The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
he Womans Page Of The Tmimes-Dispatch
The assing Landmarks

We have been called a land without
ruins. and 1 suppose we deserve 1t.
Certainly II seems justifiable whom
every day you live you see some lovely
old home being torn down to make way
for new things--some ancient church
being disposed OF for newer home in
a moro fashionable district. Some
clever and interesting women were
gathered together last week discuss
ing the subject Of old homes and old
buildings and their passing. and they
said some true, bat hard. things about
this town Of ours. The conversation
took place in a home long famed for
Its historic value. and where some OF
the most distinguished people Of a CEN
fury ago have been known to meet
mosphere and background was very
conducive TO such thoughts.
Il suppose there must be dozens of
such beautiful old homes here as the
one we saw this morning" remarked
tho Woman from Miles-Away. who had
just been doing the Valentine and Con
federate Museums that morning
Well. no." said the Lady that Lives
FlEht-Hcre. business IL creeping up
80 into the heart of the old residential
section that now there has actually
been breath of moving tho Governors
Mansion ana real talk about moving
the Westmoreland Club into n more
fashionable part of the city"
The Woman from Miles Away was
Mortified, and so ought anybody else
10 be At even the thought Of such ::
tning, put there arc blunt-headcd prac-
tical know-it-alls right here that do
mink about 1t and 90 consider IT, One
believes that sufficient force OF pro-
testants might be gathered together TO
prevent the removal or so historic and
unique home as the mansion. because
the States by the dozen are so envious
or Richmond for that priced possession,
since only few Of them POSSESS or
provide home for the chief executive.
out the town sat in silence, without one
voice being raised against IL, when the
old Van Lew house was torn down
\ GU don't care how many schools had
10 be built and children TO be educated.
II was desecration, tho disrnantliug
and razing TO the ground of that old
mouse, fairly thronged with the
thoughts and presence OF the people
OF long ago
The home or tho Westmoreland Club
rs one OF the most Interesting places
IN the city, and there is talk-oh. much
more than talk-of moving further up-
town. In the vide rooms OF that man
SION We're entertained some OF the
most distinguished men and women
that ever visited this country IL was
the old Lyons home known throughout
the length and breadth Of the land for
us inequalities and the wit and beauty
OF the women one might meet there.
and there actually exist people who,
Tor the sake OF little more convent
ence and because they want "A spank
ing. brand-new. Shiny place would
move the Newfoundland Chb from its
historic home where the memories of
many minds and the shades Of number
less brilliant men and DISTINGUISHED
guests entertained there must OF neces-
Sly dwell Within its walls. one hopes
mat me rumor is a breath OF unrest
that viii shortly be disuelled
Historic piles ali over the world arc
regarded as sacred. and not only are
they greatly treasured because OF the
mere sentiment of the nation but they
are Il ineaus Or bringing money into
the town ana place where they exist.
~ one must descend to the financial
part OF II. old churches ANA cathcdrals
abroad are cherished. even though in,
ruins ana they form a unique and IN
tereHtinE feature OF ones travels all
around The world. but you come bock
nome TO md the old houses and schools
everywhere around YOU being torn
down and nice new ones built in their
place They are furnished with ugly
new things ana the substantial and
beautiful In the old is utterly cast
away.
Now our Association for the Preser-
walton OF Virginia Antiquities Is doing
the best that II can 10 help hold on 10
these things OF value ana interest but
they can't do 1t all BY any means. and
II seems as fast as anything begins TO
be pointed out as the old so-and-so
house at once an army of workmen
appear and the place is torn down.
we must have our old landmarks
preserved and the people all over the
city in every station and walk OF life
have got TO help. You mustn't sill back
with your hands folded and let this
demolishins process go on. OF course,
some things are eyesorcs and must be
removed. but II does make such an
ache in your heart 10 see the inside
OF an old house all bruised and broken
and its pretty doors and wainscoting
piled on the pavement II Is like some
worn and wasted soul with its heart
laid bare for the rude gaze OF any
passer- by. and you want TO go closer
and help hide its lonely sorrow from
the world that wags past. Doesn't 1T
seem strange 10 YOU that In order to
preserve old landmarks the greatest
wrangie and ngh; has to be carried
on with authorities. and even then the
old home passes? BRENT WITT.
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