Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
A VISIT TO altoona
The Ante Bellum Home of
Gen. Cassius Clay's Niece.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING
OF OLD SOUTHERN HOMES.
The Varied Contents Of This Historic
Mansion Link the Past With
the Present.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY

''The interesting sketches of the character
and carey of that redoubtable hero of in
dependent thought and reckless courage,
Cassius Marcellus Clay, which have re-
Gently appeared in the Star recalls to mind
most enjoyable visit to the home of an
other member of this illustrious family
remarked a cosmopolitan wayfarer now
stopping in Washington.
While spending a few days at historic
old Charles Town, in the beautiful Shenan-
doah valley, we drove out one morning to
Altoona, the ante-bellum home of Mrs
Davenport, the granddaughter of General
Greene Clay of revolutionary fame, and the
niece of the late Cassius Clay.
Altoona, which is about a mile from the
town. Is located upon the top of knoll and
commands magnificent view of the sur
rounding valley and the Blue Ridge beyond
1t is one of the best preserved and most in
terestinS old-dme southern homes now ex-
tant. While kept in thorough repair there
are no modern innovations. and as 1t now
stands represents an ideal picture of the
plantation home of days gone by There
still remains the enduring but most pictur-
esque stone fence. winding here and there
like blue-gray serpent, dividing and SUBJ
dividing farms and pasture lands: the arch
ed gateway, festooned in graceful profusion
with the clematis and rose; the long deeply
shaded avenue Of lindens leading from the
highway to the dismounting stone lust to
the right of the house: the quaint rose gar
den where the Martha Washington of pris-
tine glory mingles it's fragrance with the
American beauty of today: the tall trellis
rlchiy embossed with royal purple
and gorgeous scarlet clematis intended to
screen the back premises from the prying
eyes of the too inquisitive. A few yards to
the rear of the house still stands the gen.
erously proportional but impregnable
md far <1ic
laundry, carriage house, etc. while beyond
these in separate Enclosure are yet to
be seen the old slave quarters where those
servants IN attendance upon the immediate
home were domiciled Back of this row Of
small but comfortably constructed houses
is the old orchard, under whose trees the
pickaninnies were wont to gather the
-golden-cheeked pippins. the juicy pears and
the red heart cherries And the old-ttme
well with its swinging crane Is there, too.
The Interesting Interior.
eff you desire admission into this inter-
esting old mansion you have but to lift
and let fall the ponderous brass knocker
which adorns the massive oak door. In the
broad hallway you will find invitingly
awaiting you the typical hair-cloth sofa.
with its superffuity Of spindle legs. The
furniture In the parlor is upholstered with
black broadcloth, embroidered in bouquets
of gorgeous roses, which testify to the skill
and industry of the mistress of the home.
cabinet in the corner is filled with SOU
venirs and curios gathered from almost
all parts Of the globe by different members
of both branches of the family We espe-
cially noted dainty china cup decorated
with the eoat-of-arms of the House Of
Lorraine from which the Davenports are
directly descended. Among the family por-
traits which decorate the walls is a SPLEEN
did likeness of General Cassius Clay, taken
in the full prime of manhood
What remarkably handsome mani"
I involuntarily exclaimed.
Yes" replied our hostess, che was and
is still, notwithstanding his ninety years"
do you not think that his eccentric mar
rage showed evidences Of an unbalanced
intellect?'
Gen. Cassius Clay's Only Fear.
mot in the least. 1t was but the fancy
of old man for pretty and young face.
He used to often see the girl assisting with
the work about the house, was attracted
by her beauty. fell in love with her and
had independence enough, regardless of
the opinion of the world to marry her. The