The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-21

HE board or trustees OF the Val /
ehtine Museum has Issued tnvi-
tattons for a series or receptions
to be given during this week. cclcbrat-
Ing the Tooth anniversary Of the cree
tlon of the build!ne in which the price
loss collections Of books. cncrnvinGs.
paintings. casts and archaeology ai
specimens constituting III. museum arci
housed.
aicrdecai. In his Interesting book.
"Rtchmond IN Rygpuc nays" nov
long since out Of print. SAYS that to-
wards the close Of the eighteenth and
the beginning OF the nineteenth cen
turtles. the city'S legal fraternity
possessed n greater numhrr Of mem
hers OF distinguished talent than al
most any other I'm the i'iDn. AMI many;
Of them resided on ShoCkoc nm" John
MARSHALL Edward Ca-,ington. I'hi!.p,
Norborne Nicholas, Ed!uund Randolph. F.!
Daniel Call, James Tag, hlc%andrr
Bolts. William Wirt. Alexander Me !
Rea and John Wickhnin were anon.
the most DISTINGUISHED OF the cotc;ic.
From the captol Suu0re Iur,hwardl
there ran seN"rni numbered streets
along which aud tho 'atcrsecting let
tered avenues stood charming homes
OF mhny Of the most prominent profcs-
sional men OF Richmond. surrounded
BY capac!ous gardens shaded by state
~ trees, This part Of ihc city
Shockoe Eiill-itad bat recently bcenl
transformed from Held ,.ni forest.
Erected In iSI..
Colonel John iiarvic. the liegistcri
Of the Land oGic". had his residence
where the Woman's college nrw
stands. This h. sold to jonn Wickham.
the eloquent. the witty. the graceful
as MordccHi describes lam, wno is
well known in history q. Aaron BurraI
counsel. MIR. Wickham continued toi
reside here until lSl2, when he erected
the beautiful house which is still
Eleventh streets In tuose days Ben
1amin Mills, an architect Of rare merit, |
constructed many honscs IN Richmond, !
MonuInsntnl Church, the BroCkcn-
borough residence tncw the Confcd
crate Museum and the Archer house.
at the corner Of trahkln and sixth
Streets, arc pieces of MIR NIiils's work. /
Fortunately for succeeding genera lions.
the date OF construction OF the Wick /
nam nous" IL cut IL the rear exterior
succeed wall, with onl. "a compare
ttvcly smali-columned entrance portico,
the Wickham housc stands. stately of
aspect. only a few feet from the Ola
street pavement The walls which
are very thick, are OF brick. and stuc
coed. Tho doors are o: solid inahoS
any. with silver plated hinges and
knobE. and the floors are of heart pine /
As one enters tho house. he passes
from the vcstibulr beneath graceful
arch 10 the circular hallway. From
I'M: hallway asccnds winding stair
which terminates on n gallery In the
shape OF palette. The bnn!sters of
this stairway and the gallery arc OIL
mahogany, while on their Dashboard Is |
carved a chain of magnolia buds nnd
blooms. One rarely secs such wonder
iully delicate hand carving as Is used
in the decoration OF the woodwork I'M
the rooms or this old mansion. Thu.
library doofways are carved in CHAIN
design. while in the drawing room
punches Of dehlias with their leaves
adorn each doorposi On the west
side OF the house liz the old dinfnr I
room. large and splcndidly proportion
cd, and here over each doorway the
hand OF master has wrought dclicat.
dcsigns in garlands Of grapes and
shcaves or wheat The chambers in the
upper story OF the house are refresh
ingly large. and here. TOO, one finds
the daintiest beading on base board
and doorway and arch. There is not
harsh line throughout the interior
of the house, and many Of the walls
arc in gentle curves.
Magic Combination.
feeling of satisfaction. Of restfui-
ness, Of peace, takes possession of one !
who bin, casually glaueeS at theae re- |
MARIA Die cUecls one VINO lives amocS
them can but feel this magic combina
uon-a refuge from all that is startling
and glazing and revolving in modern
architecture. He who built this old
house certainly loved Gods sunlight
and fresh air-wlndowe windows
everywhere. From sunrise to sunset
there are golden pathways through
this house.
AT the rear of the mansion" saws
Mrs. William G. Stanard "a charming
pillared portico, with a gracefully |
curved outline. cmbowcrcd In honey
suckle, Virginia creepcr and purple
snd white wisteria. looks upon a !
charming old garden. surrounded by a |
high i"y-covered brick wall A foun- |
tain makes refreshing music in the
midst of the garden. as through Il rose
garlanded arch we may have sucn
Elimpses as the vine-clad trcIliscs and
shruhbcry Will permit, of figures In |
white marble of the goddcsses oil
beanty. flowers and the harvest peep |
ing out among the green Every J
olden- time flower is to DE found i'm the
trim partcrres. divided by narrow