New-York tribune., 1909-02-21
WHERE WASHINGTON
HELPED BRADDOCE
VIRGINIANS TO SAVE c1p
LYLE HOUSE.
British Commander There Made H;,
Aid Nan U,hOse Birthday the
Nation Celebrates Tomorrow

Through the initiative of a few women OF -.
families OF Virginia, the house in which ca oa
Washington received the Invitation 10 beeor, %
aid to Major General BraddOck in his fan,c,,. - "a
paign against the French has been saved .ro-. -
structon. This incident in Washiugton.s -
Of special interest. particularly when Febr,,, =
his birthday, is near at hand, for il vvss - =
the campaign which followed that Wasst
gained his first insight into the military r,s-sss
OF European countries. and of Great F-t,, !.
particular The house is the Carlyle house h a.
exandria. Va 1t Braddock's headnus-.
while he was in Alexandria
BY the accidents OF municipal deveIopr,.,. -,
Carlyle house. built OF English stone in 1-99 -
John > Carlyle became absorbed in the more rnos
ern structure which bears the name OF F2r.d5.e.
House and shuts out from the public thoro,,,hs-
the older building. In this manner the -,
house he's been hidden from the passing xazs a.
being out OF sight, IL has weInigh been forvo,,.-
although by sheer good fortune the major nar, :,
this historic mansion still survives in all Of ,s
Colonial grace. Alexandria long ago Iost ~. CO.,
mercIal prominence, and the hulkinq Old -.
sary. the Braddock House. has for years baa- -
stantially deserted save a repository for a.,
tque furniture more less of the ColoniaI ns-fos
The Carlyle house-forming the eastern and rsa-
part OF the old hotel-has also been ussd a,
storehouse for this old furniture and likewise ..
a workshop in preparing these ANTIQUES FOR -,
kst- With the floors Uttered with shavings +ha
corners crowded with lumber and the partz -
broken chattels destruction has been fnnrins,.
with simmering glue pot threatening the stznsl,r,
Of smoky oilstove. The halls and spaces. zbs-.
busy steps once thronged, have been filed vvt,b
strngless spinnet5 and dumb harpsichords Will.
empty chairs broken tables and tiltinS sideboars,
like limping Spirits have seemed the very shadous
Of the pregnant past. The walls. the wainscotinp
and even some of the beautiful old cornlces have
been marred by the pursuit OF the furniture ssats
while neglected windows and broken panes have lst
in rain and dampness to spread further havoc
Such was the state Of affairs when the women NJ
Alexandria stepped in and hated further injury
and besought their patriotic sisters Of other states
to come TO the rescue and TO rehabiItate this his
toric old mansion.
The Carlyle house was built upon the site ot
old Colonial fort which guarded the interests
Of the King and his traders when the neighbor-
hood was known a Hunting Creek and when soma
security necessary against the savages Tbs
living OF that old fort became the cellar Of
the mansion reared over them. and in these CON-
partments stored dust-clad bottles buls-
ing casks and those luscious old hams and the Ike
for which Virginia long famous. The old fort
still forms the plaza upon which the main hallway
leads; and It was there In Washington's day thsa
the young people gathered IN the summer evenings
to chat and to watch the moon rise the river,
while their elders TO discuss the questions OF
the day and to watch the trading craft that cane
from the TO barter the silks and satins
and riches OF East trade for the famous Oro-
noko tobacco which filed the big warehouse upon
the Potomacs bank.
In the blue and white room OF the Carlyle houss
to the left OF the main hallway-Washingtoa
was a sharer in the military councils OF prepara-
tion for the Braddock campaign. and day after
day Braddock's regard for him rose. In April
OF 1855 General Braddock called together IN Alex
andria the Governors OF Massachusetts. New
York Maryland. Pennsylvania and Virginia and
together these distinguished executives discussed
the plans Of the forthcoming expedition IN this
little
The walls, wainscottng, nantes. etc. are ths
same to-day as they wers almost hundred and
hfty-four years ago. There is qualntness and
elegance about every detail. and the architectural
student will find much interest him in ths
windows doorways. mantels primitive cupboarts.
thairboards. cornices. doortops and mouldings-
Across the broad main hallway is the gTsa-
drawing rOom which in Washington's day was
In gold and white. and there IL IS said the youth
full Washington took active part in rout ani
ball and led some fair virgnisn through the
stately steps OF the minUet The broad hallway
is not without its sentimental interest. because
local tradition asserts that Il was the foot Of
the solid mahogany staircase that Washinglon
stood awaiting the coming OF the fair Sallis Fai-
fax on the occasion OF a bali and that the bali
room was where he proposed to the same Sailis
and was rejected
II is believed that some day that portion o. tie
deserted hotel which now stands between the
Carlyle house and the street may be removed
so that the house may stand once more in plain
sight OF the passeroy. There IS little likelihood
that the BraddOck House. in its present condi-
tiOn will prove inviting place for the WY
farer while II is a constant menace as ire
trap to the historic mansion shadowed within is
quadrangular court.