Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-23
Pictures Of Two Colonial Homes.

Among the houses of the Northern Neck
Of Virginia left TO the State by those early
settlers WHO builded batter than they
knew" u one that may be said to have
direct connection and powerful influence
over the time now recalled by the Confede-
rate Bazaar" Stratford." Old Gunston
Hall" near Mt. Vernon. and "Strattord."
early home of the Lees Qncluding Light
Horse Harry" and his moro famous SOM,
are we'll known. Both gave IN the course
of descent, many prop. as well as AID and
ornament. To a cause destined To fail, yet
whose children are lett to say OF 1t
"'Tis cause, not tho fate OF cause, that Is
glorious
1t is perhaps. then. not inappropriate
addition to the portraits of Loe and other
Confederate generals, which are now tor
sale at the Alabama booth of the Memorial
Bazaar. that two water-colOr copies Of
these famous old houses recall the " elder
time" OF great rebels to quote the par
lance not long since in vogue on tho Other
side Of Mason 4 DixOn's line.
In an old ADOe'0n's Magazine of 1874 We
find that the original George Mason.
founder of the Virginia family. was q
colonel of Staffordshire, Eng, and men,
Der OF Parliament in tho reign Of Charles
J., who began like Lord Falkland by op-
posing the eXactIOns OF the King, but
fought under his standard during the war
preceding the Commonwealth, and later
under that OF Charles III. at Worcester.
The unfortunate result OF this battle was
such that he made haste % leave England,
and looking upon Virginia as the haven
for distressed cavaliers, took ship, landed
at Norfolk. and soon thereafter bought
the estate on the Potomac, the site OF
GunstOn Hall.
The George Mason. fourth or fifth Of tho
name. was the framer OF the Bill of Rights.
and his history has been so well given in
recent book by one OF his descendants
that 1t Is unnecessary 10 touch upon 1t
here.
The river view Of the old mansion. built
Of imported English brick, with its tall
old chlmneys, steep roof, gables. and Curl
Gus octagOn porch is given in the picture
now for sale in the Alabama booth.
Stratford.' built by the Richard Lee
who left England IN 1850 Ct Is supposed,
from like lOyalst sympathles as those OF
the first George Mason). was burned down
aud rebuilt by the notable Mr. Lee OF that
period through the and of his friends at
Williamsburg. including his Excellency
the Governor" who made such re-
port Of tho virtues and misfortune
of this gentleman to Queen Caroline
as 10 draw from her the tree gift OF
$4,000 10 be devoted TO the work OF
rebuilding Stratford." So the solldly-
constructed mansion, with IFS picturesque
square turrets. arose again from It's ashes
IN i7J5 TO recall the names Of Richard
Henry Lee, great orator and statesman
gentleman OF the silver hand" whose
elOQuence stole mems judgments, accord
ing 10 Mr. Writ; Francs LightfoOt Lee. OK
elegant attalnments and sicner OF the De-
claration of Independence; William Ice,
afterwards Sheriff. Alderman. and ardent
friend of the colonies in Londoa; Arthur
Lee, writer, diplomatist. and untiring re-
preventative OF mis- country IN France.
Here. in the very room, says tradition.
where Richard Henry and Francis Light
foot were born came into tho world Robert
Edward Lee. general-ln-chief OF the Con-
federate armies. His father. General
Henry Lee. came into possession OF STRAIT
ford through marriage with his cousin,
Miss Matilda Lee, and figured IN the war
of the Revolution as the famous Light
Horse Harry"