The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-25

When Washington made his contract
with Burns he agreed that the lines oil
tho streets should SO run as not to dis
turb Burns mansion. The agreement
was well kept, and among all changes
OF the century the cottage stands to-day,
as then, surrounded by its three acres
OF grounds inclosed and protected by
the solid brick wall, still in good state
OF preservation, The long lew-Fooled
Coltage was humble to its best, contain
ing three rooms below and three three
above, the latter running across, and
lighted by quaint dormer windows
perched on each half OF the roof, Glass
Tor the windows was brought from Eng
land, as were also the bricks Of the big
chimneys, making broad tireplaces
within. The little cottage was bounds
less in hospitality, and its laIch-strlng
was ont to every SCotchman IN the
neighborhood, lar and near, Marion
Burns, the only childand apple OF her
iather's eye, had her plaYmates among
the farmers sons and daughters, and
in the old colonial days 1t was u
simple, homely lie, with plain couptry
folk rounding up the social circle. But
after the sale OF his lands brought him
wealth there was change for Farmer
Burns, The places for farmers in surt-
out and doublet, who came to drink
and gossip about the open fire, We're
taken up by famous men. Washington,
Jefferson, Hamilton and Burr were ire
quont visitors, and the CalverIs and
CAROLS were intimate neighbors. Tom
Moore was u guest at Burns mansion,
and one OF the little rooms on the
ground floor is still pointed out as tom
Moore's ROOM" Perhaps it was in this
room that the bard wrote his poetry on
America, and IL seems pretty certain
that 1t was here he wrote the verses to
Thomas Hume ending with the lines:
Der the lakes and marsh, through feyers and
through fog,
Thy foot shall follow me; thy heart aud eyes
With me shall wonder and with me despiSe.
Tho Potomac flats are filled in, levers
and fog have vanished, bears and
Yankees no longer roam about, and II
Tom Moore were to return to the
Washington OF to-day he would find
nothing left OF his verse but Democrats
and frogs.
Little Marcia Burns was sent to a
boarding school in Philadelphia and
when she came home an accomplished
young woman was the fairest belle in
the district. The beautiful heiress had
numerous suitors, among them John 7.
Van Ness, who won her heart and hand,
Mr.. Van Ness was q member OF Con-
gress from New York, and it was said OF
him that he was well fed, well bred
and well read" and quite handsome
enough TO win even tho lovely daughte
OF rich David Burns and the sole heir OF
his vast estate. In 1870 the new house
was built, known as tho Van Ness man
sion, and in that early day at cost OF
not less than 100000. 1t stands in the
same grounds but few rods from
the old cottage, which was still
the object OF tender care by Marcia Van
Ness, whose loyalty to her childhood's
home was something Of veneration, The
Van Ness mansion was the most mag
niticent house in the city Latrobe,
whose work is seen in the capitol, was
the architect. No historic house in
Washington to-day compares with it in
elegance and spacious rooms. There is
nothing in the modern palaces OF mill
ionaires equal to the Italian mantels,
one in the great dlningroom still as
perfect as when sculpturcd in Italy,
seventy.hve years ago. The marble has
the finest polish and is an exquisite
blending Of white and the softest violet
gray tints. The narrow shell is sup
ported by small tluted columns, and the
whole is an example Of the pure Corin-
THAN. In two OF the great square bed
rooms are mantels OF white marble,
with graceful sculptures and scarcely
less beautiful. The house has passed
through various hands, and one OF the
recent owners was Ex-Governor Swami,
OF Maryland, whose fancy for one OF the
mantels led him to remove it to his
new house in Sixteenth street.
The Van Ness mansion, though long
neglected and tenantiess, holds within
its walls and general splendid Construc-
ton the possibilities OF u grand house.
The bricks and other materials were
brought from England, and the work
was done when builders were more
thorough than the present rapid pace
OF building allows them to be. The
house is one OF twenty-five rooms, and
the whole first floor is a series OF kitch.
ems pantries, storerooms and lNundries,
under which is the large, deep wine
cellar. There were royal entertain
ments when Mr.. and Mrs Van Ness
we're the master and mistress OF tho
mansion, and well there might be, for
the great drawing rooms, library and
dining room open up admirably for
large companies. The front OF the
house is finished with porte.cochere,
under which flight OF wide stone steps
lead directly up to tho main door open
ing into tho square hall. The picture
shows the rear OF tho house, which is
far more old-tlme and quaint, in
the chunky" pillars holding the
portico. A modern mNlieshitt en-
closed the portico with glass and turned
it into conservatory, entered from the
drawing.rooms. The box-borderod
walks still show the hand OF English
Landscape gardeners, though long I'M
cut and neglected English oaks, once
magnificent shades, now bent and
gnarled, have still an ancient grace.
Everywhere tangled vines and iors0ken
bushes look up with natures smile and
bloom in spite Of the solitude which be-
speaks desolation. They are all con-
temporaries OF Burns CottaTo, and every
tree, bush and vino seems to gather
closer about, tho dropping limbs falling
protectingIy over the sunken roof, and
the thick leaves OF summer almost con-
cealingit from the sight Of envious
strangers. But no protection OF nature
can hold the little cottage from the fate
which must overtako it very soon. No.
body ontors it now, though door by
tho side Of one OF the cltmneys stands
inyitingly open, But il Is no longer