The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-24

clean old field here and there, alternat-
ing with the brush and stumps as left by
the woodlands ak: gullies and washes
cutting the surface deeply where roads
had been a century or more ago. now i'm
passable; the buildings an old colonial
mansion built by George Mason before
the Revolution and a few log cabins
The mansion was built of brick with
stone trimmings. Most OF the doors, win
dows, and all interior decorations were
destroyed. The house was crowded with
negro families above and the basement
given over to mules. cows, and pigs
white man, who employed the woodchop-
pers. was living among them.
This is a picture of Gunston Hall estate
as l first saw 1t forty years ago A scene
Of utter desolation and wildness. relieved
only by the noble river which washes its
shores Yet here lived and died one Of
the greatest statesmen of America. Even
the graves OF himself and wife were a
jungle. with wild deer and turkey roam
ing over them. and this only twenty
miles from the National Capital.
once n SOcinI Center.
A century ago this plantation had been
one OF the great social and industrial
centers Of Virginia. and II appealed TO
me as a patriotic duty 70 save It from
further ruin. I was in broken health.
worn out with overwork in the West
and sought a retired home. Patriotic
impulses conceded with my needs. so the
place was bought and the work Of res
torauon begun.
In, he
timber region or Western New York.
gone West, taught school. surveyed min
terai lands. open coal mines made iron
and steel. lectured In colleges. done news
paper work. and soidiered i'm the civil
war With these varied experiences I
undertook the task of making a home OF
the neglected estate.
Everything had TO be done as II the
place had never been improved. Expert
help was secured from the city 10 reno
vate and decorate the mansion at a cost
Of several thousand dollars, while large
force was set at work clearing the stump
land Two sawmills were started 10 get
out lumber for tenant houses and barns.
as there were about fifty men 20 be
housed.
When the mansion was repaired, my
family. consisting OF my mother. wife.
and three children. took possession and
set up the household gods. The work OF
restoring the whole estate went steadily
on. Even the graveyard was cleaned OF
rubbish and the graves tended with rev.
erent care.
Had TO Teach Children.
vtvt,oz z,,- o,,.,, q, efo;~. ta-a, - 30 ~
Derby we were confronted with the cha
otto condition among our work people.
Ignorance and poverty we're ali about US.
Ny aged mother started 20 teach the chill
dren. She gathered group about her on
the stone steps of Gunston Hall and gave
them simple lessons in reading and told
them Bible stories. Then she taught
them to plant seeds. pull weeds. and
work in her garden. After the work she
gave them each a ginger cookie or a
turnover.
The group grew rapidly in numbers and
were moved TO a grove near by. where
boards fresh from the sawmin were
used for seats. Then the grown-ups came
and begged 10 be taught and allowed 10
hear the Bible stories. Only a few hours
Jealous that Improvement was rapid.
Then the older ones were taught to pile
the brush and gather leaves in the woods
by the wagon load. clearing the forests
OF underbrush. and making compost for
the large truck garden that was started
The women and children did all the work
in this garden. raising large crops OF
vegetables and small fruits They were
given a share. while the surplus was
marketed. The abundance OF good eat
ing thus supplied seemed a stronger mo-
tive 10 industry than the small money
wage they received.
1t required great patience to teach them
the use OF light hoes and steel rakes used
in modern gardens Few people outside
the professional gardener use the hoe or
rake skillfully. In my boyhood their use
was one Of the first lessons taught on
the farm, and much care was taken 20
teach US the correct use Of tools.
willing to Learn.
Our help, who were colored, knew moth
ing OF modern agriculture. but most Of
them were anxious to learn-those who
were not soon left-and in a few years
we hal trained n body OF excellent help
OF both sexes. The prevailing wage al
that time was very low: Sl2 a month and
rations for a man and % cents a day for
woman was the average price. Besides
the general farm work. we had a black
smith and repair shop. carpenters coop
ers, basketmakers, and boat builders
At the after trade we had fifteen men.
The place was a hive OF industry Old
and young were employed and self-sup-
porting, working part Of every week day
and in school the other part Of the day.
In few years we had 800 acres cleared
and In use. IL supported from fifty "a
seventy-ive persons annually in comfort,
while giving them practical training All
were healthy and happy. a careful Sc
lection OF varieties for stocking the place
and a rotation OF crops was observed
The animals were increased in number as
feed supply allowed. except the horses
and oxen needed In numbering. A large
barn and sheds gave storage and shelter
&c a stock Of Is horses. yoke of oxen. 81
mich cows. as many yearling calves and
young cattle, 200 sheep, and 80 hogs.
There was an expert caretaker for eacr
class OF animals, who was responsible
for results. accounts being kept will
each. The best breeding animals were
obtained for each class Early lambs
and pigs were sold. We had a larg,
range and turkeys were a speciality
Children herded them on the grain and
newly mown fields where the locusts and
grasshoppers abounded. Other varietie.
OF poultry were raised in abundance. My
q. l., n
was an expert in turkey raising. Ny