St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-04-25

service as to have little opportunity
for home life as the average citizen
knows it. But more potent reason
is discoverable in the studio effort
of the women of the household to
keep out of the glare of publicity.
Mrs. Evans comes of an old southern
family, and characteristic conserva-
tism impelled mother and daughters
to keep out of the public eye, until
finally now that the admiral is at the
very climax of notable career o
pardonably curious public has found
them out
The Evans Washington home is almost
under the shadow of the capitol, and
although it is not pointed out by the
lecturers on the sightseeing automo-
biles nor exploited in the guide books,
1t is in many respects one Of the most
interesting old houses in Washington.
A great square, red-brick structure. it
was built some time prior to the civil
war, and was long known as the Tay-
lor homestead. For all that its as
sociation with Admiral Evans grew
out of his marriage with Charlotte,
eldest daughter of Frank Taylor, the
historic old mansion has been most
intimately linked with the life story
Of the man who ranks next to Admiral
Dewey as the nations most popular
naval hero.
In this house his romance began.
Here he was married in 1871, stand
ing between the two windows over
looking Judiciary square, and this has
been home to him ever since his
earliest day in the navy. And, by the
way, it was very pretty romance of
which Rebley D. Evans was the hero
in the days following his graduation
from the naval academy ahead of time
in order that he and his classmates
might participate in the civil war; It
was the old story Of college friend
ship, the chum's visit to his room
mates home and the meeting with his
companions pretty sister, with the
inevitable result.
Robley D. Evans, the SON of a coun-
try doctor in Virginia, had gone out 10
Utah to acquire the legal. residence
necessary for his appointment to the
naval academy from that territory:
but most of his boyhood had been
spent in Washington, and therefore it
was but natural that when he entered
the institution at Annapolis In 1850
he should strike up warm friendship
with lad from the District of CoIum.
bia-Henry Clay Taylor 1.-THE late
Rear Admiral Taylorl. The latter in.
vfted his friend to come home with
him for visit, and no young Evans
was introduced to the house which ia
now his home. Here he met Miss
Charlotte, and later when the young
Virginian became desperately i'll at
the home of his chum it was she who
nursed him back to health. The
sequel, of course, was a naval wed.
ding. and from that time the houss
with Its spacious rooms and old ma.
hogany. became home to the naval of.
ficer.
In more recent years Admiral Evans
has filed the house with interesting
art objects and souvenirs of travel
There are household pets in nIentv
at the Evans home, and the childran
are not responsible for the presence ~
all OF them by any means. Conspic11-
Gus among the number are several
parrots of gorgeous plumage. Them
there is the third Bob" Evans ON tho
domestic roster-a blooded dog pre.
sented by Archie and Quentin Roose.
velt to Lieut.. Evans, son of the adj.
miral, when he was In command OF
the sylph.