The morning times., 1896-05-10

The picturesque suburbs contain no more
.listoric nor beautiful place than the ancient
manor of the Calverts, or, as it is usually
sdescribed, the home of the sixth Lord
Baltimore.
] Situated IN the center Of au undulating
ia WI and surrounded by great woodland
.scntrIeS OF stately oaks, elms, maple and
twalnut trees, the old mansion Is only
Sew hundred feet from Riyerdale station,
ON the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, aud
but five minutes walk beyond HyattSville.
The name OF the railway station has
been changed in recent years 10 Rverdale.
Originally 1t was Rivers Dale, because the
slnpmg ground on each side OF the manor
Us situated between the Potomac and Pa
tuxeut rivers-''the dale between the
rivers" as the elder Calvert used TO
express it,
Being so near the boundary line of the
District, the history OF the old Calvert
estate Is almost synonomous with that OF
ahe nations capital. In the good Old by
gone days the pace was known as Mount
Airy and the name is not an inappropriate
'Une, for the beauty OF the surrounding
SsCcnery suggests The very breath CT heaven
il every passing breeze that rlpples through
the great carpet Of Ereenerg, and rusileS
ithe leaves in the majestic tree tops.
What memories and thoughts or century
ago were recalled when The Times visited
Guc CrumolHg mansion and its enchanting
surroundings. The echoing footballs OF the
visitors in It's spacious Railways and airy
apartments seemed TO call back to life the
forms OF departed greatness.
In ima ginatlOn old Lord Baltimore and
his descendants. ghosuy figures OF past
ages, seemed to fit about the ancient
place, rich with traditions and reminis-
Cences; frightened by sunshine or Shadowed
by passing clouds. The very breezes which
passed through the quaint gables Of the
structure seem to breathe wierd stories
in low requiem and subdued Aeolian song
OF the long. long ago, while memory wings
its flight backward to the very commence
ment OF this government.
BUILT lao YEARS AGO.
The Calvert mansion was erected about
14O years ago. At that time the art OF
brick making was unknown in this country
and every brick employed in lis construc-
ton was brought from England in sailing
vessels. They were then transported many
miles overland in agons from the point OF
landing, down the Potomac, in ST. Mary's
county, TO the site OF the manor at Mount
Airy. In those distant days railroads and
stea mboatS were unthought Of
The venerable mansion is two high
stories and a gabled attic in height, and
IS Surmuunted by cupoa. Its brick outer
walls are mOrtared over TO represent sand
stone. and are painted yellow, with broad
bands OF dark brown, the combination o1
.co}ors giving the edifiCe an unique appear
-anCe. The TWO large pOrticos are painted
Brown, and the house contains forty rooms
OF greater or less degree Of SpaciousDess
The mansion fronts east and is approached
.by a semi-Circular roadway, enciTcling tht
ieastcrn section Of an undulating lawn
The roadway IS thanked by spreading elms
NAPLES and other gigantic trees, some o.
them being over l so years old.
Through these in the quiet Of eventidt
the passing breezes murmur soft lula
bys. now and then merging into sorrowfu
,requiemS for the chiyalric dead who sleeI
dn the nearby family cemetery.
In the center Of the eastern lawn is {
fountain almost as ancient as the edifIct
itself. The deep basin is of mortar. painted
green. The central portion consists OF
two white metal swans, with outstretcheC
wings and necks.
Their throats are parched with the rus
OF three-Score years, for it has been tina
dong since tiny streams OF water SpUrtet
from their necks, forming bright-hued RAIN
bows in the sunlight and moistening thu
air at cventide as it rippled with brook
like melodies and furnished a drinking
place for the oriole. thrush ana tiny wren
HE O1D TODN 4AiN"
There were three or the swans attached
to the ulden-time fouut, but several year
ago one OF Jnein was disconnected and car
uied away by relic hunters. The water 70
the fountain was furnished by brooI
which einpJ.es into the pretty lake To tn
westward OF the mansion.
The Calvert estate, which surrounds tht
manor. originality consisted OF al out = 200
acres of the most fertile land in som herr
Maryland. IL extended over Il nearly leVe
plateau lrom the famous Spa Spring a
BladeaSDurg TO the Point Branch. and in
Cluded in its confines the Maryland Agri
cultural College farm aud RosSburg. Th
estate came INTO the hands or George II
Calvert aud his brother, Charles b., al thu
death Of their father, George {. Calvert
during the year 1888.
But little remains to bear witness to tht
past splCnGor OF the grand cid estate, save
the ancient mansion. This was erected b.
an English architect for Mr.. Henry j
Ster. To whose daughter, RoSalie, Georg
c. Calvert, the elder, was married, he II
turn becoming the PosseSSur OF the place
Henry J. Stier was a rich banker OF Ant
wcrp, who fled from his native cCuutr.
for political reasons, bringing his vas
wealth with him.
The structare is distinctly English il
architectural style, the IreScoed ceilin g
ana carved WOODWORK Yet Ettiiti4I.n III
good state of preservation in many of tn,
rooms and especially in the wide anC
spacious railways.
The main portco is supported by hig
granite pillars, which were made original
for the United States CapitOl-the ce
tral portion Of the present structure. TIL
pliers, eng too snort, were laid, aside
Tney were finally purchased for the ol
Lord baltimore edifiCs.
Lying % the grass beside the tall porticC
WIN its well-worn tiled flooring, aud co,
ering the main approach To the manor is a
Old cannon about fifteen feet in length
and eaten through and through by the rui
OF ages This ancient gun came original
from England. 1t was used during Bacon
Rebellion and was taken from a sui
merged fort down the Potomac and pr
sented 10 tie Calverts by the priests an
monks of St Mary's. There were two
these old guns found. The other is at I'll
State House at Annapolis.
THE SYLVAN RETREAT.
The grounds surrounding the mansio
still present a scene OF landscape beaut.
There are many sylvan retreats and sever;
summer houses, vine covered and mos
clad; also traces OF former extensive flowt
gardens. An Usage hedge. east of tn
house is said to be the pretiiest hort
cultural construction In this section {
the country. A romantic lake snugglt