Evening star., 1919-08-31

foliage. Leaving the lane to pursue
its course, you strike into a footpath
that ascends and crosses a grassy
knoll through a grove of very large
old spruce trees. A few more yards
OF walking and you stand before a
long. low frame house with a deep,
shadowy porch across the front, the
steep shingled roof of the porch being
supported by five round white pill
lars. At each end of the porch is a
giant locust whose trunk is at least
two feet thick and overgrowing each
OF the trees, and looping from one to
the other and lacing themselves over
the porch are immense trumpet creep
er vines ablaze with flowers of red
and tawny orange. One of these
vines has also climbed the old brick
chimney at the end of the house and
has overrun that part Of the building.
In one part of the garden is one of
the largest and finest sycamores in
Fairfax county and a trumpet vine
has climbed high among the branches
of that tree. Behind the house is a
garden of box bushes that have grown
to be tail trees. There is an orchard
OF hoary cherry, pear and apple trees,
and few rods from the rear of this
fine old house is the thicket in which
are the monuments and graves of the
olden owners OF this property-John
w hn iad In,
the age of eighty-seven years, and
his wife, Sarah Dade Hunter, who
died in 1845, at the age of seventy
years AS the Rambler told in his
previous story of these Hunters, this
place. which bears the name of Con-
temptation, is now owned by DIR. Maui
rice e. Miller of Washington. Farm
ing the place now is Will Croson, as
sisted by his brother Everett, sons of
Everett Croson of Fairfax county.
Everett and his wife and baby live
in part of the historic home. Mrs.
Everett Croson was Miss Lucy King,
whose father was Robert King of
Prince William county.
In connection with the previous mar
rative concerning the Hunters of Con-
temptation the Rambler has received
several letters. The first to come to
hand follows:
To the Rambler Of The Sunday Star:
Your article Of August 10 is very interesting,
especially to me, as I am a descendant of
John Chapman Hunter. Except for two mis-
takes. the article Is quite correct. George
Blscoe Hunter is living In this city, As are
his two sisters, but his brother Dulaney is
consul At Nice. / have but one daughter, who
lives with me. Miss Frances Marion Webster.
Am member Of the - Chapter. ID. A. H.,
and one of my papers is made out from John
Chapman Hunter. Although a young boy, he
organized other boys and fought in the revo-
luton. You can hnd this Information In q
book at Continental Hall. The volume is THE
Lodge Of Washington, and. as nearly a. I
can remember about page 1o5
my daughter and 1 are leaving the city to
spend Q month In the White mountains. but
will return to our home here for the winter.
My father, Gen. John Winn Davidson, fought
on the Union side and was born at Con.
temptation. /. with my husband, daughter
and relatives, have visited there several times
when Mrs. Gibson was the owner, and I have
splendid pictures that my husband took of the
house and grounds. OF course, 1 knew not at
all that you were going to write Of the place.
but it is certainly interesting to me and my
family.
Another letter follows:
! read your Rambler article In yester-
days Star. My grandfather was always spok-
en- Of as Gen. Hunter. and 1t is an established
fact that he was general of the Virginia
militia. There is NO doubt in my mind that
he was q revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Gibson,
who bought the part of Contemplate on which
Gen. Hunter lived, told me that my grand.
father went into the revolutionary war n few
years before 1t closed. According TO a state.
mcnt made by her, he enlisted when he was
about sixteen or seventeen years old and was
nineteen years old when the British surren.
dered at Yorktown. She was from Massachu.