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

lhE OLOEsI LIVING CALVERT.
In letter to Gov. Osie he writes that he 10
glad TO learn that his son has made so good
choice, and he need not doubt that he will do
everything to make his fortune equal to the
young ladys. She was q great heiress
found also among these letters a copy of one to
Lord Baltimore from Mr.. Razolini Elizabeth
Calvert's guardian. commencing Benedict CAL
verts choice. and saying that the young lady
has had the best offers in the county, and he
hoped that his lordship would think that he
had done right in encouraging the match"
She was a famous beauty and great toast at
the celebrated Tuesday Club" OF Annapolis,
where we read in the annals of those days il
was the custom to toast the most beautiful
women OF the province. We read in these an
mails OF a very amusing petition having been
sent In to this famous club by the ladies whose
names had been withheld in the toasting 1t
petitions that lin view Of the singular and sur
prising success that has all along attended such
happy females your honor has been pleased
TO pitch upon the toasts Of the honorable
chair, every one of whom in a short time after
having been happily and successfully provided
with much more eligible state, we do pray,
one and all, to be included IN the toast" 1t is
needless TO add that amid much laughter the
petition Was granted
ASsAPoLIs As A SOCIAL CENTER
Annapolis must at this time have been a most
delightful city socially. The seat Of govern
ment had been removed here from St. Mary-s
In 1884 under the name Of Anne Arundel Town.
and soon after changed to the port of An
nAPoiis. Her wealth il still evidenced by
many Of her venerable buildings, which display
In their stately proportions and elaborate orna-
mentation the wealth and taste of their build
ers and occupants French writer in a letter
70 correspondent in France written Just be-
Tore the American revolution, saws: That very
aneonsiderable town standing at the mouth Of
me severn. where 1t falls into the bay, may be
styled elegant and grand. French luxury here
exceeds what is known in the provinces of
France. 1t is said that a certain dame here
pays her French hairdresser 1000 francs q
year"
1t was the seat o. wealthy and arissocratic
government. its people cultured and agreeable.
tneir manners stately and ceremonious. Society
was organized on a patrician basis, the lines as
strictly drawn rs in the mother country, and
the negro slaves substituted for white yassals
II was called 1.-The court end Of the continent"
and here Benedict Calvert had his winter home.
THE Mt. AIRY HOUSE
The present house at Mt. Airy was COM
menced Immediately after the purchase of the
land, every brick having been brought from
England and paid for in hogsheads of black to-
bacco, the currency In those days for almost all
imported goods Even the Anglican Church
had by colonial act in 1702 been established and
supported by an annual tax of forty pounds of
tobacco in every polk. What was smoke in
England was . handsome revenue in the colo
nies.
This house consisted of library, morning
room, dining room, kitchen and pantries in the
nigh; wing Of the lower floor, then a very long
hall connected these with the drawing rooms In
the left wing. the chambers. or sleeping rooms,
ell being on the second door. which was reached
by two tights Of stairs, one in each end Of this
long hall The old house still stands just as it
did then; the bricks have mellowed in the clear
and enchanting atmosphere, and the green En-
giish ivy has laid its clinging fingers upon the
walls but il Is beautiful still, with its quaint
Ness and picturesquensss, with its lovely land
scape gardens and the fragrance Of fallen leaves
and Blossoms, it, well-trimmed lawns and great
oaks. But more than ell else is it beautiful
with its wealth of haliowed associations.
The old-fashioned box hedges bordering the
flower beds of Queen Anne's day are still kept
mp, and one long aithea hedge about Ave feet
high separates the lower lawn from the rose
gsrdsn- This v one hundred end fifty years