The Washington times., 1906-04-22
cUNsroN HALL, HOME OF GEORGE MASON.

ilization that WAS drowned by the ashes
Of the civil war. He was an aristocrat
Of the aTistoCrats, and yet a fiery re-
publican. TO whom every form of cen
trslized government was abhorrent. He
was the owner of hundreds OF slaves.
ana Yet denounced slavery. in public and
private. as Fundamentally wrong and es-
scntiaIly menacing 10 the peace and
prosperity of the nation that sanctioned
il. lie contributed largely to the Con-
stitutiou of the United States. and then
because it did not go far enough to-
ward safeguarding the liberties Of the
States-he did what he could 70 prevent
its ratification by Virginia.
At Gunston Hall he dispensed the
gracious hospitality that was one of the
attributes of his character and one of
the incidents of his station and his time.
His friends and neighbors included many
of those whose names are preserved in
history-Raieish Travers. Col. Peter
Daniel. of Crows Nest; John Mercer. of
Marlboro: the Hedgemans, the Mount
joys. Col. Thomas Ludwell Lee, of
Berry Hill and Bellevue; Daniel Carroll
Brent. Of Richland; the Fitzhughs, of
BcscobeI and Belle Air; the Seldens. the
Waughs. Richard Henry Lee, of Chan
lilly; John Augustine Washington, OF
Bushfeld: Richard Stuart, the Chiches-
ters. of Newington; Colonel Blackburn.
Of Rippon Lodge; the Fairfaxes. of Bel
voir, and the Washingtons, Of Mount
Vernon. Among these families there
was constant stream of pleasant So
CiaI Intercourse.
The hall itself has had an interesting
career. 1t was begun originally in 110o,
and bout three years were consumed IN
its construction. The fortunes Of the
family waned as the years passed, and
the inroads of time. the blighting fingers
of decay, left their impressions upon the
old mansion. During the civil war
maraudins parties Of soldiers completed
the desolation- When the war was over
the hall was little more than ruin.
Then II passed into the hands of Col.
Edward Daniels, a newcomer from the
Northwest. who was editing newspa-
per IN Richmond after the civil war. He
was in politics also, and nourished an
ambition to be a United States Senator
from Virginia. Failing that, he was
willing to be a Representative in Con-
gress, and actually made the race
against Eppa Hunton. He didn't win.
The point of his connection with
Gunston Hall is that he partially re-
stored the old place. and made 1t, IN
some degree. fit for occupancy. Il was
bought afterward by Mr.. Specht, who
expended large sums of money and
much time and taste in its rehabilita~
1ion. Under the influence of the care
and affection he lavished upon 1t.
Gunston Hall began TO wear something
Of its old grace. The grounds were
cleared and beautified. and roses were
planted in a wonderful profusion. They
raised their graceful heads everywhere,
hiding many of the wounds time had
left in the ancient walls.
Now the EaIl looks much as it must
have looked when George Mason was
master of it's acres and its hospitality.
There are over 600 acres in the tract
and for two miles along the banks of
the Potomac. the lands extend There
are woods and planted fields and vistas
OF shade
A visitor 10 the mansion, who carried
strain of poetry IN his composition and
a pair OF seeing eyes in his head. has
written the following description Of
Gunston Hall:
Built between 1155 and 175S. GunstOn
Hall is a fine example of colonial archi-
lecture II is solid and substantial. yet
with interior decorations of the most
delicate workmanship. and il was prob
ably without peer in that part of Nir-