Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

| y ~
THE YOUNGEST MALE CALVERT.
Lady Baltimore must have been q charm
ing woman, for among these old letters found
| several from Mrs. Calvert, a cousin in London,
| to member Of the family in Annapolis, in
which she writes: II will say nothing of the
| news or fashions, as Lord and Lady Baltimore
are going over 30 soon and will tell them all to
you so much better than 1 can write them. !
I am sure you will like her ladyshp, as she is
a most charming person and extremely agreea-
ble." Other letters speak of her in the same
terms.
BENEDICT CALvERr's FAMILY.
As soon as this house was completed it be.
came the summer home of Benedict Calvert and
his family. OF a very large number OF children
born to them only two sons and three daughters
survived him. The Oldest son, Charles, was
sent to England to be educated and died there
from the other two. Edward Henry and George,
are descended the present lines of Calverts.
To this beautiful old home came in summer
time all the most distinguished men and women
of the day. Here Gen. and Mrs. Washington
were frequent visitors. The visitors did not ar
rive by train and remain q few days, as we visit
now but they came in splendid coaches. with
outriders and servants in full livery, and great
wagons full of baggage, for they made
long. very long, We would think now, visits
and these hOspitable Maryland homes were al
ways open to friends. Here Sir Robert Eden,
who had married the beautiful Caroline Calvert,
Benedict Calvert's sister. and had been sent out
a. governor of the province in 1863. used to
come very often. He was said to have been
one of the handsomest. most accomplished and
wittiest men Of his day. Some Of his witt
cisms are still traditional in the family. Once
when walking in his lovely gardens in Annapolis
with the beautiful Mrs. Sprigg, grandmother
of the late DR.. Richard Stuar. OF Baltimore,
she pulled a sprig from one fsvorite bush of his
and attracted his attention TO its great beauty
Taking it from her and bowling low he promptly
replied: You, madam, are the most beautiful
sPrigg that has ever been in this garden Of
ROBERT EDzN's GARDENS.
Speaking of these gardens suggests a descrip-
ton of them. that have somewhere found from
the pen Of some gentleman who visited him, to
correspondent in England: These gardens are
disposed to the utmost advantage, the center
walk is terminated by small green mount,
close to which are the seven approaches, and
commands an extensive view of the bay and the
adjacent country. There are but few mansions
In the most rich and cultivated parts Of En-
gland which are adorned with such splendid
and romantic scenery" This same writer in
speaking of a ball at Gov Eden's, says: 81 am
persuaded there is not in England town Of the
same size which can boast of greater number
Of handsome and fashionable women with the
manners and habits of your great metropolis.
His excellency's wife's two nieces, Elizabeth
and Eleanor Calvert, daughters Of Benedict
Calvert, being notable examples"
Sir Robert was once confined to his bed by
long spell of illness here at Mt. Airy, and was
naturally fed much upon chicken BROTH broiled
chicken, In fact, chicken in every form. Growing
very tired of it finally he begged them, if they
cared FOR him, to give him no more chicken as
nj DIV oh
his flesh" Lady Caroline would sometimes
apologize to her sister-in-law for bringing her
children so often with her, saying that if she
left them at home her lady friends in their
devotion TO them would spoil them, and in her
private condolences would confess that the
governor was the object Of their attentions, the
children the excuse. Gov. Eden returned to
England at the beginning of the revolution and
the provisional government was established,
which confiscated all of his property.
THE fwo ELDER DAUGHTERS.
Here in this beautiful summer home did
Eleanor and Elizabeth Calvert, the two older
daughters, spend much of their childhood,
guarded and shielded by that parental love
which the Romans supposed that the Lsres
threw around the Roman children, and here
they grew from childhood into the dignity Of
young womanhood. The arbors, dainty still with
the exubersnce of the jasmine and the honey
suckle. in which they 20 often sat- are still there
and the same box-hedged parterres Of flowers
are brilliant with all the colors Of the Rumania
fields. There foated before them the silver
lined clouds that float eternally before youth
and the whispering trees high above their heads
and the light Of the stars in the dark blue
skies, while they dreamed the dreams that
young maidens OF every race and cline have
dreamed.
JOHN PARKE CusfIs.
Here in the person Of John Parks Gusts, hrs.
Washingtons son, came Eleanor's famed sutton,
youth Of but twenty summers and yet so
mature, so carefully educated and trained that
he seemed much older. l have read letter
from Gen. Washington to his tutor, to whose
care he consigned him when just fourteen years
OF age, showing the generals estimate Of
his character and his affectionate interest
in him. Il will allow You an extra
f12 year for extra care, for" he continues
.he is n most promising lad, is the last of his
family and will have large fortune, and / wish
to make him MT for some more useful purpose
than horse racer The general sent with
him a servant and two fine horses that he might
have desirable physical exercise.
There is a beautiful portrait Of Eleanor CAL
vert taken at this time in riding habit which
now hangs In the drawing room Of this house.
She has lovely girlish face, full of intelligence
and animation. She was 4 spirited horse
woman and used often to 70 hunting with the
young aids of Gen. Washington. She married
Mr.. Gusts in IVA, and in all the pictures that
We see of Mrs. Washington on occasions of GER
emony she is the beautiful young woman who
stands at her right. She was the grandmother
of Mrs. Robt. Z. Lee. Elizabeth Calvert mar
ried the same evening Charles Stsusrt Of Dodon,
Anne Arundel county. This lovely portrait Is
copied from miniature painted BY Benjamin
West, who saw her at court ball In England
and asked permission to paint her. 1t il said
to be the only miniature that he ever painted
DURING THE REVOLUTION.
And now came on the American revolution Of
1776, and Benedict Calvert lost his position of
collector of the port Of Annapolis. He retired
to Mt. Airy and made il his permanent home
removing here all the family portraits, silver
and household furniture. On the drawing room
walls hang the portraits Of all the barons Of
Baltimore, one Vandyck. On either side Of
his wife. That Of Benedict Il full length, stand
Ing In rich velvet court drsss. With iaes frins