The National tribune., 1900-05-31

seems there was provision in the trans
action that the land was to be paid for
when all the lots were sold; but sort of
paE was offered, in lieu of the uncertain
wait for value received, by naming the
town after the Alexanders.
The place grew apace. 1t was centrally
located, with splendid harbor advantages,
which helped to the building of large
warehouses;, needed for the storage of
grain and tobacco from the fertile lands of
Virginia and Maryland. Ships carrying
tie flags of every nation sailed up the
bfoad Potomac, and weighed anchor in
tie attractive harbor Of the New World.
From small beginnings the town became
a city Merchants from Philadelphia,
Baltimore and surrounding towns came
here to buy goods. Alexandria bid fair to
rival any seaport town in America. In
social way it became as well known as
did its merchants in commercial way.
This was in that long ago when Sallie
Fairfax made uneasy the heart OF George
Washington.
One OF the most interesting relics of the
old aristocracy, and one of the most his
toric houses in America, built in the hey
day of Alexandria's prosperity, was the
Carlysle House. This house stood on a
square on Fairfax Street, and almost sur
rounding it is the old antique Braddock
House. From the street nothing of the
Carlysle House is visible, but in passing
down the river a very good view is attain
able.
Tradition says this house was built up
On vast stone fort Of the origin and use
OF which there is no record; but it is sup
posed to have been built by the early set
tiers as a defense against the Indians.
Some have placed the date as early as
1910, long years before Republic was
dreamed OF. or George Washington had
seen the light of day. 1t was built OF
heavy gray stone, and the dark recesses
and damp cells are still to be seen, which,
as the story goes, were used as slave pens
and stables for cattle when an attack from
Indians was feared. Those We're the days
when the subjects of George Ill. were
shareholders, an inheritance. Of which
Mother England quite forgot in her days of
criticism Of the peculiar institutions Of the
United States.
In 1872, when John S. Carlysle, Col
lector of the Port OF Alexandria, and also
contractor for the work on Christ Church,
built himself house, he turned the old
fort into a cellar, and above it erected a
mansion, which is a commodious house
even at the present day.
The Braddock House covers a portion
of two sides of square, but within the
court, as it were, stands the Carlysle
House, which is reached by passing
through the Braddock House, over a high
bridge or porch. When you look upon
this house, your eyes are resting upon a
spot where many a page of history could
be recorded. You just enter large hail,
into which a broad stairway, with rich
mahogany trimmings. curves down from
the re2r On the right are empty rooms,
which, undoubtedly, were parlorS in Colo
nial days. On the left Of the hail IS :. room
In which most Of the great men who made
American history have gathered. 1t was
the ball ll-room where the bewigged and be-
rufied cavaliers led fair danes through
the mazes of the dance.
A story has been told until it has put or
the elements of truth, that it was in this
house that Washington danced the min
uet with Salie Fairfax, the sister of Lord
Fairfax. When he saw the dainty figure
descending the stairway, with the gal
lantry Of Chesterfield he took her for &
partner in the stately minuet where tht
two courtesied and bowed to the strains
OF music that were "fddled" from an ole
violin in the hands of darky. while tn,
chickering's of wax candles lighted up tn,
picture. 1t is also added that Sallie was {
bit Of a flirt; hence the story of her bonn
bardment and Washington's partial capt.
ulation.
1t was here that Washington received
his commission from Gen. Braddock as {
Lieutenant, and also where Washington
offered a little advice TO Gen. Braddocl
covering the mode of Indian warfare, anc
Of the uselessness Of European tactics 1
u well known that Braddock did not heet
Nashington's advice, and the world knows
II his defeat and death in consequence.