New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-23

think tie matter over. The scotchman yielded. Sc
curing good bargain. When Washington asked for
Tie last time. ION what terms, Mr. Burns Will you
surrender your plantation ," Farmer Burns replied
my That Your EAoelcncy may choose to name.'
The land In the four farms on which The National
capital now stands comprised 100 acres. twenty
FIVE pounds per acre wa, paid for much as might
b" appropriated for the Of the United states not
inouains streets. on April H. 1901 the cornerstone
~ tn" new d trici laid by the commissioners
The young Irrnchman. Peter Charles flnfin'' VINO
had been attracted 10 the New World and served as
captain in the Revolutionary Army, was directed by
the President 10 lay out the new city.
When Washington made his contract with Burns
he agreed that the lines of the streets should 80 run
Il, not to disturb Burn, Mansion. The agreement
w,ll kept, and among all changes Of the century
The cottage stands to-day, Them surrounded by lis
three of grounds lncloscd and protected 10y the
solid brick wall. still In good state Of preservation
The long, low-roOfed cottage humble AT us r'st
containing three rooms below and three above. the
latter running across and lighted by quaint dorm"r
window, p"rclcd each half of the roof Glass Tor
the windows brought from England as were also
the bricks Of the big chimney, making broad hre-
places within. The little cottage was boundlcss IN
hospitality and IT, htch-string ont TO every
~co'chman in the ncghborhood. far and near MARION
Burns. the only child and apple of her fathers eye
had her playmate, among the farmers sons ana
daughters. and In III" old colonial daNs II WIS a
simple homcy life. with plain country folk rounding
mp the social circle. But after the sale Of his lands
brought him wealth there a change for Farmer
uurrs III" places of farmer, in surtOu and d0ubi't
who Ia drink applcjack and gossip around the
omen ire were ;akrn hy iamou, men. Washington,
Jefferson Hamilton and Burr were frequent Visitors
and the Calvert, and Carols were Intimate neigh
hors Tom Moore Sic,t al Burns MaI~i0i ana
ON. Of the little rooms on the ground floor /, still
t..rlt4 VA
I'm thl, room that the bard wrote his poetry on
America and Il seems pretty certain that II was
here he wrote The verses to Thomas Hume ending
with the lines:
DER he lc, and aarh. through fyer' AID through ''s
Midst bear, and i'n"'"-, .".r.t, ana ii's''
" in he ,Ial wonder and with ne 'piS'
Tie Potomac Hat, are filled in, fcycrs and fog have
VAN, lcd bears and Yankees no longer roam about
and II Tom Moore to return to til" Washington
Of today IL" would find nothing LEFT Of his verse but
Democrats and frogs.
Inn. v,r,i, Euru, wa, sent TO boarding school in
p,il,d.lnhia and when she came home an accom-
uli-h,d Young woman was the fair",t belle In the
district Tie beautiful hcrcsS had numerous 'uitorS
among them John 7. Van NcsS. who won her heart
and hand Mr.. Van Ncs. WIS member Of ConGrrS,
from Trw YORK and II VA, said II him that he was
VEL fed. wen bred and Well read. ana pui" ianG
sonl, enough To- win the lovely daughter o rich
David Burn, and The sole heir to hi, vast estate" In
Nc-. mansion and In hat early day a. a cost 81
NOT les, than .OOOO. II stand, I'm the same ground,
lmi - frw rod, from the old ooitIc". which WAS sun
the object Of tender care by MARCIA Van Me- "hoNr
io,ally 10 her childhood, home was something OF
,cu,.i.,inn. III" Van N,ss mansion wa, the most
riacuil,-nt hp>" in the ely. Lairoh". wi l>" work
f. in the capitol. WIS ih" architect. \" historic
IONS. iu Washington TO-DAY compares with if III
elegance and spacious roon.-. There i, nothing IN
trc modern palaces Of millionaire equal 10 The
Italian maniol, on. In The great dining room sin IL
perfect a- when sculpfur'd tn Italy. seventy iN"
year, ago. ~" marble ha- III" finest polish ana i