The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-01-18
Selret Miseellany.
WRITTEN FOR THE ENQUIRER
"REMINISCENCES OF ELLERs!IE,

As my distinguished co-temporary Mrs
Helen West Ridgely, has recently employ
ed her graceful pen, in describing, the old
Churches of Maryland, feel that it will
not be incidious at this time. to indulge in
few "reminiscences, of an old Maryland
was intimately associated with many
events of past age. The retrospection
will, | am sure possess, an interest to the
descendants of those fair women and
brave men, who so often, in days gone
by, enjoyed the "full-hearted hospitality
of its ancient halls. Ellerslie was pur-
chased many years ago by Philemon Chew
Esq, father of Judge Chew, from John
Reed Magruder, whose wife, nee Miss
Eliza Waring, was granddaughter of Gov.
Robert Bowie. Mrs. Magruder is still liv-
ing at the advanced age of ninety-one years.
She continues to feel a keen interest In
passing events, and has heard with much
regret, of the destruction of the old home
over which she once presided with youth
full grace. While Register of Wills, Mr.
Chew spent the winter months in Marl-
boro but the summers We're all passed at
Ellerslie, and finally the family went there
to reside permanently. The hospitable
owner, was regarded as the Nestor of the
neighborhood from all the countryside
around flocked the rural gentry to enjoy
his genial society; on balmy summer even
ings, under the wide spreading branches
lawn, they delighted to gather around him,
to discuss the state of the crops and topics
of current interest. The men of those
days were all scholarly, they possessed a
taste for the classics; the Latin tongue was
as familiar to them as "houschold words, "
and the finest passages, from the master
mind of Shakespeare, were frequently and
enthusiastically quoted. The National
Intelligence" published by Gates& Scaton
of Washington, chronicling daily the say
ings and dongs of such men as Clay and
Webster, was hel in high esteem ard its
numbers kept on file. The mistress of
Ellersllc. was Il lady of culture and refine
ment, she was also beautiful and high
spiritcd-as the following episode will
show. After the raid upon Washing gton
by the British, during the war of 1Sl2-14
some of the returning soltiery approached
the house. where She was Stavinr, during
Il r. husbands absence with the army. I'M
mcdiately clappin" her hands she set the
dogs, the faithful guardians of the home
upon the enemies Of her country Mad,
am, said one of the officers, admiringl
If the men of America were as brave as
her women are beautiful we could never
have despoiled your fair city
The terracel garden with its old fash
i"ned flowers and Shrubbcry and cool Sc
queStercd walks, was favorite resort foI
lovers in the olden time; there the hand
some Frisby Chew, of Mississippi, wan
dered with his future wife, the fair Angel
lea BiScoe, all there Judge Tuck then q
rising young LAWYER, woocd and won Mar
garet the beautiful daughter of the house
after a romantic courtship of seven years
the lady, having refused in the meantime
many other >uitorS. Over the parlor man
/ tlepiece, hung an exquisite portrait by
King of Maria Louisa, the second daughtc.
who died after a brief illness in the bloom
of youth, having just attained her seven
teenth year. The old garret was a treas