Smyrna times., 1889-01-16
A Sad Family History.

Robert Garrett's magnificent brown
stone mansion on Mount Vernon place
Baltimore, has been closed for over Il
year and will not be opened this win
ter. Before going abroad a year ago,
Mrs. Garrett left instructions for some
large and additional art decorations in
the library ana dining hall. The work
was executed Dy the best artists.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Garrett returned
from that memorable trip around the
world, during which Mr.. Garrett's rap
idly-iailing mind caused his wife and
tie rest of the party 50 much anxiety,
they went to Baltimore, but the town
residence was not opened, they pre-
ferrng to rest at Uplands, their de-
lightful country seat, q few miles from
the city. During their travels in the
art centres of Europe Mrs Garrett had
added many valuable works to her
collection. They were shipped to this
country and carefully unpacked and
placed for her inspection in the Mount
Vernon Place mansion, but in her dis
tress over her husbands condition Mrs
Garrett had no interest in the beauti-
ful new home to which but a few years
attached. Only few doors from Rob
ert Garrett's house, and at the corner
of Mount Vernon Place and Cathedral
street, is the home of Miss Mary Gar
rett, the largest private residence in
the city.
The late John w. Garrett's misfor-
tunes began to overwhelm him soon
after he bought this property. He
lived but a short time in it when the
sad accident happened his wife that
caused her death and was the begin
ming of the train Of misfOrtunes that
have fallen so heavily upon the Gar
rett family. The town residence was
left TO Miss Garrett by her father, and
some time after his death she contin-
ued the improvements he had begun.
For several years decorators and artists
worked steadily upon the walls ana
ceilings of the spacious mansion. The
work was not quite finished when Miss
Mary Garrett started with her brother
and his wife on their travels. In her
absence the big house was finished in
every apartment, but, like her sister
in-law, she has been so troubled and
heartsick that she has paid little or no
attention to her home since her return.
Robert CARROTS house was finished
only three years ago, and in the winter
of 1886 he opened it with the grandest
private ball ever given in the city.
The house complete cost Mr.. Garrett
about half a million, which sum in
cludes the cost of the art decorations
and specially-designed furniture, For
a ha u
it but a couple of trusted servants, Mr..
and Mrs. Garrett having passed only
one season in their beautiful home.
GARRETT's EARLY ECCENTRICITIES.
Now that Mr.. Garrett is known to be
victim Of paresis, old acquaintances
ofthe family in Baltimore are recalling
his former ecceGtricities. Robert Gar
rett has always been an odd sort of
a person. At one time he was a col.
ltctCr of Games, and he 40 doubt now
owns more walking sticks and fancy
umbrellas than any other fashionable
gentleman in the country. In clothing
he was just as peculiar His tailors
were always engaged on some new
conceit Of his in fashionable attire.
He was most peculiar man about his
persOnai!appearance. He had hobby
on dress and style. and his wealth per.
mitted him to indulge it to his hearts
delight.
The stories about Mr.. Garrett over
working himself are all nonsense.
Robert Garrett took life easier than
any other railroad magnate in the
country. His father shortened his
days by constantly worrying over
great railroad schemes, but his sons
did not follow in his footsteps. After
his fathers death, when Robert Gar
rett assumed control and learned the
true condition of affairs, he worried
some at first, but the burden of the
thinking was done by John K. Cowen,
his old friend and Princeton classmate,
who ably filed the position of chief
counselor of the Baltimore and Ohio
Company.