The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-12-16

question of the greatest moment, ii
at the beautiful retreat wher. the
man who controls the welfare of sixty
millions of people seeks quiet and do
mestic felicity.
Woodley, for that is its name. given
presumably from the densely wooded
land upon which the mansion is built,
has history second in interest to
none in the District of Columbia.
wherein romantic and patriotic senti-
ments are charmingly blended. The
original part of the mansion was built
one hundred years ago. and the
grounds then covered an area of one
hundred and one acres. Away back
in those colonial days stately danes
and princely courtiers held grand
levees there, for in those days they
fiirted and danced, laughed and made
merry, and joyous echoes hoatcd back
from woodland and dell.
Gen. George Washington, stand
ing upon the steps of the old manor
house and viewing the surroundings,
said:-''lIerc is the spot where the
capitol should be built" The finest
view of the city is from the rear part.
Of the house, and as the suns slanting
rays fall upon steeples and spires they
glitter and dance in merry gambols
over the thousands of housetops in the
city of magnificent distances"
Woodley was, too, the site selected
by Gen. Winfield Scott for the Sol
diers' Home, but owing to some misun-
not be purchased. Its value seems not
to have diminished with the passing
years, for quite recently the commits
sion appointed to select ground for the
new naval observatory had it in con-
sideration, but some scientific member
interposed an objection and suggested
the Barber" place in preference.
1t was rebuilt in 1900 by John Platter
pr Philip Barton Key. as they were
brothers-in-law and owned the prop
crty conformity. Francis Scott Key,
the father of Philip Barton, spent
most of his boyhood days at Woodley,
and his name may be seen cut on the
panes of glass in the window of the
front hall. 1T seems suggestive and
real that as he drank in the inspiring
scene his loyal heart burst forth in
grand and patriotic ardor. and upon the
balmy breeze genius unfurled the star
Spangled Banner" the words and
melody of which awaken the fires of
freedom in every loyal breast.
Another distinguished resident at
Woodley was Baron Gerault, the Ger
man minister at Washington, who
made his home there during the Mex
lean war.
Mr. Cleveland is not the first Presi- |
dent who has found happy retreat
there. Van Buren,, Tyler and Polk all |
its advantages and sought |
il rs their summer home.
Woodley is very easy to reach. for
the electric railway runs within n
short distance, and to drive out re-
quires but about twenty minutes. The
house is approached through two wide |
gates that swing far back ON their post |
erns. admitting the visitor to- broad |
avenue lined on either side by giant |
oaks. which east deep shadows, as their |
boughs almost meet, making it always |
a pleasant walk. As you advance you |
see a great rambling structure, built |
after the style of the old English |
country seats, and, by the way, of
bricks that We're brought all the way
from England. Only an artists brush
could do justice to the beauties of
nature there revealed; pen picture is
entirely inadequate.
Reaching the house and stepping
upon the porch we enter its portals
We are in a wide vestibule to the left
of which is the stairway, and opening
from the vestibulc on the left is door
which leads into the Presidents Office.
Even here the cares of Office sometimes
invade, and he is prepared to meet the
emergency. TO the rear of the Presi-
~ II