The National tribune., 1898-01-20
CHAPTER MI.

George Neutrality-suspicious. of John Parkt
Custis-Arlington and Its Traditions
Washington RelicS-The National Gene
terry.
Between Washington and Alexandra, OF
the banks of the Potomac, there Is one %
the oldest and finest estates in Virginia
Ii was the family seat of the AleXanders
and Hunters, and has been in the family
for nearly three centuries
This family is descended from the power
full clan of Mcdonald of Scotland; from
Alexander. son of John, Lord Of the Isles,
by Lady Margaret, his wife, who was the
daughter of Robert H., King of Scotland
John ". son of the Earl of Sterling, emf
grated 10 Virginia in 1863 and settled III
Stafford County, and purchased the How
son patent, which extended from George
town 20 Hunting Creek
When he died, in 1917, his viii bequeathed
to his son John all the land from Four
Mile Run, in Alexandria County, 10 the
Potomac River. and TO his second son,
Philip, Four Mile Run To Hunting Creek
so that Abingdon, the historic home re-
ferred TO, became the home of John Alex
ander.
The mansion is still standing, and was
most solidly constructed. The beams and
rafterS were Of solid oak, two feet in di-
ameter, and strong enough, as proven, TO
bear the weight of two centuries.
Descendant after descendant inherited
the estate until it, together with Arlington,
fell into the hands of Girard Alexander.
Girard sold Abingdon 10 Gen. George
Washington, who bought it for his stepSon,
John ParlIe Custis, who married Eleanor
Calvert of Mount Airy, Maryland She
was married at 10 years Of age, while
Master Custis was a youth of 10. Here
they lived several years, until -four chi
dren were born To them. All were born in
this home, except George Washington
Parke CuStlS, who was born in Mount Airy.
But the brightness that had illumined
this home went out when the rayages of
war marked its master for its victim.
After the death of young Custis, his
widow married DR.. Stewart, Of Virginia.
and in Abingdon the nine Stewart sisters
were born. They were Eoted for their
beauty and vivacious manners, and many
a young Virginia planter has drunk a
toast 10 these fair muses..
But the homestead passed away from
them. Ii had been paid for in Continental
money by Gen. Washington, ard the heirs
of Girard Alexander brought suit to re
cover the property. After many years of
tedious ligitation the courts set the sale
aside, and Abingdon passed once more
into the hands of the Alexancers. and
Walter Alexander became the proprietor
He afterwards sold it 10 one of the Wises.
who kept IL but short time, and rcsold il
TO Gen. Alexander Hunter, a member OF the
original family. Gen. Hunter was Mar
shall of the District Of Columbia for 20
years. He was nan of wealth and spent
his means freely in beautifying the old
place.
He was a personal friend of President
Andrew jackson, and many a Saturday
the head OF the Nation would siiD away
over the river TO spend a quiet SUNDAY at
Abingdon. An inflexible rule was made
by Gen. Hunter that office seeking and
politics in general should be rigidly tabooed
during the President stay Everybody
a fn hn nj.
farmers would sit by the hour and chat
Familiarity with the old hero there being no
rules OF etiquet laid down in this liberty
hall.
One chamber, on the northeast side of
the house, was always called Gen Wash
ington's room. 1t was the chamber-room
he always occupied when he visited his
Stcpson, Mr. Custls. Gen. Hunter used TO
say his reason for not building more
pretentious house, with his immense for
tune, was that a house that was good
enough TO shelter Washington was good
enough for him"
Gen. Hunter town mansion was on The
corner of c and Third streets. This prop-
erty has long been owned by the family of
the Rev. julius Grammer of Baltimore
and leased for boarding house
Gen. Hunter willed Abingdon TO his
nephew, Mai. Alexander Hunter. man
well known IN literary work. He was to
come into possession OF the estate when
he reached his majority. But before that
time camn the civil war broke out and Alb
ingdon, like Arlington, was sold for taxes
the prospective owner being in the Confed-
crate army. Abingdon was bought by L. f.
Crittenden, then Register of the Treasury
After the war Alexander Hunter, then u
sued for its recovery, and employed James
A. Garfield as his lawyer.
The case was won in the Supreme Court
and Gen. Garfield took as his fee 40 acres
OF Abingdon; and when he became a resi-
dent OF the White House he was makino
plans Ia build upon his land and estab-
lish a handsome country home His nm
timely death brought all these plans 90 a
close.
Arlington remained in the hands of the
Custis family. John ParI<e Custis. when a
lad, was present at the Inauguration Of his
foster father as President of the United
States, and saw the oath administered by
Chancellor LIVINGSTON. upon the balcony of
Federal Hall in New York. 1883
lie afterwards heard this pledge Of fl
deity 10 the Constitution from the Inns of
every President, every four years. down To
President Pierce. After his father died.
his home was with his sister. Nellie C,stis
at Mount Vernon.
This continued through childhood and
youth, and until the death Of his grand
mother and the breaking up Of the home i'm
1892, when he commenced the erection of
the mansion at Arlington
lie lived here, keeping bachelors hall
until, at the age Of %, he married Mary
Lee iitzhugh, whose mother was a Ran
dolph.
The mansion occupies a COMMANDING
view upon the brow 81 an elevation n,nre
than three hundred feet above tide-watcr
and about half mile from the STORE of Inc
Potomac
The building is Of brick and presents a
hont oi 10 feet. The portico, with IFS
massive Doric columns. is so feet front and
20 deep, and was fashioned after the
famous temple Of Thesus at Athens
from the porticO z beautiful panorama is,
exhibited; first the Potomac, spotted with
sailboats and ships slowly sweeping down
the stream: also the city, beautiful with
ITS capitol, its monuments its nubIic
buildings, and the unfolding forests and
undulaiing hills that surround II.
The Old mansion is surrounded by a
park dotted with groves Of chestnuts. oaks
and cVergreens, and above them all rise
paTiarchal trees, bearing many centennial
honors.
George VI. Parle Custis is well remen-
bered by many now living His portrait. i'm
The Corcoran Art Gallery shows a ford
lace, high, curling lip, somewhat receding
iorehead, penetrating blue eyes a face
that hIntS The man 81 the world genial
gentle, hoSpitable. He was a brilliant
orator, and in Arlington House are frescoes
Of his Own painting lie thought he wa :
an artist, and made an honorable effort N
pant battle scenes representing The