New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-30
THE WOMAN WHO KNOWS.
Not The Most Shrinking Visitor at
JumeL Mansion Yesterday.


The public was invited yesterday to It's first
view Of the Colonial relies which the members
of the Washington Headquarters Association,
with infinite perseverance and diplomacy, have
begged borrowed from the more or less re-
luctant owners and placed on exhibition in the
old Jumel Mansion, on Washington Heights.
The public responded toyously. and the women
Of the association were proud but worried.
Knowing how some people are so patriotic that
they cannot be satisfied with gazing at relics,
but seek TO carry away chips and fragments OF
the same the guardians of the collection have
placed little fences before the doors Of the vari-
Gus rooms. The public may lean over these
fences. but not enter, and the relics in the hall
and in the guardroom, which is not fenced, are
locked in glass cases. But. the old caretaker
said. nobody can tell what some people might do
I've got to be in ten places at once" she
complained. Now, there Il party of sight
seers trailed into the guardroom. which is now
the armory. I've got to keep my eye on them.
They might carry away cannon ball
There are things in that collection that II Is
impossible not covet. and many OF them being
merely lent it is no wonder the association feels
the responsibility. The vice-regen< Of one of the
four chapters of the Daughters Of the American
Revolution which make up the association LEFT
the Jumel Mansion at the close Of the day car
rying a fintlock rihe when was longer imam
herself.
u dreamed all last night that somebody was
stealing this" she said. Anybody could pick
It up and carry It away so I'm taking 1t home
for safekeeping."
Some weird bits Of history floating
around the old mansion yesterday. All the OBJ
jects labelled but the fences at the doors
made close examination Of the things inside the
rooms rather impracticabe. So the people who
are always ready to enlighten their companions
did soto their satisfaction.
One article at the remote side Of the tearoom
aroused good deal of curiosity. It looked like
an oddly shaped piece of wood with lot of
holes in II.
Of his mother.
why soldier used that for shield in bat
tie long ago" she said impressively. Don't
you see how it's shot full of holes?"
person Of an investigating turn of mind
sought the caretaker. Honestly, now. what is
that thing?" she asked
why" said the caretaker shortly, that's
what folks had to stick their knives and forks in
IN old times"
The Woman Who Knows hand early.
She came with party Of other women, but they
were no sooner in the house than her ability as
serted itself. She Immediately got into an argu-
Inent with the caretaker.
How beautifully that staircase winds up TO
the left" she remarked.
1T don't go that way. ma'an," said the care
taker TITS the big mirror at the head OF the
first flight that you're looking into"
Mirror! There's no mirror there" said the
woman She mounted the stairs to the left with
some impetuosity. and retired with a bumped
nose. For it is a mirror, most deceiving
mirror.
Fascinating things are on exhibition IN that
old mansion now, but not all Of them are
swathed In historical associations; some OF
them are just old. But the greedy public will
not have It so. It wants stories about every
thing and the accommodating careteker. who
does good deal of the showing about does all
she can 60 obiige.
Il used to ne real truthful" she conhded TO
listener IN one of her rare moments OF leisure.
but since being here I've become one Of the
biggest liars IN New York City. The things PEG,
pie ask! Yesterday woman came to me ana
says, rs that big ring fastened up outside there
the one Washington used to tie his horse to z
Well says IF he did that horse must "a had
4 neck like a CRATES But did he? she says.
'Ma'am,' 1 says, Washington didn't ride horse
What did he rider says she. "A donkey says
i Ii sShs me- so0Ns' ''-Au '0- N'''" ono
But the people who think they know every
thing make me maddest. There was woman
in the guardroom telling every one about the
six ears of that hang over the fireplace.
Those all that are left of the thirteen ears
that Washington hung there, to signify the
original thirteen states. But this woman had 1t
that there were eleven ears in the first place,
and lot of other stuff 30 l said TO them: That
wes billed corn, and Washington had eaten out
some Of the kernels. as you seer And they be-
leved me-"
Some locked doors in the sides of the passage
way leading to the rear bedroom on the second
floor greatly harassed some curious ones. The
Woman Who Knows ratified the knobs and con-
fessed herself puzzled. "I think they're cubby
closets where the help slept in Washingtons
time" she said. Still they say not. They say
the help slept In the cellar. People could be
mean TO their help in those days
A group of young girls insisted that the
locked doors led TO secret chambers, where
prisoners of war concealed in old times,
Just like they IN historical novels" But
the caretaker, truthful now. dispelled these ro-
mantle notions It's where live, up there
she said. did you take any Of my dfmonds
when you up there2'
But enough of romance hangs around the old
place without any imaginings. There in the
tearoom in front Of the old fireplace, which was
lately found tucked away in the cellar and
Jumel was married. 1t is true. as man there
yesterday reminded his sentimental wife, IT was
Nine Jumels third marriage. and to Aaron
Burr but still halo of romance hangs around
the spot.
beautiful Sheraton sofa, with quaint carved
legs. There pewter lamps and tankards.
priceless because Of their age There Is q four
poster bedstead, hand carved, and there
them while their husbands fought the British
soldiers. And in the lower hall, IN the glass
case, is the most wonderful piece of headgear,
surely, that any woman ever wore It looks like
a cross between a bagpipe and fatboat, but It
is the caash that once graoed the head Of Molly
year 1907 weird ought to go and gaze upon that
caiash and be silent.