Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-08

rtyNDt, anu, UfhT by, the VI
many birds upon cottage roof On
either side Of the picturesque mountain
road. which runs Ike white rivulet
through banks OF green, the hawthorn
hedges were shining. and the bright sod
was spranglcd with the summer wild flow
ers. Far OF. on tho horizons verge, just
Rlirnmering through the haze, rose the
Yellow Tavern. near which spot brave
Stuart wac mortally wounded. II peace
dwells anywhere on earth It's dwelling
place ia here. II was toward the close
OF cool summer day, and OF a long
drive through hedgerows OF sweet and
yerdurous Henrico that the writer came
TO the battlefield OF Yellow Tav-
ern-that fatal. glorious field on
which Stuart showed such resolutc valor.
Pausins IN his reverie between the two
elms on the spot where Stuart received
his death wound tho writer saw the bat
tle-held manted with the golden haze Of
morning In spring. swarming with
horsemen and glittering with arms and
with banners, and heard the vengsful
clash OF steel. the horrible nelghins Of
maddencd steeds. the furious shouts OF
onset. and all the nameless cries and
grosns Of battle, commingled in n thrill
ing yet hidcous din. Here rode Sheridan,
and here by forced marches the intrepid
and peerless Stuart interviewed between
the cream OF the cavalry OF the North
and the Confederate capital, and in a
1cht against fearful odds rolled back the
raiding host and saved the city.
TWAS a DIFFERENT PICTURE.
How strangely, though. did this fancied
picture contrast with tire actual scene
OF to-day. At Il little distance from the
spot the peaceful embowered cottages
keep their sentinel watch. over the care
less struggling grass went the shadow OF
a passing cloud. Not a sound was heard
save the rustic OF leaves and the low
laughter Of some little children playing
near the roadside. Close by and az rest was
a flock OF geese. couched upon tho earth.
and, as their custom IL, supremely con-
tented with themselves and all the world.
And under the hedge row. stretched out
at his full length. in tattered garments.
reposed a labOrer, fast asleep No more
internecine wars now; but calm retire
ment, smiling plenty. cool western winds,
and sleep and peace.
ARRIVING AT THE LODGE.
Arriving at the end Of my Journey. i
came to Forest Lodge, an immense and
stately building, standing among trees
and shrubs. little way from the road
side A little way down the road stands
the haunted house. an oddly picturesque
structure, connected with which is
weird romance.
The place seems deserted. Not n human
being is anywhere visible. and the only
sound that breaks the stiffness of the
September afternoon is the cawing OF
few rocks In the lofty tops OF the neigh
boring elms The actual life Of all places,
when you come TO know them well,
proves 10 be, for the most part. conven-
tional. commonplace, and petty. Human
beings. with here and there an exception,
are dull and tedious. each resembling the
other. and each nCedlessly laborious TO
increase that resemblance. In this respect
all parts Of the world arc alike-and,
therefore. the happiest traveller Is he
who keeps mostly alone and uses his
eyes and communes with his own
thoughts. The actual life Of Glen Allen
Is, doubtless, much like that Of other
harnlets-a "noiseless tenor" of church
squabbles, village gossip. ana discomfort
ed Pr7lmbling. diversified with feeding
and drinking, lawn-tennis. matrimony.
birth, and death.
A HAVEN OF REFUGE.
But as one looks around upon this group
Of nesting cottages. these broad
meadows. green and cool in the shadow
Of the denscly-mantled trees, and the
ancient haunted house." slowly crumb-
ling to pieces amid the fresh and ever
lasting vitality Of nature. one feels that
surely here might at last be discovered
a permanent haven OF refuge from the
incessant platitude and triviality OF or
binary experience and the strife and din
Of the world
Forest Lodge. with It's vast rooms, and
its ample equipment. Is situated about
twelve miles from Richmond. and IL de-
cidcdly impressive as a curiosity. Ihere
is something granGiose in the way IN
which Captain Cussens has carried out
his vast imaginlngs. The Lodge las cost
an immense amount Of money and ten
years labor to a multitude Of men. The
huge building looks its best from the
railroad. set, as it is. among dark trees,
smooth green terrace. and stretching
lawns. and ever haunted by deer, guinea
fowl. and countless wild fowls. Within
the house Is. Of course. much to be
seen. and there is a cheerful humanity
about its apartments not always to be
seen I'm a house OF such magnitude. cap
tain Cussens really makes Forest Lodge
his home. and. though IL is thrown open
90 the public. it is more like the home
of n private gentleman on large scale
than a health resort.
INTERIOR OF THE LODGE.
The home feeling of the place begins
with the entrance hall, chamber not
too big for cheeriness, nor even for COM
fort. The reception-rooms. which lead
from the stately corridor which intersects
the ground floor. are models OF taste ana
elegance. Here, on the walls, as also IN
the hal and corridor. ia a wonderful col
lection of paintings Of high artistic mort,
the work OF Mr. Mitchell. OF Ashland.
who spent five years al this sort Of work
i'm the house Next comes the mushroom
Vellow in its furnishing. with a pretty
Japanese eoTner at one end, and n far
sized stage at the other. More pictures
and dainty decorations Its mirrors lis
multitude Of lamps, and its ceiling painted
az the brilliant southern sky, combining
I'm making a beautiful and harmonious
whole. The rooms on the two hoors
above-of which there are well-nigh
hundred-are models of taste and com
fort. They are so disposed as 10 relegate
the bachelors 70 particular quarter
with n happy hnting-ground for children
far removed from any rooms whose oc-
cupants they are likely to disturb by Their
f,ombols or the eNuberance OF their child
ish glee.
The house is surrounded with spacious
verandag. loCes. and surmounted by two
great towers, from which may be OBJ
ta,ned n view OF the surrounding land
scape. which is ennoblng, unsurpassed.
THE PARK ITSELF.
But nothing IN the park is finer than
tho mark itself. 1t comprises q thousand
acres. they say and IS rich with all the
beauties OF forestry. Round an artilclal
lal,e AT the west end of the park-opai
and sapphire glimmerlng under pure
ouiet sky-little hills Of dark wood run
M with lawns OF glowing green oeside