Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04

It was long time the home of the Masons
(being knownas Mason Island in those days. }
an historic Virginia family. At the southern
end are the ruins Of the old mansion destroyed
during the civil war;, under whose roof in the
olden time many select entertainments were
given Some important conferences were held
here in the old colonial DAYS by leaders
of the peoples cause. Gen. George
Mason frequently had George Washington as
his guest The unfortunate Louis Philippe of
France was his guest in l19s. In the anxious
DAYS preceding the civil war leading secession
ists were invited here by the then proprietor,
James VI. Mason. grandson of the revolution
ary hero. to discuss and formulate their plans
IL is said that Robert L. Lee of Arlington
House. who afterward became the famous con-
federate leader, was induced to attend more
than one Of those conferences.
During Sen. George Mascn's time the island
was kept in high state of cultivated attractive
ness. David b. Warden. an old chronicler
writing about il in lslO, designates it ''an
enchanting spot
TEE OLD cAUsEwAT.
The old dilapiiated eauseway which connects
the upper end of the Island with the main land
was constructed pursuant to a contract entered
into March %. 1905. between Gen. George
Mason and the corporation os Georgetown and
was intended TO serve u double purpose. viz:
First 20 increase the depth of water in the river
channel. and secondly, for use in connection
with a ferry which Gen. Mason was to run be-
tween Georgetown and the Virginia side. by
way of the island This was nearly forty years
before the construction of the old Aqueduct
bridge Gen. Washington when visiting
Georgetown used this ferry.
At the outbreak of the civil war the then
owner Of the island, James VI. Mason going
south and espOusing the cause OF the cOnfeder-
scy, the national government took possession
of II and converted II into a camp for contra
bands and refugees
West Of Little river and the old canal stood
old Fort Haggerty IN war times and the aban-
doned earthworks could even now be discerned
from the island were IL not for the weeds and
undsrbrush which surround them.
The variety OF wild flowers found on the
island Is both large and select and the notes Of
the song bird are ever heard here.
ALONG The CANAL. TO ALEXANDRIA
Reaching the southern end of the Aqueduct
or Georgetown bridge at Rosslyn, bear to the
left along the towpath Of the canal The first
object 10 attract ones attention is the half
covered diiApidated causeway on the left which
connects AnslOstan Island with the virginia
shore Near the southern end Of the island.
not Tar from the ruins Of the old Mason man.
-i0n, Is another old broken eauseway, which
has been allowed 10 go into decay
Arbutus brook enters Little river near
here little further on is Lily pond,
on the right from which point. look
ton mansion. Passing Lily pond you will no.
tice IN cluster OF trees to tie right an old log
building. This was a slave habitation in the
Old days little further on. to the left. is the
entrance 10 Path which leads down the bank
TO Gusts spring. The water of this
famous spring Is found TO be as sweet
tocsy as 10 was IN the halcyon DAYS
Of lite popularity. but the surroundings are al
together different The beeches. oaks and
sycamores. whose tall. spreading branches over
shaded II, are no longer visible for thew were
felled during the war period In their stead
nature has provided for its shelter a second
growth OF young trees. chief among which is a
sprightly aspen, the incessant tanning motion
Of whose leaves Impart feeling Of GOODNESS on
the hottest day.
ONCE FAMOUS RESORT
The spring was once a favorite resort of the
Mzsons, the Custises, the Washingtons. the
Lees and hosts Of Washingtonians and others.
Jolly old farmer George Washington Parke
Gusts IAN adopted son Of NashIngtOnl who
Vas the owner Of the Arlington estate and who
was an enthusiastic fiddler, erected a dancing
pavilion In the midst OF what was then a
charming grove where the bellies and the beans
Of the sighborhOod would assemble of evenings
and TIP the light fantastic 10 the music Of Mr..
Gusts merry old fiddle. The old gentleman,
seated in huge rustic chair. in shirt sleeves
and with brOaa-brimmed straw hat shading
his kindly features. would rattle off the favor
lite airs OF the period for hours at a time, to
the great delight of the assembled friends and
nsighbOrs And tradition hath il that the yir-
gin water Of the spring was not the only fluid
imbibed on those happy occasions.
The spring ~ even now held in veneration by
the people living IN the vicinity. who taks good
care Of IL aud Use the water freely
IL s related OF Brsldoek and Washington
that they halted here on their vay 70 Fort
Dulnesne and filled their canteens from the
spring. And at the foot OF old Observatory
Hill. across the river yonder. near 2j:h street,
10 bradsiOek rock where the hotilla Of bSrges
from Alexandria landed the British army under
Braddock in 1854.
Observatory Hill - also known as Camp
Hill from the fact that in 1914 part Of the
htiis AalsIie2n army esmped on IL before