The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
THE HOME OF THE LEES.
<rIoTURHSQUE OLD MANSION NEAR
FAIRFAx C0U8T HOUSE.
w.nv Historic Trcasures--The Descendants
ofthe Famous Confederate
leader.

i.a and drive two miles and you will
get there
Taose arc the directions given rs. says
Susan hunter in the Washington Star,
as we come 90 a halt on the Alexandria
turnpike after four-mile drive from
Fairfax Court House. We follow our In
structors advice and in due time reach
the stone pillars and IRON gate that mark
the entrance 90 one Of the most pictures
QUE and. after Mount Vernon. perhaps
the most historically interesting Of Nir-
f4nia homes Rayensworth, which. since
fhe conGscau0n by the government Of
their matrimonial estate OF Arlington. has
t.en fho home 81 the surviving members
Of the family 81 Gen. Robert T.. Lee.
ID was inherited by its present owners
from the FitXhughs. whose family estate
Sc became early I'm the 18th century. The
relationship between the Lees and the
Ttlhuchs IS of long existence. but was
made closer hy Gen. L. y. Lees marri-
axe with Mary Randolph Custis. the only
daughter Of George Washington Parke
Custls 0he grandson OF General Wash
i1cton's wife, and adopted son Of Cen
cral Washington whose wife was Mary
lee Fitzhueh.
The first owner OF the estate was will
sam Fitzhugh. known in his time as
the Baron Of Raw ellsworth. His son was
che phianthropAist William Henry Fitz-
hugh after whom General William Hen
rr Fltlhugh Lee. the late owner Of
Hrvensworth was named. The latter.
who was the Congressman from the
Eighth district Of Virginia. died two
years ago. He was one OF Nirgnia's
best beloved sons and inherited in
large degree the characteristics OF nis
father General Robert Il. Lee. Ravens
worth IS now the home Of his widow
and her two sons. Robert r. Lee and
Boiling Lee. also the sometime home
of the daughters Of General Robert T.
Lee. Miss Mildred and Miss Mary Lee.
AZ FIRST sight the house presents an
auDearance Of somewhat plain old
fashioned country residence, the only
ornamentation being the English ivy that
climbs over and completely hides the
homework Of the lower portion Of the
brownish frame building. Two handsome
peacocks greet US noisily as we step
from our conveyance on TO the wide steps
Of the pillared wooden porticO.
A knock on the old-fashioned brass
knocker brings an attendant, who ushers
us into n spacious hall extending across
the house from front 10 rear and from
which we pass through Venetian doors
20 the southern veranda, the favorite sum-
mer lounging place Of the family. The
scene from this is ideally beautiful. The
veranda niself extends the entire length
Of the main building, IS twelve feet wide
and about the same height in the lower
part. and supported by eight strong pill
lars. II continues 10 the top Of the house.
the upper part serving as porches Tor
the rooms above.
From the lawn we stroll through an
alley Of green shrubbery into the howery
garden. which Is kept mp In the old Eng
fish style. though Miss Lee tells us that
II As also a representation OF q Virginia
garden OF by-gone days. IL is cut up
into small fancifuly shaped beds, Dor
dered with box and intersected by mar
row walks. one whole section is devoted
20 geraniums In all the tones Of red.
Another contains all the old-fashioned
flowers. the sight Of which carries us
back to the days "befo' de wah."
Retraciur our steps. we follow another
path which leads TO the family grave
vsrd This is enclosed by a vine-covered
stone wall entered by a heavy iron gate
This Enclosure IS filled with graves, though
but four monuments mark the resting
places of the original owners Of the es-
tate. These are sacred TO the memory
Of William Fitzhugh, born September
4 17n, died December 10, 1909, and Of
William Henry Fitzhugh, born March 9,
1790 died May n, 1898. and Of their wives,
Anne Fitzhugh and Anna Maria Fltzhugh.
10 is with reluctant feet that the visitor
leaves these shaded walks and lovely
Ns,as and rc-cnters the house TO examine
the historical treasures of the family,
but once inside one forgets the beauty
IIH an 1rta ina
souvenirs OF bygone days.
I'm the hall two life-size paintings Of Mr..
and Mrs William Fitzhugh, the ancestral
heads Of the mousse look down on invaders
OF their domain. In corner near them
stands am old English eght-day clock
that rings out the hours in sOnorOus tones.
The han is DO by day by a large window
high Up la the wall above winding stair
case that leads TO the chamber above,
and by night by a quaint old hanging
lamp I'm frame Of cut glass with brass
From the hall we step into the drawing
room on the right II Is a large room
across the width Of the house
and lighted by two windows at each end.
The appointments here are disappointing
a. modern. 30 being furnished for the SUM
mcr in white and pale yellow and blue.
AZ f. a charming room yet here II seems
a. variance with the rest of the old man.
sion.
Hanging here is the water-color por-
trait OF the late Gen. William Henry
Lee, and near II Is a fire engrav-
ing OF his grandfather. Light Horse
Harry" Lee Above this on the wall
haurs an excellent Oh painting OF New
burg-on Hudson. by Weir. and at each
side ol tho doorway are quaint landscapes
In OIL the work OF Mrs Gen r. T.. Lee
who was anamateur OF a good deal OF
versatility and no little talent.
This room is filed with relics OF vari-
Gus interest "a number of them being
of The foreign travels Of Miss
Mildred and Miss Mary Lee. Among
them are bowl OF brass from Egyt
lul curious jug from Damascus
From "a passage leading from the bill
larl-ro0m We ascend 10 the bedrooms In
t.s wing. These are all furnished with
the substantial mahogany OF long ago.
aad some beautiful things there are among
te many bedsteads bureaus tables and
chairs. There is a wonderful high. square
Nuung-desk ia dark mahogany, with
BRASS handles and innumerable little
eHalrs and pig-on-hOles. that would
the heart Of a connoisseur OF the
But among the most striking or
e ga pieces are q set OF heavy square
.a..'i chairs with white covers elabo-
} and oXquisitcly embroidered. the
A Of NE maids Of the lady Of the
,.of Of long ago. In all OF these rooms
&C. Hcre Of the old English engraY-
I'M some again by Hoearth, and an
let,ne by J. Reynolds. which rep |
's Ellis ROYAL Highness William |
1't.ls. Duke OF Cumberland" on |
ga "Na OF these rooms are some fine |
'f.f rare portraits ~ General Washington. /