Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-08
Geographic News
Bulletins By the
National Geographic Society
Historic Picnic Ground

Washington danced, where Martha
Washington was entertained at
weekend parties and where
Lord Fairfax rested after his fox
hunting, now is popularity known
among Washingtonians a. a 'des-
tination' of interest for the motor
list and a lunhceon place for the
motor boat enthusiast" lays a bull
letin from the Washington. ID. c.,
headquarters Of the National Geo.
graphic Society.
Though today there is Just q
small Pile of bricks made in Eng
land and a foundation which is al
most imaginary to tell where the
historic mansion stood, the very
| spot itself speaks of the romance of
which early Virginia history is redo
lent. Not a painting o anthem
tic plan remains to tell what the
old house looked like, but its To-
cation on a high green bank where
the Potomac bends gently south
ward just below Mount Vernon and
within sight of Gunston Hall, the
homo of George Mason, the father
of the Virginie Declaration of
Rights, was enough to inspire its
preservation by transferring 1t to
the United States Army. 1t is now
posted as an animal reservation and
picnic ground.
Had n Ten-Mile River Front
The estate stretched in the old
days for ten miles along the river.
and the house site is a high point
which juts Jul into one of the
deepest places in the river channel.
From Washington, IL Is easily
accessible by boat down the Poto-
mac or by an excellent military road
leading to Camp Humphreys. built
during the world a as a station
for engineers.
These stately gentlemen of vir-
ginia had, from their front windows
or front yard, a magnificent view
of the curving banks of the river,
and of the soft blue hills on the
Maryland shore. Though the two or
three hundred yards of land that
stretched off on the right toward the
intake from the river are now over
grown with trees and brush they
must have been cleared out then
so the planters might have a good
view of the vessels from England
that put in at their wharves.
Built In Days of spectator"
THE house was built, evidently
in the early eighteenth century, by
William Fairfax, the cousin and
colonial agent Of the owner of the
Land, Lord Fairfax. who at that
time having graduated a oxford
was basking in the sunshine of
courtly favor and ladies' smiles in
England. contributing, as fancy
pleased him, to Addison's 'Specta-
tor" and moving in the inspiring
and intellectual atmosphere Of Lon
don society.
When his lordship was Tilted at
the altar for a sutton with a higher
title. he decided to seek surcease
from his chagrin by visiting his
cousin, William, who seemed to
be enjoying life on his vast hold
ings in the colonies. So pleased
was he with what one early writer
terms beautiful prospects and syl-
van scenes. transparent streams and
majestic woods that he after
wards took up his residence on
part OF his estate in the Shenandoah
Valley.
1T was at Belvoir that Washing
ton came under the influence and
OF the polish of an elegant English
household. Most Of his sterling vir-
tues and simple morality he had
learned under his mothers care. but
in the Fairfax home and on his
long hunting trips with Lord Fair
go INV III iio iiSSluc tdlhS Will
this veteran OF experience who
could tell him the oItnions of the
learned men at oxford and Of the
gayety of English society he CLEANED
much that stood him in good stead
in later years.
Why Mount Vernon Was Built
Lawrence Washington, Georges
older brother had married Anne
Fairfax, the older daugNlr of Will
lam Fairfax and IL was for her that
Mount Vernon was originally built.
Later when the house was being re-
modelled for the coming Of the bride
OF George. II was William Fairfax
who went over every day or two
to he sure that the carpenters were
getting everything in 'apple-pie
order
situated as Belvoir was, so close
70 Mount Vernon and TO Gunston
HAN. IL was the center of great So
ciai activity. Often whole parties
would move from one large, colo
NAL mansion TO another in a con-
tinual round of festivities. One
amusing and delightful indication
or h affection existing between
the Fairfax family at Belvoir and
George Washington is a note writ
ten by William Fairfax TO Washing
ton after the campaign at Fort
Duquesne begging him to ONE over
on the next SUNDAY. or else the
Ladyfs will try to get horses to
equip out Chair or attempt their
strength on Font IN Ealufa youpn