Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-05-04
NUMBER 2.
HISTORIC RELIC.
The Famous Sage Palm Of Tudor Place
In Georgetown


One Of the most interesting homes
in historic Georgetown is the Tudor
place. The sago palm Of revolution
AIRY fame stands in the Tudor conserv-
etory in winter and ON the beautiful
lawn IN summer. IL belongs to Mar
tina Washington's granddaughter.
who Is the oldest living descendant OF
the family.
Mrs. Britannia W. Kennon Is the
daughter Of Col. Thomas Peter. who
married Martha Curtis. and is the
widow Of Commodore Beverly Ken
non, who lost his life by the explosion
OF gun upon the Princeton, in 1874.
The main body Of the old house was
built by Col. Peter in 1916. In this
home Mrs. kennon was born and has
always lived.
Never was child more tenderfy
cared for than this sago palm. now
semi-trce
IL stands, green and thrifty, above
banks Of red and white camellias. aza-
leas and roses, needing even a temper
aturc of 80 and 20 degrees.
In l775, when the historic cargo Of
tea was dumped into Boston harbor.
there weron board three small palnp.
The largest was carefully sent TO
Mount Vernon; another 10 the home
OF Gov Morris. in Morrisania. while
the third was taken 10 the Pratt gar
dens, near Philadelphia. Ten wears
later the conservatory nt Mount Yer
non was burned and the palm lost.
Ihrty-siS years later. in 1913, Mrs.
kcnnou's mother drove in her car
rage Ga journey of four dayH) 10 Phil
adelphin, visited the Pratt gardens.
bought several little plants and car
ried them in n basket To her own
green house. One Of them was an Off
shoot Of the original sago palm, and
to-day is yeritable Colonial Dame or
Daughter Of the Revolution. Her
three ancestors barely escaped being
dumped into Boston harbor with 9TH
or cargo at the famous tea party.
II is now almost n century old, and
has never known another home. Its
fruit Is not abundant. like the cocoa
nut or date palm. IL only bears q
small apr1cot-shaped fruit only once
IN several year. Its terminal bud
ding at the end Of the stem il like n
crown Some years it unfolds long.
slender spikes, or palm branches. but
four or five times during Mrs. Ken
mons life there has been a wonderful
growth OF fern-shaped, delicate
leaves, soft and spongy in texture and
color. She showed me last years
growth, beautifully preserved under
glass.
When left on the tree until the SAP
is pretty well down in the trunk they
retain their shape and color many
years. She told me that she cut them
little too early last season, and they
had wlthered away about half their
natural size. Botanists have exam
ined them with keen interest. II ap-
pears ike a cabbage. and slowly nm
folds It's yellowisb-brown fern leaves.
after the fashion Of our houee ferns.
II left on the tree they die, like bios
SONS under glass dome. They have
splace OF honor in the beautiful draw
ing-room Of Tudor place beside q
large case Of precious relics, souvenirs
OF Mount Vernon. gifts from George
and Martha Washington to their
daughter and granddaughter.
Mrs. kennou is tall. slender gen
tlewoman Of the olden time, charm
ing and courteous, welcoming visitors
10 the old home, and showing them
with dignity and pride the souvenirs
Of her childhood and ancestors. She
remembers well IAfayettGs visit to
Tudor place. when she was A little
Virginia maid Of nine years, and the
sago palm was only III years old
Margaret Spencer, in Louisville
Courier-Journal