The Washington times., 1927-07-25
Kenneth Gilpm Purchase House in Winchester
NeUs GUes Color to RumOr of Political Aspirations
Picturesque Virginia City
a Political Center; Home
Of Famous Byrd Family
Bv JEAN ELIOT

bV JEAN ELlOL
News that the Kenneth Gilpins
IN have purchased one of the fine
old Colonial houses Of Winchester.
Va. gives color to the rumor that
Senator Tyson of Tennessee is
grooming his son-in-law for a politi'
cal career.
Mr.. Gilpin is one Of those hard
riding. fox-hunting gentleman farm
ers which Virginia breeds so success
fully. and his home is Kentsmere, a
richly productive and beautiful es.
tate at Boyce, Va, HARDLY the farm
which DR.. William Holland Wilmer
owns and on which he spends. many
of his vacation hours. The Gflpins
have spent most of their time at
Kentsmere since he married Senator
and Mrs. Tyson's beautiful daughter.
But il will be remembered that they
were with Senator and Mrs. Tyson
in Washington most of last winter;
and it was then that tales of Mr..
Gilpin's budding interest IN politics
Virginia politics, acknowledgement
to get about.
Town and Country Contacts
Should he have political aspira-
tons, it will be an undoubted ad-
vantage to have town as well as
country contacts; and Winchester,
the home of the famous Byrd FAM
ily. is likely to be something OF a
political center for the next few
years. Comdr. Richard Evelyn Byrd
has written the name of one of the
most picturesque families of Vir-
ginia. history across the modern sky
in letters of fire. Harry Byrd is gov.
ernor of Virginia. And Tom Byrd
manages some of the great apple or
chards which cover the slopes of the
hills, and has helped put Winchester
on the map as the center of the APP
ple.growing industry in this part of
the world.
Mrs. GiIpin "Queen Shenandoah"
It will be remembered that Mrs.
Kenneth Gilpin, as Queen Shenan-
doah, reigned over Winchester's
picturesque Apple Blossom Festival
this year, for which 10000 visitors
crowded into the little Virginia city.
Guests were entertained for this
occasion at all the country estates
round about, and Mr.. and Mrs. Gil.
pin had a big luncheon party at
Kentsmere on the day of the car
nival. Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, who
had motored up from Washington
for the festival, was among their
guests.
This place of the Gilpins fingers
in my memory as very lovely and
quite unusual. I don't know its
period. Certainly it does not sug-
gest colonial or post-revolutionary
times. Yet there is an air of
gracious permanence, of mellowed
beauty about the rather tall white
house, with its high peaked green
roof. set among rolling lawns and
overshadowed by magnificent trees.
Dame Rumor has not yet indi-
Gated in what direction Mr.. Gilpin's
aspirations lie, but if he should try
TO come to the House of Repre-
sentatives, it would normally be as
the successor to Repl sentative
Thomas Walter Harrison, since Mr..
Harrison's district includes both
Winchester and Boyce in Clarke
county, country home of the Gil.
pins.
Distinguished Delegation
Both Of Virginia's Senators,
Claude Swanson and Carter Glass,
maintain the high political tradi.
tons of the State and in her dele
cation in the House are men dis
tinguished for variety of reasons
Representative Andrew Jackson
Montague, once governor of Vir-
ginia; Representative r. Walton
Moore, who halls from nearby Fair
fax Courthouse and who has warm
friends in Washington as he has
all over Virginia: Representative
Clifton Woodrum, 1.-The singing Con-
gresham" and Representative
Henry st. George Tucker, to men,
ton a few.
One of Mr.. fuckers chief claims
to fame is that he-like Senator
Borah-refused the increase in sal
airy voted by the House to Members
of Congress on the plea that, having
been elected with a salary Of $500,
he could not accept $4,000 for his
services until his constituents had
voted him worth the money" at
another election. Mr.. Tucker sue
ceeded the late Representative
Henry D. Flood, who was an uncle
of 1.-The Byrd boys He-Mr. Flood
married Washington girl. Miss
Anna Portner, who makes her home