Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02
DINING ROOM MASTEL.

n A11LIEII
DINING ROOM MANTEL.
These mantels were taken down no longer ago
than in 1859 by Mr.. John Fox wealthy New
Yorker and member of the syndicate of the
first purchase, and shipped east for private use.
In the corners of tho rooms stood ebony pedes-
tails four feet high. bearing bronze figures
holding great branch candlestcks. The same
| elegant appointments obtained in the dining
room.
The arrangement of tho upper rooms was
In keeping with the stateliness of those on the
main floor. some being uniquely and curiously
embellished with scenes familiar in the lives of
ancestral relatives and placed directly ON the
| walls.
THE OLD LIBRARY.
The library had its place in a quiet, coy
corner to itself in the western end of the build
ing away from the noise and turmoil of society
and domestic affairs and was regarded as the
sacred inner temple of the household The
south. all glass. opened upon lawn, which.
Swallowed here and there by majestic oaks
centuries old and dotted by vine-clad summer
houses. sloped gently to tho lake. Among the
pictures on the library walls hung one of Gen.
VIM. Henry Harrison. father of the present
President. and not OF Andrew Jackson, as has
been frequently stated.
HENRY CLAY's ROOM.
The room best known to visitors OF recent
years. however, was the one SO often occupied
by Henry Clay. The great commoner was a
favored and frequent guest ut the Calvert man
slon-in Fact. virtually resided there during
mach OF his congressional life. This room was
over the reception room and from the window
an inspiring panorama OF landscape spread out
before him as he mastered his subjects of study
and penned his eloquent ideas. The furniture
was OF oak, made of wood taken of the place.
ht.da nac toll nd
three carpeted steps by which the sage Of Ash
land practically climbed up to dreamy rest
full s.umber. great comfortable old
leather-covered chair with a leaf projecting
from the arm for writing or reading was ever
at his service; his inkstand d pretty painted
china affair, which would ornament a desk
even of today and represented in the initial
letter of this article. was always at hand, The
room was at his command ut all times In this
room, on this combined desk and chair, no
wrote the compromise of 1850. 1t was fire.
quently asserted to those visiting the place
recently that he there wrote the Missouri com
promise, but that is an error. The Missouri
compromise was written in 1921 the one writ
ten at Riyersdale was compromise concern
ing the question OF slavery in the then terri
tories. After Mr.. Clays death the room was
allowed TO remain for many years just as he
left II upon his last visit--his shoes were upon
the floor, his pom upon his desk. his inkstand
all spattored and spotted with ink. and it was
by both admirers and critics
THE GOLD AND BRONZE MEDALS
In the possession of Mr.. George II. Calvert
Of 1850 Corcoran street, this city, a surviving
member of the family and ono who spent the
greater portion of his life at the old homestead
10 q bronze medal. duplicate of the gold one
presented by citizens of New York to Mr. Clay
IN recognition of his services to his country.
The original gold medal cost $4,000, but there
m ha hna q H. "a
was returned to New York to be recast but in
some mysterious way lost on route and
never recovered. Fortunately, however, ut
the time the original was cast q few we're struck
OIL III bronze, one of which was given by Mr..
Clay to his warm friend and host Mr. Charles
u. Calvert Of Riversdale. On one side of the
medal was the bust Of Mr.. Clay i'll profile; on
the other, surmounted by wreath, was the
following inscriptions:
SENATE,
1906
SPEAKER 1911.
War OF 1872 with Great Britain,
GHENT 1914.
Spanish America lSlS-1S22-
Missouri Compromise 1921.
Greece 1924.
SECRETARY OF STATE 1924
Panama Instructions 1928
Tariff Compromise 1853
Public Domain lS33-1S4l
Peace with France Preserved 1888
Compromise 1850.
WORKS OF ART
America scarcely had a more valuable or de-
sirable collection Of paintings than were to be
found hanging on the walls of the Calvert man.
sion when Riversdale was at its zenith as the
tons. When Mr.. Stier, to ESCAPE the fnrv Of
Napoleon Bonaparte, fed to America, he
brought with him all his belongings transporta
Bile, inclnding rare collection of pictures,
which became the admiration and study of
American critics and lovers of the arts The
final disposition OF the greater and better nor
ton OF these pictures was a matter of much
concern and the cause of a lengthy correspoud-
eDce. The discussion finally terminated by
Mr. sitter Offering hts son-in-iaw Charles. the
sixth Lord BALTIMORE, a choice between the
collection at a stated sum and certain amount
OF landed property IS u portion OF his wife's
inheritance. After q careful consideration he
chose the latter, and the paintings were
shipped to and sold in Antwerp at handsome
prices-one Of them bringing EOS. OOO-a mas-
terpiece Of Rubens. Many, however, we're
left here and were sold at the general sale in
1871 OF these Mr.. q. II. Calvert has two. one NV
Schwagers and the other by Antonissen. two
noted Flemish artists. Two were purchased
by Gen. 81. N. Barlow of this city. The
Prodigal Son" and garden scene, which were
supposed TO be by Rubens, but they we're not
though they were the works of two of Rubeps'
best pupils. These pictures we're purchased
from 6on barlow by Mrs. Blaine 1t is said sew
eral years ago. Mr.. q. II. Calvert secured. be-
sides other pictures, a copy of Rubens' famous
picture, "Chapeau de Paille"-the beaver hat
likeness OF Mile. Lundins, young lady much
admired by Kubens, and on whose beauty he
employed all the mastery Of his pencil
VALUABLE RELICS SOLD.
The death in 1876 Of Mrs. Charlotte A. CAL
vert, relict Of Charles B. Calvert, the last pro-
prietor Of tho property intact and the great
friend Of Clay, necessitated q breaking up and
selling OF OF the old homestead and everything
therein
OF course, ON such an occasion q large gather
ing OF notable people took place. Washington was
represented by Gen. w. T. sherman, Mrs X. H.
Hayes, wife Of the President; Hon. Bancroft
Davis, Gen. Beale, Mira Waite wife Of the late
Chief Justice; Gen. II. N. Barlow, Col Audeu-
reid and others. The chair and desk of Mr..
Clay used brought Sl9 from Gen. Barlow, who
also got for so fine old English clock, which
dated back 10 the sixteenth century. paint
ing, "komuus and Rsmus," by pupil Of Ru-
bens, which cost $4,000. went for clio to
Charles b. Calvert, jr. A magnificent French
dinner and tea set, in salmon and gold, COM
prtsing 2S6 pieces. sold for e250. and 90 on.
Thus II was that dne, rare relics. which now,
undfr the prevailing craze for the antique and
cuseous, would be immensely valuable, went
comparatively for trihes. The glory and
pdestge Of princely establishment and the
41itecedents of n notAd family lice k<,A.v <,ulv