The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-14

loose federation Of thirteen poverty
 stricken colonies into the mishtlest na- tion of the world
 Burned in 1874 by the British troops. the White House was rebuilt without al- toration, except that the scorched sand stone was painted. During the adminis- tration of General Jackson the northern portico, the one oftenest seen in pictures, was added. No other important alter ations were made until President Roose- Nelt's time, when half million dollars was spent in improvements. When Mrs.
 Cleveland came to the White House a
 bride she had visions of entertaining many Of her girl friends. knowing what an event in their lives it would be- but It could not be done for there are not enough sleeping apartments at the Whiee House to permit of entertaining more than one or two persons at a time. De- spite the fact that the nation has out grown the house. as 1oban and Washing
 ton foresaw, it is still beautiful and in its simple grace typifies the democratic spirit of the greatest of republics.
 One square to the southwest of the
 White House, in q quarter of the city out of the usual paths of travellers. is the "Octagon House." sharing with the White
 House in interest among the homes of Washington. The "Octagon House" was built by Col. John Tayloe of Mt. Airy.
 He had intended to build a city home in
 Philadelphia, but General Washington persuaded him to come to the federal city. The house was finished one year before the White House. and was occupied one year after Adams took possession of the presidential mansion. Colonel Tayloe was the richest man in Virginia after Wash
 ngton died, and his home was the scene of the most lavish hospitality The house is of peculiar shape. as indicated by it's
 name. being octagonal with circular
 tower at the entrance. When the White
 House was burned, President and Mrs
 Madison took up their residence here and
 in the round tower room on the secon1
 floor the treaty of peace with England
 was signed. Colonel Tayloe was at the head of society He had been educated at Cambridge, in England, and during his residence in the "Oetagon House four of his former classmates came to America as British ministers.
 "The Octagon House" is said to be haunted and the negroes of the neigh borhood fear the bell ringing ghosts II harbors There are stories of underground passages from the house to the river, of secret closets and panel doors that have frightened and delighted junior Washing ton for decades. thrilling story of mur- i der and mystery has been written with this house as theater of events. and it is often spoken of as The Flagree Bali' house It is owned by the American ln- stitute of Architects, and is kept open for public inspection and curiosity.
 When George Washington selected the site of the capital city he had no diff culty in persuadng eighten of the land owners to turn oyer half their property to 1 the government in consideration of the l enhancement of the value of the half re- tained. But with Davy burns, cannY Scot who owned a farm where the White ! House and monument are now situated, it was different Washington argued with Davy long and earnestly At length he said: Had not the federal city been laid out here you would have died a poor tobacco planter.' Whereat the son of Cal ! edonia retorted: Ay, mon. an he'd ye no married the wdder Custs, WI a her nagurs. ye'd hae been q land surveyor the moo an a mighty poor ane at that When Davy wouldn't Washington told him he must, and he consented with char acteristie Scotch thrift by extracting q proyiso that the site 'of his own cottage could not be taken and that no lots should be sold for private building in that vi- entity
 His daughter, Marcia Burns. was tine most beautiful of girls He sent her to Baltimore to be eoucated and when she returned to live with her father in his humble little cottage she became the first of Washington belles. In time she chose from her many suitors John Y. Yankees of New York, a member of congress and scion of a proud knickerboeker family. At the death of her father she and her husband became the richest residents of
 Washington They built handsome house on what was afterwards known as Mansion Square The mansion was planned by Latrobe. the architectural gen ius of the capitol, and cost S75,000 an inn mense sum in those days. It looked out on the Potomac river over a beautiful prospeet and was surrounded by a large park. At the gates were two lodges built of--Stone. It was.. the first house in Washington to have hot and cold water on. every floor. The marble mantels were fashioned by the eehsel of 'fherwaldson. tha ,~raatagt seitlntnr Of the day and