The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-16
A VISIT TO FORT HILL.
And Much Talk OF the Great States.
man whose History Has not Been
Written.

luIeC pIdSC ~ GllS lllcGoly Va LAG oIStC
has brought many things before my mind
some of which may be Of interest 10 the read
ers Of this paper. The location Is beautifully
picturesque. There are, I suppose, as many
is a fine view OF the Blue Ridge mountains,
and near the base Of the series OF hills flows
the Senaca River through a valley OF at least
one hundred acres. In full view is the Rich
mond and DanviIle railroad about a mile dis
tant where 1t crosses the river. For some dis
lance the trains can be seen as they pass to
and fro over the iron track.
The Calhoun mansion Is on an eminence but
not the highest Of the group. 1t was first
erected by Rev. MIR. McElbany, q Presbyter-
Ian minister from the low country, who died
in 1872. 1t was then purchased by the moth
er-in-law of MIR. Calhoun who called 1t "Cler-
gy Hail." 1t was afterwards transferred to
the Hon. ]. G. Calhoun who named 1t Fort
Hill after an old fort in the neighborhood
used in revolutionary times and perhaps ear
lier. The building is of wood, painted white
and contains thirteen rooms two or three OF.
these are open to visitors containing relics
and paintings OF great value.
about fifty feet from it is the library and
study of the great statesman. Here his giant
mind pondered the great principles of gov.
eminent, the relation Of the States to the gen.
rency, questions OF international and consti-
t~utional law. internal improvements. the
Oregon boundary, &c.
uel un nOre rraSGed IN the these v 19EkS vers sha1
e i OhOO W VII Woilo "ClO oolb
at his sale and bought for a song often by
those who had no appreciation of their true
value. He was q great thinker and took hold
Of subjects with a strong grasp. He was
no demagogue or mere partisan politician,
but a statesman, a political philosopher who
went down TO the lowest depths OF economic
subjects and pursued them in all their varied
relations.
The neighborhood was settled by some OF
the wealthiest and most cultivated families
In the State, the Plnckneys, Taylors, HUI.
gers, Chevises. and many others. These were
his associates. He dispensed hospitality to
In government employ.
A small house in front Of the mansion and
covering the well was called the swine
House" but I don't know why It had this des-
ignation, fer Mr.. Calhoun was not a wine
bibber but strictly q temperate man., abstain
ing from all s%plrituous liquors. He was rigid
ly plain and simple in all his domestic habits
and arrangements. He allowed himselfin no
indulgences that violated the great law OF
moderation. In the yard around the dwell
Ing are yet standing several large OAKS, IN the
shade OF which the philosopher strolled and
thought and was refreshed. He made no pro-
fession of religion I am sorry 10 say, but he
was a strictly moral man Of ineorruptible in
tegrlty as much deserving the name ''iust" as
Aristides. He we'll knew what christianity
was for he had often heard the preaching OF
DR.. Moses Waddell and Of DR.. Timothy
Dwight and he could not have enjoyed the In.
structions OF these men from the pulpit and
Tile CLASS room WITHOUT D6luR SUOEGu Will TT
ligious truth.
It was an Inspiration to walk about these
] premises and cit in these rooms and recall the
man who la been here sixty years ago, his
firm tread, erect body, calling no man master,
bowling only to truth and duty, and the mind
that could grapple with all classes Of subjects,
that could by instinct detect fallacies and
sophistries, that could distinguish truth and
right from falsehood and wrong, the logician
that could form great chains OF reasonings
that no human hand could break in piecessuch
men are rare. whole generations come and go
without them, that country is favored indeed
which has one such. The memory OF such O
one should be cherished with tenderest re-.
gard and his example held up to the youth OF
all coming generation: we honor MT. Cal:
Integrity, his untainted virtue. II hero wor.
ship is ever allowable we might pay, If not
Divine honors, at least the greatest earthly
honOrs TO the sage OF Fort Hill.
let me ask the reader to enter with me the
rooms In the Calhoun house that were open
to the public. Mrs. Prince who was the
house keeper Of Mr.: Clemson has these rooms oIts
their contents. She Is OF great service TO all
visitors who wish to inform themselves Of the
various relics here deposited.
Mr.. Clemson had a very valuable collection
OF old Dutch paintings. He was himself an
artist Of no mean ability, had the finest taste
and expended much money on the collection.
One OF the most striking pictures Is a por-
lTdlL VI ulutSGlI d DuSL lllc SlZ6 III d uldbSlNc
bronze frame. IF this picture is a good like
ness he must have been a remarkably hand
Some man.
A list in Mr.. Clemson's handwriting was
shown me Of over forty paintings. but about
a dozen had been disposed OF by his will, I
believe, but there are at least thirty In this
room. Ito0k a list OF most Of these n will
here copy q few OF this lis:
Flower Piece, by Zegllers, the Jesuit, four
hundred years old.
Fruit, by DR.. Heene.
Students Repast, by Van Sen.
Peasant with Soup, by Frank Halls.
Alteration, on copper, by Frank.
A boy Mending Pen, a Spanish Painting,
Cattle. large picture. by Rabbe.
Goats and Sheep, small, by ditto.
Two Landscapes, by Fearnley.
Swedish Painting. presented TO Hon. I. c.
Clemson by Count ID. Vagina, Austrian Am
bassader at Brussel.
Quarrel and Reconciliation, by Venneman.
Two Old Men In a Social Smoke, by ditto.
Poverty and Suffering, by DR.. Black.
Group OF Lambs, by Rabbe.
Tasso In Prison, visited by Montague, orig
lnal In King LeopoId's Gallery, copy after
Gallait.
large picture copied by Mr.. Clemson him.
Girl with two Dogs. copy after Lanseer,
original In King Leopold's Gallery.
Peasant Girl Crossing the Water, copied by
Mr.. Clemson, after a painter In Antwerp.
This Is the old song about the girl coming
through the Rye and most people are sur
prised to learn that the rye is not telegram.
land.
A cloak made OF otter skins presented TO
Mr.. Calhoun by an Indian Chief.
4 marble bust of Mr.. Calhoun by Clark
Portrait OF Floride Calhoun, mother of Mrs.
j. G. Calhoun supposed to be 1O years old. A
girl in her teens.
An armed cushioned chair OF antique oak,
deliberately carved, presented to Mr.. Clemson
when he was Us. Minister to Belgium, by
King Leopold.
A sofa that belonged to Washington, pre-.
sented by some one TO Mr.. Calhoun. On the
back of this sofa are carved American eagles
from which are said to be taken the design
on our silver dollar.
A chair Washington used at Trenton, N. j.,
during the revolutionary struggle presented
MIR. Clemson by q relative who married q de-
scendant Of President Washington. SO says
the record, but Washington had no children
and there must be some mistake.
Two large cnalrs bought by Mr.. Clemson
at the sale of the effects OF the Austrian Am.
bassader.
In another room separated from the one
containing the paintings by a hall Is the din
hogany and around IT. often flowed the wit
and wisdom Of Mr.. Calhoun and his friends.
In O corner OF this room Is an old plano i'm
ported for Mrs. J. c. Calhoun in her g%irlhuod-
In this dining room Is an old mahogany
s!deboard nude from the officers room or the
old prigate Constitution and presented TO Mr..
Calhoun by Commander Hull or Commander
McDonough.
The SAME oil cloth is on the floor of this
room thai was here In Mr.. Calhoun's life time,
about two feet long modelled after the frigate
constitution. 1t rests on the mantel beside u
bust of Mr.. Calhoun by the renowned sculp-
tor Clark Mills.
~. Ia "a 1 ,phiob T f,lt - rroota