Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-11


These two pictures represent the Baron
Of RaVenswOrth and Colonel George
Washington Parke Gusts Besides the
latter is a painting Of his wife. other
pictures Of much interest in the room
are two lfe-sze copies in oil OF General
and MIS-. Washington in their younger
days. by Rembrandt Peale.
ON the opposite wall hangs a portrait
Of Mrs W. II. II. Lee, the present mis-
trcss of RavenSWOrth. and she is eur"
rounded by portraits of her family. She
was q Miss Boiling, Of Virginia, ana 20
can claim descent from PQcanohtas s;,ot,
The silver at RaYcnsworth has mucn
of it's great historic value, ana mas comc
to this branch of the family from Lees
Custises, Parkes, Fitzhughs, and BollInSs
OF past days. -
ROYAL SILVER SERVICE.
Most interesting of all are a large pas
ket i'm exquisite openwOrk design and a
beautifully wrought salVer. both bearing
the Parke cOat-Of-arms. They are par'
OF a service that was presented 20 COlo-
mel Parke aide-de-camp to the DUKE OF
Marlborough for galantry displayed al
the battle Blenheim. The story attach
ing 10 IL is that Queen Anne, Wishing 70
show the young man her apprScldtloI
Tor his especial bravery. asked MN u
name some favor she could confer upon
him. With true chivalry he begged Tor
but a portrait OF herself. ms she pre-
scented IN the form of Il miniature SET
with GldmOHUS, nut sue dllti W etlu sNh'
MIN the service OF which these pieces are
q part. massive stirrup comes IRON
the Carriers, Of Virginia, also connecteu
with the Lees, ana quaint peer Hluss'
heavy salVers, and TWO or IiIee eiapC-
rately-wrOught services form part OF th'S
rare American collection Of silver.
The upper rooms Of Rayensworth form
a perfect tredsure-house OF antiques III
pictures. furniture. and ornament, every
Thing is old with the graceful beauty, yet
sft,Iefanffa1fft~ al COInnlIl NaXS. some
particularly interesting old engraVlnB5
hang I'm various of the rooms; some or
Thorn are HOgarth's realistic representa-
tons Of his lie and times. some are
Iare-appe9ring portraits or OeheraI
Washingt0n and there j. an 0ll-paintlhS
of Ellis Poval HiChncss. William Angus
tus. Duke OF Cumberland" bearing the
signature OF J. Reynolds. quite a rara
avis among these seems a portrait OF
Colonel GUSTS. the first husband OF MIS-
Washington. 1T IS niue Oh p SNsaIl;1
much cracked, and good deal deldced
Lut showing the mellow co.oring OF
good painting. ,.,,.,,, od,
ed to by It's later occupants Sood-slze.'
blmard-rOOm makes a sndl WeSt Wis
a conservatory opening Off the Hihihs-
room makes another and some OF the
upper rooms have been mOdernlzed 10
suit the convenience Of Mrs Lee 4luiy
Nirginian. however. in all respects, the
house IS cOmplemented by mar uo1eh
or more small outbuildings that form a
part Of the domestic equipment or the es-
fablishment--the meathOuse. smOkehousc'
etorchouse. &c-satellites or an extensive
Virginia culinary department.
The exterior OF the house IS much beau
tilted by a luxurlant growth OF English
WV. which, with evident affection for ms
so worthy branch Of fine old EnSHsh
family. has taken possession or eNeiy
inch Of available space of the high siode
foundation on which the house rests,
forming a most artistic GROUNDWORK i0r
a dignihed superstructure. ,,.,
" SUSAN HUNTER.