Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-19


and all the prodigal hospl-
tality thereof. is being demolished TO
make way for parks and villa sites and
new avenues. Located on long
sloping hill. its white stucco walls,
which not all the ravages Of years
have been able to affect. and green
ness of massive shade trees have long
rendered 1t an object of conjecture and
interest to the passerbv and the seeker
for the antique. From the south porch
there was an unobstructed view down
Massachusetts avenue to the Monu-
ment-a view which has been even
more perfect when the man for whom
that marble shaft was reared stu
lived and. perhaps. visited at this
house The house was built some time
during the latter part Of the seven
teeuth century and first occupied by
Mr. Chanler. supposed TO have been
Nirginian Whether tho material was
brought from England or made In this
country is not known. bnt the bricks
are of a most peculiar shape and Of
hardness to nil the modern manufac-
tGTer with envy or contempt, according
10 his business ideas. Certainly 1t was
erected before nails had become plen-
tiful as. although evidently meant Tor
the home of people OF mucn wealth..
:
wooden pegs. Not a bit of iron IS
present in that part OF its construction.
y few years age, when the present oc-
CupantS desired an extra door cut
through a rear wall if was like making
an opening through mountain. SO
strongly did the bricks resist any at
tempt TO separate them. And even
now. after the old house has been rent
in twain. men in charge OF the raZing
work say its foundations Will have 10
be blown up with dynamite Unlike 50
many of its contemporaries IN archl-
lecture il had not fallen upon eVIl
days. but was kept in the best Of con-
dition by the family Of the late Or.
Thomas j. Jones. who have resided
there for the past twelve years, and
have learned to adore every unexpected
eubby hole and oddly placed window
Years ago when the place was known
as Weston. grove Of oak trees gave
pleasant shade over that south porch and
Went in stately procession down slight
slope 10 where stiff and precise low
hedge of lockwood lent privacy 70 the
beautiful terrace lad out 1T the edge of
the second descent. On down al the edge
of that green incline was a rose garden
such people laid out and cultivated
and loved when a house meant d home
and was built to be such for all the gen.
erations of a family. Mrs. Jones, who IS
only just removing from the place. mas
been greatly interested in its history, and
she stated that from all accounts that
garden must have been like the tabled
one of Allah, with every rose that
blows giving color and perfume TO its
charm. Across what is now .nasSacI1u
sets avenue extended swept the east wing
of the mansion, which was 50 situated on
ii hill as to give two stories TO tnat sec
ton. although the half now standing as
but ground floor. And away over the
fields Were the slave quarters, some of
them still in existence. But the rose
garden and the box hedge had long since
become but a memory.
On the day when the writer climbed
the west hill toward the perfec, old-time
arched doorway ornamenting that en-
trance and from which a pleasant out
look includes part of Wisconsin avenue
and the Cathedral School for Boys, the
dissolution, which is death to an old
building, had already set in. the bias
of the slope contractors and senli-Gon
tractors were at work. Nearer the house
q group of men with critical eyes sized
up the various magnificent oak trees that
have stood there for 200 years III sileat
grandeur, and made guide hicks with their
weapons of destruction Mrs. Jones x
planned that the place had been origin lily
meant for summer home, anu al. the
interior decorating is of a tropical ma
ture. Already eager collectors mad to
great strips of the tapestrieu paper away.
but enough remained to snow how aoso-
lutely true were the coloringS. Along
this passageway formerly guests were
ushered into what was called the "Oc-
tagon room,' where dancing was INDUCED
in. There is gentleman living in Wash
ington who recalls a party to which he
went at Ruthven Lodge as being the most
beautifully arranged affair he ever at
tended.
Everything was called party in those
days." he explained, and. of course. was
given with much less pretense than many
affairs now, but l have never not even
on reception nights at the Wh.le House,
seen any room so like fairyland as that
was with its eight sides garlanded with
fragrant, beautiful roses and lighted by
myriads of soft, shaded wax candles
But when the city desired to make GER
tain extensions IN that direction the old
house was literally cut in halves. The
section containing this ballroom and the
chambers was torn down, leaving 1t the
size Il was until the past week. Dr.
rectly opposite the west entrance was the
door to the large living room. This open
ed upon the porch already mentioned.
Several old fashioned windows and q huge
fireplace framed In black-veined marble
of a grayish brown hue We're In the liv-
ing room. From 1t folding doors opened
to second drawing room Of similar size,