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

THE OLD hASsION.
ever, he was made peer OF Ireland, with the
grant of several estates in the province of Con-
naught. He was also given letters patent for
an unsettled territory in America, which he in
tended to call Cresentia, but before the letters
reached him he died. His son Cecilius. who
succeeded to the title as second Lord Balti-
more. received from Charles the patent In
1882 and named the territory in honor Of Queen
Marie, daughter of Henry " OF France
When the charter was drawn by the first
Lord Baltimore blank was left for the in
sertion OF the name, and to this fact the present
name OF the state is due. for instead OF Cresen-
tia the blank filed by the insertion OF
Terra Marie" or Mary's Land. hence Mary
land 1t was the intention OF Cecilius to trans
port a colony to the new possessions accom-
panied by himself, but he gave that up and
sent his brothers, Leonard and George. consti-
tutlng the former lieutenant governor Sub
sequently the direct descendants Of Cecilius
followed, and the first owner of the Riversdale
estate as special homestead was Charles,
THE SIXTH LORD BALTIMORE.
The wife Of Charles was the daughter of
Henry ]. Stier, a wealthy Belgian, who fed
from his native country to escape the fury of
Napoleon BOnaparte, who, with his apparently
invincible legions, was galloping over the
country devastating property and confscat-
ing whatever he imagined was useful to the
state, which, as he held, was himself Mr.
Sitter was a lover and patron of art and had In
his magnificent collection OF paintings a num-
Der of Rubens' happiest conceptions, between
whom and himself there was close family re-
lstionship. He brought with him to America
his entire gallery Of pictures and other valua-
bies, and it was he who erected the then pala-
tial edifice now but q rapidly decsying remnant
at Riversdale.
How THE GROUNDS WERE ARRANGED.
The entrance in early days was two miles
east of Bladensburg and was carefully guarded
by portentous gates, fianked by two supposed
necessary and conventional watch towers or
lodges. Once inside, before the eve was q
sweep OF 1000 acres of rolling woodland and
meadows. A long, winding roadway led to the
mansion, mile to the southeast, q house of
two stories with wings at either side, a square
cupoa On the top and pOrticoes front and back
which were paved with white and black mar
BILE The stone pillars supporting the roof of
the front porch were originally Intended for
the old Capitol building, but being unsuitable
were purchased for the Riversdale dwell
ing. In front of the building was
fountain, edged by shells and surrounded by
ancient taponicas in great green tubs. In the
Center Of the basin a white, wide-mouth
sth-lOoking dolphin, through whose throat not
a drop OF water has passed for these MANY
years. Back Of the house was a pretty shining
lake, in the center OF which was an island. and
Cd the island a miniature castle. reached by q
fancy bridge, which long ago joined in the
general stampede to disntegrstion and rotted
away.
THE BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS.
The surrounding buildings, including those
used as servants quarters, now gradually
crumbling out Of existence; the old reservoir
propped high into the air. from which, through
underground lead pipes, the quondam fount-
ain, the well-appointed conservatory and the
numerous terraces and borders OF rare and
beautiful flowers were supplied with water; the
old bell. perched like a sentinel upon an out
house, that summoned the workmen to md
from their daily lsbors; the queer octagoual
barn, away of to the east, the path to which
led through a bower Of the Usage orange, were
all IN timely keeping with the stately grande ur
of the residence and the social attainmsnts of
the landed proprietor.
INTERIOR OF THE MAIN BUILDING
Entering the center building as it was in its