The Cairo bulletin., 1908-12-11


romances have they concealed an
what stirring scenes have been enact
ed around them in the countrys ~
building
Those who lived in them have gone
! to their allotted places in the silen
nails OF the undiscovered country. bu
the masses Of masonry and brick, II
I their quaint grandeur remain as monu
ments TO the decades OF the past. ant
breathe out the mysteries OF The time,
that are no more.
From the time that John Smith, il
1908, sailed mp the Potomac only tc
turn his back upon the wilderness
that he found until the time that con
gross decided that the land should be
the site Of the nations canital there
were few habitations in the distric
but Indian wigwams and log cabins.
OF The latter the most noteworth,
was that of old David Burns. who sur
rendered his land to the government.
only after bitter controversy. ant
under threat from President Wash
ington that it wonld be seized If he
would not sell When the hard
headed old Scotchman conceded the
money that his property brought made
him a wealthy man It was on thi!
farmland that the White House wa
erected, but in The laying ont Of the
streets and lots, the quaint old cottage
OF the ScOtchman was not disturbed
In the winter evenings OF the Ions
ago Che cottage was the scene OF
many merry gatherings of neiehbors
They would SIT before the cracillne
fire, with its hanging crane and sing
Ing kettle, and while the flames were
making weird pictures. they talked o.
the Old homes in The mother country
The graceful aspens the whispering
naples and the sturdy oaks that bent
over he low roof eavc shelter ano
shade 10 the sons and daughters of the
yeomanry
Bur when the sale of the broad acres
had brought wealth to Dayy Burns
there came change The places OF
the plain farmers who called in
surtout and doublet to drink their
round OF applejack We're taken by
men famous in the worlds history
George Washington Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr
were frequent visitors. The Calverts
and the CAROLS We're intimate neigh
bors Tom Moore, the Irish poet. was
an honOred guest. 1t was in the Burns
cottage that the poet penned his IA
nous lines:
In fancy now beneath the twilight gloom |
Come let me lead thee DER this modern 4
Rome
Such cottage could not stand |
throughout the centuries without It's |
Legacy OF romance The love element /
rrept in when the beautiful Marcia 1
Burns became the bride of John ?. /
Van Ness a member OF congress from |
New York. In those days the cottage .
was stlll mansion. with its one story
low roof and four rooms
But with the graduation of daugh.
ter from the Philadelphia schools. n
Was thought necessary 10 build an.
other and a finer home. aud the Van
Ness mansion OF the present day was
he outcome OF the parents plans
..airobe the architect OF the capitol,
designed the mansion, which cost SEQ.
j0O-a fabulous price for a home at
hat time But the old cottage was
retained as an adjunct 10 the newer
by Mr. Van Ness. who. In
he meantime had become the mayor
lf Washington
But how the mighty have fallen
The cottage some years ago fell int
Ilien hands. and was leased as a beer
garden The old mansion today
people say is haunted. and on the an
,iverssry Of the death Of old Mr. Van
aid six head srsssnp
'aI,, ho ,ra,,ss N.sjstl1ks III