The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-16

for it was at the foot of the beauti-
full staircase of solid mahogany that
Washington awaited the coming of
the lovely Sally Fairfax upon par
ticular evening. and while escorting
her into the ballroom offered her his
heart, which she rejected
On the opposite side of this same
hall is the blue and white room. which
was John Caflyie's particular retreat
Within that room Washington received
his commission as a member Of Gen.
Braddock's staff in 1875. What that
meant to Washington we can only
partly divine, but there is no doubt
Of its significance TO US as nation
because. of what 1t taught him of the
fighting ways of the British soldier.
From the broad portico Of Mount
Vernon. Washington saw BraddOck ar
rive with his transports and his regi-
ments of red coated soldiery and pass
onward To Alexandria, nine miles
above, coming with the splendid tradi
tions o. the Kings troops and with all
the martial fanfare of regulars. As
"A leader of the local provincial troops
Washington had won for himself
Creditahle renown, but here were sof-
dters supposedly of sterner stuff and
higher military capabilities.
General Braddock promptly &C
cepted the hospitable invitation of
John CARLYLE and established his
Headquarters under the roof Of that
gracious host, the little blue and
white room becoming the council
chamber in which were planned the
preparations for that memorable but
Inflated campaign against the In
dams Washingtons previous expert
ence as n leader Of local troops
against the savaees made him well
come at those conferences and his
b nd r1r1rTfTvgi oHY-
earned for him BraddoCks admira-
ton and the invitation To serve upon
The British geperals staff IT is
enough to add that in the trying work
that followed the British records tes-
tify that the Virginia officers and
troops behaved like men and died
like soldiers" and Washington came
out of the strife unscathed and ripper
for the Tar more serious task that
lay ahead of him.
The architectural student will find
much To interest him and to warrant
study in the Carlyle house, The old
windows. the doorways, the primitive
cupboarls, chairboards, doortops, cor
nices. mouldings etc, are exquisite
in taste and rich in quaintness and
elegance of detail. There they are
as they were in Washington's time,
and in common with the rest OF the
mansion are regarded as among the
best specimens of the soCalled colo
NAL style.
In, February, 1852. q market was
instituted in Alexandria and the
citizens were Justly proud Of their en-
terprise. The market place then lay
directly In front OF the approach to
the Carlyle house and that same mart
or country produce was intimately
identified with Washingtons domestic
life at Mount Vernon and was one
i -.
mon sense. We of today know hut
little of the hardships Of that colo
NAL period, and feasting was not
always as abundant as the story book
would have it. The Rev. Mr..
Weems. that chatty chroniCler of the
times, tells US that Alexandria then
boosted more rightly of It's beauty
than its means of charming the pail
ate.
THE neishborhood of Belle Haven
was not a desert; on the contrary it
was in many places a garden spot,
Astounding with luXuries, But It's in
habitants. the wealthy, were not wise
BY the successful culture of tobacco
they had money. And having fled
their coach houses with gilt car
riages and their dining rooms with
gilt glasses they began to look down
upon the poorer sort and to talk
about families.
"Of course it would never do for
such great people TO run market
carts! Hence the poor Belle Haven
ties. though embosomed in plenty.
were often In danger of gnawing their
nails. And unless they could cater a
lamb from some good natured
cracker or n leash of chickens from
the Sunday negroes were Obliged to
sit down with long faces TO a half
Eraced dinner of salt meat and jour
ney cake.
This was the order of the day. A. /
ID, SO, when Washington, Just mar
ried to the wealthy young widow
GUSTS, had settled at Mount Vernon.
nine miles below Belle Haven The
unpleasant situation OF the families AT
that place soon reached his ears To
a man Of his character, with too much
spirit 10 follow a bad example when
he had the power to set good one