Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-23
Written for The Evening Star
MARYLAND. MY MARYLAND.
The Beautiful Region Of sandy Spring ana
the Friends Settlement.

The Beautiful Region Of sandy Spring and
the Friends Settlement.
In fertile district Of Maryland. five hundred
feet above the sea, some twenty miles 10 the
north Of Washington. rests the Friends settle
ment Of Sandy Spring This peaceful COM
munity is well known 20 various residents Of
the capital and tourists from distant states. and
Ia famed for the culture and refinement both OF
its soil and of its peoples garden spot. as it
were. or sort of promised land to those who
freed their slaves from bondage long years
since. before the people OF other states and
those who formed the national government
came TO Gee the need of freedom OF this kind.
and TO realize that God had never meant IN
his wonderful DEGREES that one man should
hold power and dominion over the life, liberty
and happiness OF another
Inc early settlers, in pursuance OF the teach
ings OF Geo. Fox, who bid his disciples 20
mind the hight" as il comes direc. from God
took up" miles Of land in this vicinity away
back IN the seventeenth century. and upon l.
their children and childrcn's children have
lived to dwell and flourish aud TO pass down
from one generation to another the account of
many interesting and historical incidents.
One OF the Oldest inhabitants was Bernard
Gilpln. direct descendant of the learned.
good and gifted Bernard Gilpin Of England
who was there entitled ''the Apostle OF the
North" The one OF whom we have 20 SPEAK
inherited many OF his famous ancestors gentle
traits of character. with kind consideration for
his fellow men. Friends and strangers were
alike entertained at his hospitabie board. while
on the dark ami dreary winter nights would he
have lamp placed in the window TO light
the traveller on ms way"
His residence was an old-fashioned Stone
mansion, called MT. Airy," where he lived
and died. leaving behind bim various children
to mourn his loss and bear his name
Among the latter is the preseu. Bernard
Gilpin. a prominent merchant of Baltimore
who enjoys his regular visits TO the family
castle in the Old World.
Other places of note to visit are Fair Hill. ="
which was once n prominen. Friends school
and has lately been employed as q restful sum
mer resort; "Rockland," where lived and died
the famous teacher. preacher. philanthropist
and world-known mathematician. BENJAMIN
Hallowell, and where his son. Henry 4. HALO
WELL now follows IN his footsteps.
A couple of miles down the road we call at
the sweet farm of Bloomfield. and are invited
IN by the hospitabie owner, who in Christian
widowhood dweils scrcnely there. She grace
fully shows us the interesting, time-worn
though well-prescryed writing-desk chair apon
which President James Madison wrote his official
dispatches during his refugee sojouru in the viii
lage of Brookeyille in the war of 1872 when the
British were invading Washington. We Jour
ney on, and call mex. at the Cherry Grove
Thomas residence.
From this the aforesaid Bernard Gilpin took
his bride long years ago. As at the Gilpin
nome. the ravages OF fire once made destruc-
tive work upon this spot But again the old
English brick were saved and used for re-
building, and the present houses remain, as it
were. monument of the past
within this edifice are several things of deep
interest to the antiquarian.
In corner cupboard there remain various
pieces OF unique china, brought over in the
dine
On the wall a restful picture meets the eye
William Penn treating with the red men. whom
through Christian gentleness he made his
friends.
This seritable little engraving was borrowed
by James Madison during his administration
and while in his possession was duly copied in
bas RELIEF IN the rotunda Of the national Cap
ltol, where IT still remains. The President re-
framed the original and returned it to ITS quiet
resting place. in striking contrast with the
public home Of its offspring.
For a short half hour we pause in the edge OF
grove at Sherwood School. and thence pro-
coed to the quaint little post office at Sandy
Spring. Over this presided for fifty years the
late Edward Stabler. who was known in his
quiet but impressive way to many Presidents.
statesmen and other public men. Presidents
William Henry Harrison. Abraham Lincoln.
Gen. Meigs, Horatio King and Francis z. Blair
have each esteemed him warmly as their
friend.
Near by tals post Office there remains a
small oid-fashioned house. built some hundred
years ago by the mother (Deborah) of Ed
WARD Stabier, and which today is sheltered by
the molly tree that her own hand planted. and
stii stands to keep her memory green. II is
now occupied By Friend Gideon Gilpin, nephew
70 .ne eieef bernard; Ihoagh an Old gentle
man he well remembers the day when. as q
Young man he was one of the teIecatiop who
rollad ,ba ,,,I;,;ooI .lI,, 80. Wl,
inc IN RaIt;moro dprino o.. oo,nro,,,s' =, a.,
worthy President
A half mile off 10 the aou.b mn Welt ,,o
Harewood bousc and farm wbera EdwarS
Stabler was horn and died After marrrine
the daughter Of Bernard CiI,in nere ba ~
for bimseIf a name as c;.,,itc ,nd nr,o.;caI
farmer ;nvan,or al saaI Ir-o,p. Ia
children we're Theirs and nrmsrons 800
children. and in the eye,ing ~ l,fs ,hey
gathered ain aronnS them 70 ceiahrate ,h,i,
ool5an onn;rarsarr - - a. -, -.
haired hrid, 81 tha o.o,s;a,, oro .. ~ SO
children adSressad a noem IN .bi,S ono,nrraa
these lines.
..,orsn,,
Soiden moS.enfs stiIt sr ~t ,h,ns ou '"ee'
Golden footsteps on the stairway:
Golden clusters on tue vine. )"
Upon this farm still flows the spring which
was noted IN the past for Its size and delicious
water and the silver sand through which it
forced ITS way. Hence the name OF the neigh
ooIhood-Sandy Spring.
On retracinS our steps past the old brick
ineetins mousse punt IN iolI and adorned alone