Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29


CURIOUS OLD SUMNER HoUsE-TuE SPACIOUS |
INTERIOR AND WHAT REMAINS OF fokNEa |
TRANSFERRING AMONG OLD RKcoEDs-scxK |
INTERESTING DOCUMENTS.
TT is OFTEN. SAID WE HAVE No OLD
Il homes in America, yet here within a radius !
Of three miles are tho old homes Of Snowdcn
Hall. Birmingham Manor and Montpelier
House, all orig inally owned by Richard Snow
den. whose father had held majors commits
sion under Oliver Cromwell and came TO Mary
land from Wales in the seventeenth century.
These houses have been standing nearly 10
years. which means that iivc to six generations
of men and women have occupied them, left
their impress OF thcn. and IN this rapid ago
that is long period and ADDS deep interest
Montpelier, q short distance from Washing
ton on the Baltimore and Ohio road, Is rich IN
historic incident and tradition. 1t was fay-
orite resting place OF Washington in his trips
from Nj Vernon TO Annapolis, being situated
near the Annapolis road. The room IN which
he slept is still remembered and a granddangh-
ter OF the former owner recalls the fact (told
by her relativcs) OF The time when such hospi-
taiity was dispensed that q hundred sheets
was thought requisite number 20 be AZ hand
IN the linen closets. The house is ON an e.C-
vation sioping gently every way ard
rounded by tcr-aced gardens that have been
cared for by the ladies of many generations,
where the purple magnolia, white and purple
| hincs, hilies OF the valley, jrnquIls and many
| another blossom CT each season make perfume
| and beauty perpetual there. The wings which
| project from the main building add much to
Its picturesque beauty, for blooming plants.
glowing in cotors Of gold and pink, lean up and
cling lovingly to the inches of the ancient walls.
GIANT trees stand all about, roomy enough TO
DC woodland nrbors, where one L.I,E be en-
| sconced to dream away the hours; IA fact the
young daughter of the present owner had such
| scat constructed in one OF the noblost oaks.
Win steps by which she assembled to her cool.
secluded retreat, and by drawing the steps alter
her could be secure from intrusion.
| THE INTERIOR.
Inside this immortal mansion tie solid locks,
with pendant brass ring, the hand cary ng and
| wood decorations show how everything in
| colonial times was built to resist decay. The
| most beautiful feature of the house Is the
grand hall and noble stairway. Cpon the wall
OF THIS sntechamber, In which perchanes Gen.
Washington may occasionally have placed his
sword. are hanging quietly two swords. crossed.
| that with their owner, the master of the
house, followed Gen. Grant through the Sur
ring campaign and stubborn fighting that
ended with the surrender of Eicksburg. Not
lar of hangs a painting of historic snip. the
United States frigatc Mississippi This vessel
had an eventful career. 1t was the one sent
by the United States government Ia bring
Louis kossuth from his exile in Turkey, and
ne was received on board at Point Niagara. in
the Dardanelles, near the spot where Lcander
| swan across to meet Hero. and Lord BYRON i'm
itated the feat This frigate also the flag
ship Of Commodore Perry in the Japan expedi-
ton and then commanded by Sydney Lee.
| brother OF Gen. Robt. l.. Lee. In 1868 .he at
tempted TO run the confederate batteries at
Fort Hudson. but ran aground. After firing
80 rounds and having one side almost torn
out she was set on lire to avoid capture. The
painting shows her breasting "a fierce storm in
mid ocean, which she outrode to end her
course moro calamity.
IN ThE GROUNDS
1t is easy for fancy to people this hall with
illusive forms Of the maidens OF yore stepping
about its polished floor and rusting their silken
| robes III the stately minuet: indeed I seemed
to hear a murrhur and football behind me ar
passed down the stone steps to visit the now
deserted summer house and entered the most
| enchanting part of the grounds. IL is path
| winding between lockwood shrubs that must be
a hundred years old, for they are six to seven
feet high, forming u sylvan-screcned aisle that
was named long years ago Lovers Lane"
| Within 1t the ground was entirely covered with
| violets OF the riches. and most delicate odor.
| THE OLD SUMMER HOUSE.
The summer house just beyond this path is
y curiosity, because it's walls are completely
/ Arl
| quoted, written there by the bellies and beaux
| of other years. The present OCCUPANT was
about to have the walls cleaned and renewed
| when, fortunately, his daughter, then enjoying
| thus they have remained untouched One
stanza OF the many written there 1 jotted down
LIE is q river and man il a boat.
ndt Gown ITS broad sr:age Is destined to float
That he is u fool who takes SORROW board"
| Tn flaf ,,laca lnprv am M ,.au a., -.
else on earth, then and now, hearts ached and
| tragedies concealed or open, went on, while
the springs and flowers arose TO refresh and
charm and the skies shone to uplift and in
spire.
BY THE FIREsIpE.
| When evening came in the old mansion and
We sat beside the wood fire the flames shot I'D
and showed the letters and figures ''R. s.. lTs3"
| The letters stood for Richard Snowden, but the
date only meant when that iron was put ill., ar
the house was built much earlier. The latest
representative Of the name still lives az Birm-
| ingham Manor, and he granted the writer the
privilege OF looking through pile of ancient
| documents, deeds. letters. bills of lading &C.
counts and social invitations. most of them
dated in England and all corroded and crumb-
ling, The deeds only, being on parchment,
are intact. though yellow as gold, and bear
fastened to them with tapes singular round
seals OF bees wax incased i'm paper ana slammed
| on either side with the arms of ENGLAND and
| of the state OF Maryland in relief. / he OPEN
| ing sentence OF one of these deeds reads
| strangely today whoa We have ceased to con-
slider monarchs next only TO the Creator:
Charles tho ii. absolute lord and proxy of the
provinces OF Maryland and Avalon lord baron
OF Baltimore. &c. To all persons to whom
| these shall come, greeting in our Lord God
everlasting" 1t closes by providing
payments to be made on the most usual feasts
of the year, the Annunciatiou of Blessed Virgin
| and of St. Michael the archangel. Given un-
der our greater seal ct Arinos this 10th dey of