Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-02
PICTURESQUE OLD ALEXANDRIA,
ny FREDERIC j. mAsKIN

ALEXANDRIA, VA. September l.
If you want to know how people used
10 live. look not into books. but into
houses
becoming widely appreciated in Amer
lca Everywhere old houses with his
t"rlc associations are being restored
by societies and individuals and cities
and States. Almost any one with sut-
hcient curiosity and imagination can
get pretty good idea OF how his an
ccStorS lived by looking over their
property. personal and real.
Alexandria, Va, just across the river
from Washington. IL blessed with a
number OF these old habitations In
fact. the whole cast and appearance.
OF many of the streets arc sun suy-
Eesttvc of long ago. for the houses arc
often hush with the narrow sidewalks
ana the architecture OF many OF them
belong To another time
One OF the most picturesque Of these
old dwellings. which has recently been
restored TO it's appearance Of Colonial
times. ~ tho Carlyle house. which was
huilt about 1852. The property shows
plainly the marks OF at least four
stages in the citys development. for
the old residence has for it's founda-
tion a fort built way back in IN. seven
tccnth century, while IL is inclosed on
tw" sides By building erected for
hotel just before tho Civil War and
now converted into modern apart
mcut-housc
The old Carlyle place has now been
purchased by Il resident of Washing
ION, who, by lcvying a toll Of 10 cents
ur"n the curious is able to pay the
taxes on the property. keep it in re-
par and employ custodian, in the
person of a young lady who can rcci,o
everything that happened in every
room. together with dates, and names
% "a "a IN
The house itself would he "A credit
TO modern architects and decorators
With its large. high -cciled rooms and
hand-carNcd cornic"s and panels. which
are stiil in perfect condition II was
built By Carlyle. who was a wine i'm
porter, and had under his home a large
and well-stocked cellar. For that or
Tor some other reason he became a
friend OF the famous General Brad
dock who came over here to fight tho
indians. Braddocit and George Wash
inGton planned their disastrously un-
successful campaign in one Of the
rooms WaShinEton's commission as a
major in the Colonial army was issued
mere, too. Later on, the Colonial Gov
crnors met here to discuss the Decla
ration Of Independence IL is amaz-
ing now pcrsiStcnly one comes across
the trail Of that document in his ram
b!"s among the remains OF Colonial
America. Probably IL was discussed
IN every tavern and bar about that
time like the Mexican trouble and the
hughes compaiGn are now: and every
one OF these places subsequently,
claimed to he the true and only oriri
nal cradle Of our liberties.
Built on Old Fort.
rms residence stands upon cir
cular foundation of solid masonry.
rising hficcn or twenty feet above tho
ground This is the old fort. built in
i""H Tor defense against the Indians
ana under il YOU may still see tho
dungeons in which the lucklcss saw
ages were confined after our fore
fathers had caught them. These prison
rooms are Of solid masonry, with
vauitcd roofs and no openings except
a door and hole about a foot wide
in the roof. through which the pr;s
oncrs got air. food and light. which
shows how the old timers felt toward
Indians.
In l1S5 the rights of navigation on
lhc t"tomac were discussed and set
'le" III inns same house. These rights
were then of great Importance. Alex
andria was one Of the leading cities
ana ports Of tn" United States 1t was
me nome OF tho President. and n CEN
ter OF trade and culture. Leading the
atr'cal productions were always given
there. II was not far from tho size
that it is now.
"i'i ~ 'it'TSc washington used
TO drive TO town from Mount Vernon
TO attend the meetings of the Masonic
chapter i'm Alexandria, of which he was
grand master for Il long time The
room IN which he presided over these
meetings. with nearly all Of it's oriri
MAJ furniture and paintings is still
preserved intact, and is one Of the
most perfect glimpScs of the past To
he had in America. The spindly ma
hoGanv chairs. the faded blue Garnet.
the raised dais of the presiding officer
WIN MS Sky-h1ue canopy, and its gaycl
SNAPPED like a potato mashcr, arc all
sun there. True, they are faded ana
taWdry and the walls arc dis6rurcd
ny glass cases which contain buttons
ana knives and rags and all the other
relics OF the great that people insist
upon preserving; hut You can see at
glance that in its day this was n
chamber Of splondor and dignity, where
great men solemnly gathered
IL Renl Resemblance.
The prize OF the place is n nastc1
picture Of George Washington, which
has the unique distinction Of being
a real resemblance. With a devotion
to realistic detail rare in the portraits
OF great men 1t shows the mole on
his chin and the scar on his left cheek.
and the peck marks and burrows ali
over his face. He is revealed, In fact,
as a homely. worried looking old gem
tleman with Il face OF great strength
and kindness.
Another excellent portrait is of La