The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-20

| the sulitud de irkso ne and removed to George
town. Soon after this he disposed IL his
property TO Col. John Carter. at that time
IA member OF the Holsc of Representatives
from Solth Carolina, through Mr.. John Mar
bury. wellknown lawyer and real estate
agent Of Georgetown. The name OF the isl
and sool became Carter's Island. and its
affairs moved quietly through the many
years OF Col. Carriers occupancy in chan
nels similar To those III its former owner,
The mansion .: the MasOns meantime fell a
victim To flames, and Col. Carter moved
To his Old home in the South at the exDi
ration or his Congressional term. With the
destruction o: the mansion aud the colonels
removal the disintegra,ioD Of Carriers
Island was well begun.
For few years it lay unnoticed, until
its attractivencss as a picnic ground be-
gan to attract basket parties OF George
towns yong people to its shady walks and
sequestered nooxs, and Il line OF ferry boats
WAS established from the fo,t OF old High
street. now Thrty-seco1d, for the benefit Of
excursOnists. Again merry shouts or laugh
ter rang through the groves, and for a time
the hand Of decay was stayed by the cree
ton OF pavilions and numerous improve
ments.
One feature OF the picnicking days Of Ana
lOstan, as it began To be called at this time,
fro III the name oftle Indian tribe originally
occupying it, was the trip from the island
shores to the Arlington estate just across
the Little river. This estate was the prop
erty Of Washington Parkc Custis, steps son
OF the great Washington.
In the avs Of Masun's Islands glory, the
Gusts family, the Washingtons and Ma
Sons were on the most intimate footing,
and frequent visits were exchanged between
the families, and the pleasant recoIlections
of these early days always kept alive an i'll
tercst In its welfare in the heart OF the now
aged Farkc Gusts.
He always received with open arms pic
nickers from the island to the shores of
his estate, and spent considerable sums in
The erection OF paviliOns for their Conven-
fence. He would gather the young folks
about him. and in a ten minutes talk tell
of his early rccOllections or Old Ana
lostan, tell them Of the greatness OF Gen.
Mason and OF his hospitality, and sigh for
the old days long gone by.
Mr.. Custis' desire was 10 inCulCate ven
Grafton for the spot in the hearts Of the
youngsters, but would always forget his
purpose when about half begun. aud his
mind and tongue would run Off to his
hobby, the glory Of Washington.
TIME CHANGED ALL.
Happy days were these in the history OF
Anaiostan, but the facilities offered by
the island to yield the almighty dollar
soon attracted the vcndcr OF intoxicants.
and Analostan's doom was sealed. Its
reputation gradually became less and less
enyiable. and police regulations, coupled
with flames. finally cleared the island
alike OF friend and foe.
From that time the oncc-glorious island
was left a haunt Of desoiation, for the dun
tooth OF time. 20 denude II Of all its great
ness hiding its shame beneath "A weedy
mantle of uglincss. For "A while it was
the field OF the Columbia Athletic Club.
Then II was again alive with sports aud
gay parties. year or so ago. however,
the club reiinqrished its lease. and the