The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-28
MRS. CONSTANCE c. HARRISON TELLS
INTERESTING STORY OF CIVIL WAR
n, o,,hsr,r :. Mh,.,le.


stance. Cary Harrison, the nevolist, has
heetl preparing treat for the pub
lic in her remlnisccnsc. 10 he brought
out seriaIiy by CTiafISs ssr-Trr1rr'S
Sons beginning with the January is
sue OF Scrihner's Magazine. and after
wards appearing iu book form.
'rhe story uf Mrs, Iiarrtsnn's girl
hood is he story az the Civil War.
Much of the scene az this portion OF
her memoirs IL laid in Richmond, and
is fun nf aranlstic ilcidents, with Rn
occasional dash at romance. The sec
onG part dsals with New YORK life ana
society in the DECADE following that per-
Tod. which forms striking contrast
10 the conditions OF to-day. From her
position. her ability ard culture. Mrs.
Harrison was naturally associated with
the men and women about ht'r best
worth Knowing: ard 1t S delightful,
through her graphic deliueations and
narrative powers, TO be brought IN
touch with them.
The hook was written in her Wash
ington rome under the ideal condi-
tions-~sipcs SHE lives alune--of being
able 90 secure uninterrupted quiet for
actual production. with the stiinulous
of the cosmopolitan society Of the
Capital when her working hours were
from the street. from which II is sepc
rated by an suggests seclu-
sion: while the surroundings within
form "A harmonious setting to the
writer's perSoiiality. IL her travels
over the world. Mrs Harrison, has
acquired many interesting objects IL
Illustrative If her tastes. bat II Is these
{ not to be purchased with money! which
( have come down To her through gensr
atoms of ancestry. which give to her
home individuality ana distinction.
( ON entering the square hall ohF g
eye Is cauent by painting of Pooa-
hontas. copy of her only life par-
trait. for Mrs. Harrison. with many
other representative Nlrginians, is q
lireal descendant Of the Indian prin
/ cess NeaH II hangs a Confederate
flag, and ore receives from her con
firtnation of the statement that the
first flag OF tho Confederaey was made
by her and gees III the face design the
historic relic itself. II recalls The
fact that She with her cousin. Miss
i Jennie Cary. afterwards principal ~
the fashionable Batimor9 school for
girls, introduced Maryland. My MARY
! ierd," to the soldiers Of the South .
err army, singing II together in At
tent door at Manassas to college
/ air. learned by tham from foEStHnGe
Curv's future housband Col Burton
! Harrison. when "A student at Yale.
The hall ~ Thanked on the right by
a drawing room, with silver gray
walls. Crmson rugs AMI haneings, and
graceful Empire furniture. An inter
estlng feature. Is a beaut .ft,l paintiig
OF the writer herself. taken III early
youth and still ar admirable NLe~
nesS. In the rear of the nail IL .h'
dining room. furnished with inherited
! naahnganp- tile ainple side hJarC In
which is iraden with family silver.
some Of which. ut the reign of queen
Anne, has come dowu 20 her through
! generations Of Fairfa vrs ana CarFi.
| AT the breaking out Of the war Fair
! fax county named for Mrs. Harrison.
I family and in which her birthplace.
"Vaueluse 80 stnod,--Was occupied by
confronting armies Burying their
I silver in n cciiar th" ladies of the
household fled from the place. II was
seen after burned, the debris forming
more perfect protection ~ then
1 treasure until later unearthed. when Il
fort, I'm defense OF the National Cap
.ial. was erected on the spot.
The room of Mrs. iIarrisoH's home
most associated with her az ar author
I il the library. to the left Of the han.
Here soft green walls and hangtnes
suggest messy Woodland retreat =.
Rows Of books In mahogany cases ell
rich the walls, above which hang pie
lures % real historic Nalue--as por-
traits Of her ancestors, the third aad
sixth Lord Fairfax Il portrait of
Gen. Greene which hung ut Mount Yer
non and was presented 20 her grand 70