preserved fruits were presented to
the guests, who sat or walked about conversing
or silently admiring the dance under the shade
of trees, illuminated by lamps which were halt
obscured by the light of the moon.
The summer house is shaded by oak and lin
den trees, the GOODNESS and tranquility of
which invite to contemplation. The refreshing
breezes OF the Potomac and the gentle MUIR
murlng of its waters against the rocks, the
warbling of birds, and the mournful aspect of
weeping willows inspire a thousand various
sensations What a delicious shade
"'Ducere solicite jucunda obliva vite.'
TEE VIEW FROM THIS SPOT
is delightful. 1t embraces the picturesque
banks of the Potomac, portion of the city. and
an expanse of water of which the bridge termi-
mates the view. Numerous vessels plv back
wards and forwards to animate the scene. Di-
recting the eye over corner of the garden we
perceive the sails only as if by enc hantmeHI
gliding through the trees. few feet below
the summer house the rocks afford seats where
those who are fond eff fishing may indulge in
this amusement. From the portico on the on
posite side of the house, Georgetown, Gallo
| rama (the beautiful seat of Joel Barlow, Esq J.
and the adjacent finely wooded hills appear
| through a vista. To the left there is a pros
| pect OF the fields and woods on the opposite
| banks of the river Every part of the island is
| romantic. Hawthorn and cedar hedges and an
improved cultivation indicate taste and agri-
cultural knowledge. By means of hydraulic
| machine water may be easily raised from the
| river and conducted by pipes to every part of
| the surface.
TREES AND SHRUBS.
"This island has great variety of trees and
| shrubs, owing to the seeds brought by the
| stream from mountainous regions-different
species of oak walnut, mulberry. poplar locust.
| ash, willow the paw-paw and the spindle tree
or burning bush. At the summer house there
is white walnut of about foot in diameter
perforated by grapevine of three inches in cir
conference, which has been squeezed to death
by the growth of the tree. Near the causey
there is a species of eglantine, thirty feet in
length and three inches in diameter, which is
supported by neighboring friendly tree. The
poison oak, or poison vine. grows here and en-
| twines itself among trees, but is easily distin-
guished by the messy appearance of its STEM
which is usually accompanied with fever; and
this disease is said to renew itself yearly about
the time of 0e first attack. The poison
ash, or fringe tree, grows at the extremity
of the island. near the causey. A foreign plant
of this species was sent to General Mason as a
curiosity and it was recognized by a farmer
unacquainted with botany to be the same as
| that which inhabits the American woods The
Virginia jessamine grows in all parts of the
| island, entwining itself among trees and bushes.
1t flowers in June; the flowers, during sunshine.
| are infested with red ants Several species of
| asclepias grow here. That with purple flowers
which blows in July, contains in its seed-cap-
sules a kind of silk which, mixed with cotton,
| forms a very durable thread. The asclepas
| with orange flowers is here called pleurisy-root,