davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-02-21

William Thornton. architect Of the
Capitol and of Tudor Place the
Georgetown mansion of Mrs. Thomas
Peter. Nellie Custis' eldest sister,
drew the plans for Woodlawn, with
the supervision Of Gen. Washington.
After living many years at the man.
sion Maj. and Mrs. Lewis left it in the
hands of slaves and an overseer, "a nd
went to the Shenandoah Valley. where,
in Clarke County, they built Audley,
where they made their home from
then on. Audley, like all the other
homes Of the beloved Nellie. has also
Jared well, and is in possession Of a
New York gentleman. who is carrying
on the traditions of that part of Fir
ginia by raising thoroughbred horses.
Woodlawn was later sold to a band
Of Quakers, who made of the mansion
a community center, while they built
their individual homes on farms sur
rounding it. In the division of the
property, the mansion came to Capt.
John Mason Of Quaker stock, not of
the Virginia family. long time friends
and neighbors OF the Washingtons
1t was later sold to the principal own
ers of the Mount Vernon electric line,
with the idea of making a resort Of
it, to which the railway was to have
been extended. Happily this never
happened.
In the days of it's most unhappy
period of neglect, 1t is said to have
been offered for sale with $50 acres
for $1,000. When, on the death of
Miss Sharpe, it was again on the
market, the price had risen to $780,
600. and it was cheap at that price.
Miss Sharpe lavished vast sums
upon it, and it has been said that
she left It in q more solid condition
than it was even originally. What
she did she did with reverence and
discrimination. and the result is a
home that is full Of charm and redo
lent of the days of romance. Antique
furniture and scenic wall papers on
the bedroom walls carry out the at
mosphere of colonial days.
AS deep in the soil of Maryland the
roots of the Custis family imbedded
themselves, so the branches also
spread back to the native State Of
Eleanor Calvert, for the grandson Of
Nellie Gusts Lewis, Lawrence Lewis
Conrad. named for his grandfather,
Maj Lewis, made his home in Balti-
more, and there married Sarah, or as
she was known to her intimates,
Minnie" Worthington, second daugh-
ter of John Tolley Worthington Of the
Worthington Valley, and his wife,
Mary Govane Hood, daughter of
James Hood Of Hoods Mill, Baltimore
County.
Montmorenci, the beautiful estate Of
the Worthingtons, built in 1850, origi-
naIly. surrounded by 1000 acres, is
still a beautiful old homestead, and
has been willed by its last owner and
mistress, the late Mrs. Marie Conrad
Lehr of Baltimore and washington,
on the death of DR.. Louis Lehr. her
husband. to go to the poor children Of
Baltimore, as a country home, under
the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Bish-
op of Maryland.
Mrs. Lawrence Conrad and her
daughter, Mrs. Lehr, have bequeath-
ed to Mount Vernon the most inti-
mate and personal belongings of Mel
lie Custis-her wedding veil, her tiny
white satin slippers, her work box,
her laces and shoe buckles and other
treasured mementos Of the beloved
daughter of Gen. Washington, and
the life and spirit Of his home, Mount
Vernon.
Evening star., 1926-02-21
Old Washington Home Is Reflection
OF Spirit of Eleanor Parke Gusts
to
Peaceful landH T1ha 1t

Nellie Calvert and rauddaughter of
Lord Baltimore.
Mount Airy. long the home of the
Calverts, descendants of Lord Balti-
more, is still home, loved and cared
for, though having passed into other
hands. Its present mistress is Mrs
Percy Duvall.
Abingdon has become the property
of former Representative Philip Camp
bell, who, with his family, makes his
home there. They have brought it back
from misuse and neglect once more. to
occupy in the community Il semblance
at asst cl he gay manor house. the
scene of outstanding events in the
happy life of its young mistress. Flea
nor Calvert CuStiS, and her fond
Young husband, Jack CuStiS There
their little family of three daughters
and one son first saw the light among
lis. later known as "Mr. Custis of
Arlington whose old home il the
pivot OF interest in The National
Cemetery. and is soon to be refurnish-
ed as in its old days. just as Mount
Vernon has been 10y the regents.
An aged visitor to Mr., Campbell
since he has become master of Abing-
don told him of hearing his mot her tell
of going TO q mll ut Abingdon and TAX
ing him. :; bany. with her. putting him
to sleep in Hn upper chamber and then
dancing half The night away till, some
time in the wee. small hours Of the
gray drawn. she and his father would
gather him up and carry him home
with them. Other babies probably also
went a-NisitinS under. similar circum-
stances, while the little Custis babies
also slept, under the tender care OF
In{ ais.S. t<,il- ,N1
their hosts made merry in the double
parlorS below. dancing across the wide
central hall To the dining room on the
other side.
Mount Vernon is familiar TO all who
visit the Capital Of the Nat ion, ,whe ther
American citizens or foreign trav-
elers. and to those with vision IL
repeople il as i'll its pristine days, the
most romantic spot and sweetest
homeland in this broad country Of
ours.
Those who make pilgrimagcs TO old
mansions realize that such old homes
have a personality OF their own. If
one cannot feel il. then one is out of
luck. 1t is ii sense that may be cult
waited and visiting old hanor house ma V
happily bring it. II one IS sensible
to this feeling of individuality and
personality. no manor house i'll the
country can tell To The visitor more
plainly than Noodiawn its history OF
serenity, peace and contentment. that
Is as much 4 part OF IL as the faded
brick and stately lines. Its days. too
have fallen in pleasant places. II is
loved as such a home should be loved
and those who have been privileged
TO visit il rejoice that il has bce,
adopted by those who Will give II
tender care and respect
Senator Oscar Underwood Ol
-Alabama purchased il last Autumn from
the estate Of Miss +. NJ. Sharpe, who
Evening star., 1926-02-21

received 6,S00,OO0 Of the number of
unbelievable missives handled last
year. Addresses were found for only
20 per cent of them. The remaining
so per cent went into the waste
baskets and subsequently were burned.
OF the Sl0,336 unclaimed parcels,
articles of merchandise received In
the dead letter service last year, the
local office handled $3.50. and finally
delivered 45 per cent of that number.
The balance We're destroyed as of no
value or disposed of at public auction.
Nearly 100000 letters containing
Enclosures of value, such as money,
stamps. drafts money orders,
Evening star., 1926-02-21

spent large sums upon it in restoring
and adding modern comforts to it, but
neither she nor Paul Kester, the
writer, Who was a previous owner
has in any way destroyed the original
form and beauty Of the mansion and
its superb site
1t still possesses that indescribable
charm which some one designated
'the grace Of faded things" Sun and
wind have swept its broad facade for
many years and mellowed 1t, and the
box circle forming the APPROACH to the
central entrance speaks Of an earlier
day, when dignity and forn1ality were
as much part of the charm of life
as Its generous hospitality,
1t is indeed "a beautiful site fol-. a
gentleman's seat" and as one drives
around the circular roadway to the
entrance, which is approached across
flagstone terrace, Just a foot above
the level Of the land, running across
the length of the central portion of the
mansion, one senses that courtly gen
tlemen and distinguished ladies have
passed through its portals, which are
thanked on either side by wrought iron
lanterns. held on posts as austere as
they are graceful. Indeed, we are told
that the Marquis de Lafayette did
pass over that ancient threshold, as he
was a visitor there.
\ X X \
THAT charming little poem, "a
Want Ad," by Lila Frost Spraeue.
describes the feeling of Woodlawn:
II want to buy house.
Sanding back among the trees.
With 1arkspur by the path
want an orchard at the side
With 3 crumbling cobble wall
And bitter sweet all trailing down
Where Autumn blackbirds call.
want house where gentle ghosts
Fit in and out.
Or sit before my door
And whisper softly happy things
That happened here before"
Though Woodlawn Mansion, which
in the old days was frequently spok-
en- of and written of. as old letters
testify, as "The Lawn was not built
till after Washington's death, Mr..
kester, its one-time owner, Is Of the
opinion that one wing was built and
used as an Office by Maj. Lewis, as
Washington speaks Of stopping there
to see him, and when Mr.. Kester oc-
cupied the mansion, MAI. Lewis
wing" as It was known. appeared to
be built Of different materials, brick
and timber seeming much older. De.
Evening star., 1926-02-21
Reading by Sound.

TEACHING the Blind to read by
means of different shades OF
sound Is a new and remarkable
method invented by Prof. Rosing, an
oculist of Leningrad, Russia, says
Popular Science Monthly. Every letter
of the alphabet will be expressed by d
different sound. So far, sounds have
been contrived for IS letters of the
alphabet.
The sounds are used, too. to see
objects. Experiments showed, it is
claimed, that children using the sound
apparatus were: able to define many
articles In a room and recognize per
sons who were passing,
Evening star., 1926-02-21

bluff overlooking the Mount Vernon
boulevard, but which, in their day.
crowned an emineuce whose hillside
rolled gently down to the river banks.
The road now Skirting it is 4 later
development.
At comfortable Abingdon all the
CuStiS children were born-NIartha
named for her era ndmother. later
Mrs. Peter of Georgetown: Elizabeth.
later Mrs. Thomas Law, whose old
mansion is down by the steamship
docks: Eleanor. named for her mother,
and George Washington Parke CuStis,
named for the only father he knew. as
his own father died before his birth.
All the children We're born while
Gen. Washington was away with the
Army, and the last TWO were adopt
ed by him and Mrs. Washington and
taken TO Mount Vernon to make their
home. There at Mount Vernon today
are still seen little Nellie's cradle, her
tester bed. which she afterward used.
and other pieces of furniture in the
west chamber, over whose door is
the legend, Nellie Custis' room" put
there by the regents of Mount Vernon.
From her windows stretched a view
of the rolling country and woodland,
toward that section of the estate
where later Gen. Washington parcelled
off some thousand or more acres as
wedding present for her and her huS-
band. Maj Lawrence Lewis. who after
the death of Gen. and Mrs. Washing
ton built q stately mansion there for
himself and his wife.
On the main floor of Mount Vernon
is Nellle's harpsichord, for which Gen.
Washington sent to London, and on
which, as a little girl, she used to
practice, with many tears, we are
told. Across the top of the instru-
ment is the generals flute, as If he
had just laid it down after a duet
with his daughter.
All about are other gentle remind
ers of that sweet young girl, whose
charm helped TO make the home of
George Washington the serene peace
full and happy home it was, and whose
gentle influence seems to pervade it
today.
A FOREIGN visitor, MIR Neimce-
WITT. has left for US this descrip-
ton of Nellie Gusts:
About o'clock a carriage, drawn
by two horses, stopped before the
door A young lady of the most
wonderful beauty. closely followed by
an elderly attendant, descended.
"She was one of those celestial
beings so rarely produced by nature.
sometimes dreamt of by poets and
painters, which one cannot see with
out a feeling of ecstasy
Her sweetness equals her beauty,
and that is perfect.
she has many accomplishments,
she sings and designs better than the
usual woman of America, or even
Europe"
Making allowances for the exag-
gerated enthusiasm of an age when
chivalry painted strong word pictures,
Evening star., 1926-02-21
finally done away with by the help

finally done away with by the help
of ferretS. he added.
Though modern facilities and the
improved system employed today in
handling unbelievable letters and
packages have somewhat changed
conditions, there is still much romance
in the work. superintendent Staley
describes the ramifications of his
division as the most interesting work
in the entire postal service.
Some idea of the vast proportions
entailed through this phase of the
postal service Is conceived from the
1925 summary.
More than - 900 900 unbelievable
Evening star., 1926-02-21

letters We're received and disposed Of
in The dead-letter service last year.
which is & decrease of nearly 800 600
from the preceding year. This is the
first reduction in volume of dead let
ters since 1922. and, While it is small,
II seems 10 indicate that the response
OF the public TO the department. ef
forts during the past year fer better
addressing and wrapping has in a
measure been made.
The Washington dead letter office
Evening star., 1926-02-21
BY LEILA WILSON BATHOS.

A once more the birthday of
~ George Washington arrives,
"a we turn our thoughts to the
Il 4 first President as Il national
Evening star., 1926-02-21

parcels that went aStray in the mails
We're stuck away in big pigeon holes.
Il circumstance that offered Il fine OPP
portunity To the predatory rodents.
They We're much addicted to cutting
up cotton cloth and other dress
fabrics for thefr nests, he explained,
but what they seemed to enjoy most
was wedding cake-pieces Of which
Were frequently found in lost pack
ages-and the bran stuffing OF dolls
and pin-cushions. The mischief was
Evening star., 1926-02-21

one can but believe that the adorable
Nellie was indeed charming, for
besides the admiration of visitors she
inspired. she was loved by all the
household and the large family Of
servants and slaves who cared for
her and tended her as she grew from
babyhood to wOmanhood. the JOY and
the pride of all.
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
THOMPSON

Bobby Elliott spent Sunday in town.
 The Bridge Club met at Mrs. Ar thur Mills Tuesday afternoon.
 Mrs Harrison Nichols. who has been ill with the grip. Is improving.
 Mr Nicholas Yarnof spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Beck maneddrf
 4 number from Thompson attended the fddlers' contest at the Bradley Theatre Monday evening.
 Mrs Weaver Ream has been in town this week. She came co see her moth er. who is if at the Day Kimball Hos pital
 The Ladies Missionary Society was entertained by Mrs. George Crosby Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Oscar Munyan had charge of the program and gave an interesting talk on Home Missions. The meeting was well at tended.
 The following is the honor lst of the Thompson Hin school for Janu- ary Ninety 10 100 per cent. Nav Law Alfred Broughton. George Veg. man, Eina Jensen. Alexander Nat land, Jr.. Arthur Ware and Grsre Nithey: eighty fa eighty-nine per cent Jennie Brobat. Elois Logee. Esther Stevens, Elna Law. Elizaheth Nai+. land. David sherry. Vincent Kamip. ski. Latham Morse. Sarah Ballard May Nithey, Helen Johnson and Ray. mond smith
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
MYSTERIOUS FIRE
 STARTS IN CELLAR

Aa2e place Mha Er4 a~ was carried sa che entrance ar H1n4y s-reet Tr fFe gained er--
 saka heale -. aas enaL.y afa4Ess under e-sF 5z sss several streams 0f wate- Ia fat =-s- tns aT hss Gro fze-1r
 rz tte Hae a4 o1t zHa rang j1. Hf=s H aH z71r.
 D.raage ln Al Stores
 T Lombard, esra ma t-a 1r.y
 8auaEs - = 4s tEre w2E most If H e ~ars and tte src.a Fr@aat=E t-ra1Er z H a- sHs several
 ea1sel s= dam
 stock sf tse aseznaHfs a- s-a ground frer Esrs damaged 1y
 and - e offices er .te sae1rd f11- ue rolled forth
 The ereats 4e from fsat fa tae tl ing 1 tse 11aee17ie stafe ms r tre r # Mlat & Hu Alexander fsrta1sar Nl- IIs Carroll c- tse Man street aide ard Auald' rr market and sf xI ea Bur
 The t1fif5-e -a1eHt ara r some  Hfat similar manner saH z- last at ig m A. -rs He tse damage aaz s5.70I.-f 7f when s 8A was C. the baild r 8 ee9e1 that the damage t -zaEs Hrs s ex- eeea skat af t-e azs sss sF from one % tw0 thou and dollars Al af tre tenants were 4ss4
 The usual -r1Nd gathered quickly after the alarm rang b. tse fire was not speetaeular as ra blaze could be seen and gradually mazt of ihe on- lockers disperred
 < man wh1 had occasion ta enter the cellar a week ago states that a' that time the cellar wzz faI af rub. b5zh old boxes. barrels paper saw. dust and hav a Nsleh is mixed 6 col lection of decaVe1 fruit
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
Manly sidat

Manly AoasstF
 Although dgrHe5 and ealrtIy in airing he was alRa st ln eY- pressing his rrU ar Ef na advice Y
 Rer lawyer zaaHHe1 Hm fat he raae that H# 8ered -a r. ask = ~ aid and lsft him
 sHff-- fzz5 knew
 rrrg Ha H aiH me hGFz as
 snafaIt called tHs members af # lar t equal = matter how
 1eFlsrIea6 Shes might be-
 faculty for turn aE vast amaGaf = .zaHk- eas.ly @ h na fas#Hd feathers His
 never eigtraraa atth und6ne z# H ahharea Hzaera estimator. ad Naald rot alia& work = get be- ffHd
 Many ears ago Brother Cogggwell. aa tae occasion of Mr Searis absence from court because af iha gaut. wrote hts GaHty Ode which has become a classic of the Windbam County bar. the last lines of which are We bone your smiling and cheering
 face
 VII soon be seen in its accustomed
 place
 For this Court with searls at home
 Nlth the gout.
 is like tte play of Hamlet elth Ham
 let left aut. %
 tt course this poem was written at tme when Mir Searls Was expected e return and did return ta business. but quote it to shoU the high regard in which he was then held and was al@ held by the court and eourt at ttndarts
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
JAMES ERNEST RICHARDS
 HAS BIRTHDAY PARTY

0u Wednesday afternoon from to . clock Mr and Mrs Ernest Rich ards af Church street entertained at d partg far their son. James Ernest. in honor of his third birthday Games were played and prizes given Re fire hmsHts af cookies, ice cream, fan cy cakes cocoa and punch were served from thH nrettiiy decorated table at which the decorations and favors were valentines On leaving each little guest was presented & postoffice box filled with candy The little host re- ceived many gifts.
 Those present were Berniee May nard Leo Delisle. Constance and Mur- iel Saretzki, Edward and Loretta Null Ian, Jeanette Kempton. Ameldia St. Onge, Evelyn and James Richards.
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
ROADS YOUR VOICE MAY TRAVEL
PAGING MQ. JONES

HE brass-buttoned bellboy is familiar sight in every big hotel as he roams the public rooms. calling for this or that individual by name.
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
Other Tribute.

Public Defender Charles L. Torrey. spoke of his association with MT Searls for thirty years and his eourte- 9as and considerate treatment on all occasions
 Prosecuting Attorney Erie r John son. 1f the Putnam citv court. spoke af the 6ne qualities of Mfr Searls and said that he believed that he was where he could look down and realize The sincere tributes that were being ratd fa him
 Randolph H Chandler of Thompson spoke sf the character of Mr Searls 1a5 oalf as great lawyer. friend and fellow citizen.
 lndse Harry r Rack and Judge Arthur Q Bill of Danielsor added fhef tributes and Judge F N War ref told af his twenty-four years er- ioyment in the office of court clerk much af that enjoyment being credit cd to the fine personal character of the states attorney
 4 $ Macdonald said that he had listened to the trihutes of the older mem hers of the bar and felt that a word should be said for the younger members and told of the considera- ton. kindness and sympathy. always ta be had hv the young practitioner who went with his problems to Mr Sesrls Irving II Miron also spoke of M Searls from the same angle
 President King said that there was hardly anything that he could say He Tif fhat the affection that ran an through the memorial exercises was afaarent After adding to his own fsihutes in few words Judge Dick
 ordered the resolutions spread
 tas record and the meeting af the
 was sdjourned
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
Howard Bradford

Howard C Pradfard
 stateF Attorney Howard C Brad ford saceeasdr fa Hr searls ir thar affce e-h r.r ffara ffe fue 2. grad mated from hieh s6kaa and aarfrer f.sa+f e.. 4 Braff eH H#a Ns-.-e friend sad as.arIate th Hr p-sE B-+-er f
 tte H
 F. sH=aIs sHf
 tHe saF. aEaETi.H
 flt t aalst
 Brother ss -eat t aa=
 s fta attrh#s ssat Fa ta HakzzH a ~ He aaF 1 raaHs =.=sai eaH# #zH #H#1==5aal
 farreful and dsIiahtfal speech ard arg utrf ard had a natural rrt rraf= tieat conception af eal shtes THea qualifications maH Hfests8 thau sai iFez fram The beginning af hi- career. sa fhaf almost from tha daY af his al mission fo the bar. August. 1870. he sFas recognized a. leader n hi- pro ffssi0n
 His hrst case in the Supreme Court appears ln the f8rd Volume 1f the . Connecticut Reports and from then on his name apuears frequently as counsel in that court and it k safe to sRF that each year during the last half century he was in as mans or aaa-e -ases tried in Nindham County than anv other lawyer
 He vas well grounded in legal prin ciries but alWaYs said it vas rHt sa much the mark of a good lawyer to know fhe laW as | was tn know where to find if He very rarely trusted fa memory but looked un each urapost ff0u aE .t arose and the worn c0ndi- ti0n of the books n his working H. trars bear mute testIfi.ary ta the cau. stant reference he made % their con.
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
Asa Trial Lawyer

He W1s aH experienced and Hairs
 taking tf1al lawyer He 3isrrmina# tian h- t ahaf Hss and ua- rIt nreH- ert admissible as evidence was re. marsahle and fh. Ha'ek and rauug aav lr ahiah ha aH5eete8 3. ta.tlmang 0a una aallF Hatfaashls While he teaF quick ta perceive the muraufIetg ~ .h thr as aanea end made his atieetiaH kHaNn in Hl une-rt#3H Zones he Na5 faif and 2a4 arefal nof t0 offend fz aFefHe fhat which Was legally raau ssih'e ss he was roaloHs ta nrssaHt its introduction hg hts adversary
 IT, was skilled n the art of cross examination huf was very cautious in its exercise and if seems to me that be was more cautious the older he grew. and never went into lengthy eross-eSamination unless he knew what the witness would say or unless he had everything to gain and noth- inR io lose %
 He never sought office. but repre- sented his town twice in the House. was senator one term from this dis trict and vas secretary of state in ss6 He might have filled many eths er and more important political posi- tions but steadfastly maintained that hc preferred his HgiHt homo life and the private practice af his profession. Hc might have been a judge of the Superior Court ia the eighties. and an appointment ta thaf position wss onan Go him at any time had he been willing fa acceut it
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05
StournbaIia Block Threatened For Second Tine In Less
 Than Year
Ere. snsss and Water Danszs si
 About 17 900

For t-e ae ~ gear fire Saturday
 HHg tn
 or Man s-reef origin. fEarte6 r cellar store ef iasepf Leraar1 at pH
 -elF ze
 e1s fYe started The sfa-e s and locked s ssa concern re 1 papers in bankruptcy The relae a.so supFsse-lF Haeka5 A ci1ss sEectior af fae wsHg bg nam ser , gf .re PetraH L5zst c Power Caa- rary showed a Wre ta be - com fl.ts and therefore Impossible ta a.avt tns blaze Tss aamage bg fire. smoke and water 5s esfinaats3 at around S7- 900
 Black sassks
 Ire fire aaz aHsesafas sre- clouds af black roks eara ssaa rolling from tae locked cellar = she Ieu harsIs store abluf f0 t9 q telephone saeHaaFe from Arnsl8s fish market gave tre frss Hat#sa af tke fire ard =n order te sase f8raa four stroke fire alarm N s8andsa ta5ca Tfs maz
 6a followed te an alarm from box ~ ordered by Chef Ra.of r Thars- Con and pulled iH bF Leo De.isie ThIs aiaru called aat al 5f tae apparatus .H t.e eisy
 It vas impossible for tse freHnen t0 enter tte cellar on account 1f the serse black smoke The cellar nozzle Nas brought lnta aae and put iu the cellar window 1n tre Hsir street zde Another stream Nas ready at tHe
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05

Charles II Gilbert. professor of zoology at Stanford University. has discovered thai the scales of a fish show it's approximate age.
Putnam patriot., 1926-02-05

Rermicidal influence on cholera h the water If the river s due Co bacteriophare. ac- aE Co Dr Philip B Hadley