The times., 1899-08-06

, in July that the writer found himself
dreaming under the trees. a guest at a
country house in Virginia 1.-The full moon
conventional, but one contents himself
with the reflection that an apt quotation
is as good as an original remark, and
! passes on.
Some beauties of nature elude almost
every attempt to transfer them to canvas,
and moonlight is one of these. 1t is such
pity, for considering how impossible it
| is to convey IN words the impression OF
moonlight, with its splendid silence, its
pale opalescent light and soft shadows
in word, summer night. One would
like to paint the picture of that particular
evening. 1t would be a picture in pale
| green silver, with velvet shadows; no
color save where the fire OF lighted cigars
signaled red to all comers, Keep off, N
happy. The trees, magnificent oaks, just
good hammock range apart, rose silent
and majestic as Druids. Mark you, this
| is property of moonlight; it enlarges
! and glorifies objects There Is sub
Unity about things moonlight, poetry.
a something which peoples the half-iight
| with the fairest fancies and most delight
ful suggestions that ever fill ones cheer
| full leisure. mighty oak tree. large
| enough to inspire pride in the hearts of
| that substantial company which makes the
| grove wherein this country house is hid
| den, stands Immediately before the door,
| spreading its protecting shade benignly
| above the home, while the other trees
! contribute their share toward the pic
| turesqueness and ones enjoyment of the
place This giant--the especial admiration
NP cit rartQ dod
! ivy. The honors are easily his, and he
bears them with becoming dignity. This
house, quaint one-story structure COW
ering much ground, and consequently
roomy, belongs to that class of architec
! ture which is never unpicturesque, and
never finished. This house was begun long
/ ago and added to with some artistic taste
| from time to time as the need OF the
occupants required, till the whole has TAX
en- on an Indigenous look which tells OF
comfort and convenience as much indoors
as out. The combination of house and
grove, with quarters and outlying barns,
makes a most inviting picture.
1t is situated in the centre of farm on
! the outer eastern edge of Warrenton. a
home on hillside, and the outlook is far
1 reaching and very lovely. Hills, fertile
| valleys, glimpse of the village. and the
distant Blue Ridge make the sweep of
landscape comprehended in this view alto
gether captivating.
The Home of Richard n. Brooke.
Warrenton is also the home of Richard
N. Brooke, one of the best known and most
highly esteemed of Washington's local art
ists Mr. Brooke is building studio here,
very near the house in which he was born;
a good move on the part of Mr.. Brooke,
and since Washington is to have him win
| ters she congratulates him on the prospect
of studio exactly suited to his tastes ana
needs. Warrenton is a most attractive lit
tie Virginia town, boasting one of the old
est and most picturesque colonial hotels in
the whole Commonwealth. 1t is a curious
red brick structure, facing what appears
to be a lane. There are broad piazZaS and
general look of old-time comfort about
it which is very restful and inviting. There
are quaint old-time houses and luxurious
country homes, but no hint of that smart
ness and gaiety which characterize the
summer resort and give to such neigh
borhood that artificial city look SO exas-
perating TO an artist. Such citihed VIII
lagos may have their attractions, but they
are never picturesque. 1t is this atmos-
phere of repose which imparts to Warren
ton and her beautiful foothills of the Blue
Ridge their inexpressible charm. The Wis
tas up or down any of the streets are pic
lures one would like to paint The glimpses
of distant blue one is constantly seeing
between the houses across lawns of green
plush, and under wide spreading trees is
an agreeable panorama of peaceful sum-
mertime On the outskirts of the town in
any direction are pastoral scenes OF much
loveliness, rolling hills in broad masses
bearing lusty, vigorous crops OF wheat and
corn, with here and there along the little
| creeks pasture land and meadows.
/ se NVh
greater enjoyment to an artist tl.an the
mysterious and tender blue ribbon of noun
tains which divides the western expansa ol
, land and sky. Nature II. the main makes
, no mistakes; discords will now and then
appear but her arrangements OF line and
; color may be counted on for being beau
tiful and harmonious.
: In Hartford County.
In these days of rapid transit, person
passes from one picturesque locality to an
, other ''in the wink of an eye as the Ger
mans say, and SO it was that while th'
writer in his Washington studio sat rub
bine his eyes, trying TO be sure his TIVE
lovely days in Warrenton were not of {
dream. he was whisKed away to the bank:
; of the Susquehanna at e:fe OF the mos
beautiful points along that very paintabl'
river. 1t was La Fayette Valley, in Hartford
/
of those plain men who are veritable en-
cvclopedias; touch him at any point or OF
any subject and he was sure to know some
T thing about 1t. He came from Baden fort!
wears ago and, settling in this secluded
little valley through which Washington
and La Fayette passed on their return from
, Trenton. This humble man had pursued
his simple, Industrious way, building III
a large and successful factory from which
OF aiqhtv-one he has retired TO mediate OF
matters and things. A sturdy Democrat o
the old school, and an expansionist, his con
yersation was most entertaining. Here
T with his wife and a number of his sons ant
! daughters. near neighbors, he is passing
peaceful and contented old age. 1t is pic
: lures of sturdy independence and domes
tic felicity like this that give one cont
dence in this dear Republic.
For years the writer has searched Valnll
for a spring house that would make
satisfactory painting. There is something
So alluring about a spring house, the name
alone calls up such delightful visions OF tht
country-milk in sweet, clean pans on tht
cold stones or cement floor, and da1nt!
pots of yellow butter, cool and hard witt
: the gurgle of the clear water passing be
I tween. Spring houses, however, are un
: picturesque and the surroundings are sci
q dom of the sort to convey in a painting
the delight one finds in contemplating th'
thing itself; but here was spring hous'
with the long looked for accessories. Th'
e yellow mortar and yariegated stones o
t | the spring house had for foil the white
washed foundation OF the homestead nea
| by Against this white, above the spring
which was located in the velvety grass
4 stood one of the loveliest young willow
i trees that ever grew-a tree in itsel
worth going miles to see; the sort of
4 tree that Corot loved TO paint and o