The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-09
new We WHITE HOUSE
BEING TALKED OF
Cornerstone ofPresent Mansion Lall
More Than 100 Years Ago,
STONE QUARRIED I'm VIRGINIA.
Was Brought to a New Wharf Built
for the Purpose and Hauled
Across Land of Obstinate David
Burns i'll Spite OF His Protest
Special Dispatch to The Times

WASHINGTON, D. c., September s.
Considerable talk has again been revived
here concerning the erection Of new Exc
cut1ve Marsion in place Of the one now
| standlrS. whose cornerstone was laid over
one hundred years ago, on October 49, Ivy,
Httis less than three hundred years alter
tne discovery of America by Columbus.
me commissioners had on the previous
l4th OF March, advertised for plans for
RESIDENTS house, and on the 18th OF July
they held meeting in Georgetown and
examined the plans that had been sub
mltted. AS is a part of local history now,
they accepted the plans of James Hoban,
dublin architect, who had made designs
Tor the Presidents house, framed, it is
SAID, in the model of the mansion Of the
Luke of Leinster at Dublin, the palace Of
royalty in Ireland.
Ihe stone was in part quarried at Aqua
creek and brought to new wharf. built
for the purpose, near the foot of Seven
teenth Street. but obstinate David Burns.
as Washington called him. refused to
allow the wagons to pass over his ground
in carrying the stone to the site of the
White House. He abused Mr.. Hoban
roundiy and if the City Hall had been
built. and present legal fashions then
prevailed. he would have gotten out an
Injunction. but it is doubtful if there was
then a judge nearer than Upper Marlboro
or Annapolis. SO despite Burns opposition
the stone was carted through his place
and the White House rose.
MARYLAND MASONS.
No memorial of the ceremonial of laying
the cornerstone has been discovered. Tt is
certain that the Virginia Freemasons. who
had in 17A1 laid one cornerstone of the
District of Columbia, and who in 1928 as
sisted in laying the cornerstone of the
Capitol, did not participate In laying the
cornerstone of the White House. 1t was
probably laid by MARYLAND Masons. The
building began to rise, however, and in
eight years was ready for occupancy. The
donations of Maryland s72, 900, and of Vir-
ginia, s120.o00 assisted to pay for it. and
in April. 1900. four months after Washing
toms DEATH Congress appropriated $4,000
to pay for it's furniture. Thenceforward it
became the chief mansion in the nation.
From the time when Mrs. John Adams
hung the family wash in the East Room
to dry. to the present time it has been
home set upon hill to be seen by all. 1t
has had the fortune of the humoest home
in the land-marriages. births and deaths.
It's joys and sorrows have a wide echo. and
now sympathy flows toward it from every
portion of the land
TINE FOR PRAYER-NIEETING.
Many good people content their souls
with regarding Washington a modern
ana 1ull-HeuSed5 ana CIOnlOrran.
Another battalion of the same kind are OF
the opinion that in no city in the country
of the same size are there so many who
are truly spiritually minded as here. Either
class could have found food for reflection
in a brief scene that occurred in 4 hand
some home here Thursday night. The
mistress of the establishment is a woman
whose social position is in the first rank
and her world wide experience makes her
always in demand. Her husband has been
OF, missions of Importance many times for
his country. and as she has accompanied
him many times. she has become a woman
of great intelligence. She came down stairs
after dinner in a plain street dress. ex-
planning that she was hurrying because
her husband and relatives We're waiting
for her to go to church. as it was their
regular prayer-meeting night.
what, Do you mean to say YOU are
going to prayer-meeting during this rush?"
.'Why. yes If I don't go once a week
I'm not happy. 7 always try to manage to
have time enough for the weekly prayer
meeting
Only a few hours before she had been
out in a gorgeous visiting toilet, on q
round Of teas and receptions. Then I
thought of all the Thursday nights 7 had
seen her at some big dance or reception
and wondered il there had been an hour
of prayer-meetins before dressing for the
dance and couldn't help wondering if
there were MANY more like her