The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20
The San Francisco Sunday Call

easy stairs and baIustrades are al
most identical 70 those OF Mount Yer
non and were furnished by the same
English firm. crossing the ocean ar
washington's order. The mantels over
the fireplace in the parlor was given
to Washington by Lafayette The lat
ter visited here often, and after the
great war his small son also STAYED
here among American friends who
idolized him
General Washington was in charge
Of Harewood from 1881 to 1896 as guar
dian Of his brothers children and spent
much time there. 1t was during this
time that Dolly Payne Todd. the win
some widow. from Philadelphia. was
married to "the great little Madison
afterward twice president. and became
the most popular mistress the White
House has ever known. Lucy Fayn-,
a sister Of the widow Todd, had mar
ried a nephew of Washington when
they were but 15 and II years OF age
respectively. This niece by marriage
was visiting the Washingtons in Phila.
delphia in 1874 and disclosed to Martha
the fact that the widow and Madison
were harboRing betrothal Martha
told the president. the president told
his nephew and all Joined in a de-
mand that the popular couple come
down to Harewood 70 marry
This trip was made in Jenerson's
coach and required a full week AID
the elite in national life made the lons
trip in coaches and on horseback. in
cluding the president and his wife. All
the well bred families of Virginia like
wise made the pilgrimage for the fes-
tive occasion. Mr.. Madison rode by tina
door Of his hancee's carriage and a
party Of his best friends on horseback
made up her guard and escort. None
so gallant was there as Light Horse
Harry Lee. who, 1T is recorded. Dolly
saw ride up on the day OF the wedding
When the ceremony was finally per-
formed the mischievous girls OF the
company cut into little bits the fine
Mechlin lace OF the groom's costume,
indicating that the souvenir craze Is
not entirely new, and the future presi-
dent returned much disheveIed to hls
fathers estate at Montpelier, Va
Yet Hardwood has known guests"
even more noted than these, for II was
here that Louis Philippe. afterwarG
king OF France. and his two brothers.
the duke de Montpensier and the count
de Beaujolais, took refuge during. the
period of their Punishment from their
native land.
In the garden at Harewood there still
exist the lockwood hedges and a wealth
OF lilac that are said to have been
planted by Martha washington her
self. There still remain a great num-
Der OF flowers OF wide varieties that
found their way here from similar
source. for the first president and his
wife were great horticulturists and
fanciers OF things that grow from the
earth
A dozen miles away is Greenvay court.
the manor house OF Lord Fairfax. where
he lived long and where he died. The
latter Is IN Virginia. while Hardwood.
much to Its chagrtn, was transferred
into West Virginia during the civil
war Winchester twenty miles away"
is neal here and General Sheridan mads
his famous ride by the very gates Of
Harewood. Harpers Ferry is IL miles
IN another direction, and the region
with the tales of John
Browns raids, for he was hanged right
here In Charlestown and a monument
marks the spot Hessian soldiers were
held prisoners here during the revO-
luton and the masses of federal and
confederate troops surged back and
forth during the civil war. 1t is
land OF much historic association and
a historic family IS planted in the
midst OF II.
Hardwood. since the time OF it's build
ing, has always remained IN the pos