Evening star., 1928-06-03
M JOHN cLAeErr PROCTOR.

ii and sGiD reside IN tilat mouse III
which ne was born, especially in a
fast-growing and changing city ike
sncr is The distinctive situation of
Na} Gist Blair, whose home IS at 1851
Pennsylvania avenue Of course,
I,arafette Square Immediately faces the
White House. but the Blair house is
the only building in the adjoining blocks
70 the east and TO the west Of the park,
along this celebrated thorouehfare,
strictly occupied as a residence.
1t was the writer's pleasure and priv
ilege the other day. to be shown through
this old mansion by Maj. Blair, and 70
be told many interesting things about
its quaint furnishings. It's valuable his
toric relics and beirlC0nls. and its al
most priceless miscellaneous collections
made by the genial owner Of what is
cutie likely the chief wonder house in
this city, other than public museums.
Mai Blair FIRST showed the room in
which he was born. II IS rear room
an6 ! believe il was on the third aoor
Il vas formerly two rooms. having been
originally separated by folding doors.
but these doors we're many years ago
removed, seemingly 10 good advantage
There are all sorts cf descriptions Of
relics in the room. Old family portraits.
snuff boxes Of exquisite designs. Andrew
Jscksor's walking stick. presented by
the general 10 Francis Preston Blair,
historic swords. an engraving Of the
Ricdgett House which IN the early days
stood on the north side Of ( street be-
tween Seventh and Eighth streets. 2
view entirely ncw 20 me. Everything
here, IS. indeed. throughout the house.
seemed 20 have boeu selected with good
taste and discretion. On the second
a. ..-a~r aT-4--
much glassware and clinawaTe Some
of the Toors here. as well IS Oh the
1ocr above. arc fitted Up as bed cham
bers. One room is called the curly
maple room and Is trimmed out in that
wood. the furnishings in the main nav-
ing been selected = match. Another
roou contained mahogany furnishings.
OE the first aoor. 10 the right. fac
- Ing the house, Is Z small front room
used for Office purposes by Francis
Preston Blair and his son. Montgomery
Blair. grandfather and father, respec-
lively. o. the present occupant, and it
vas n this room that Gen Robert E
Lee was offered the command Of the
Union Army II the field. early in 1861
Ever room II the house is crowded
with history either written or objec-
E1Te. and this room. CT course was no
exception. 59r here are kept manuscripts
O. more Chan passing value
a LITTER 70 Montgomery Blair from
Lincoln. II whose Cabinet he served IS
Postmaster General is kept. together
with private correspondence from other
greae men lnterWoven IL the lives Of
lke t#o older Bla1rs.
TIE room 10 the left of the raIl Is
probably what We in our younger days
would cal the p2rlor but what we are
tc-o To-Day Is The living room. Il IS
large room. extending north and south.
sno. ! believe, also east and west at the
rasr of the hallway. This room con-
tz1rs maybe q dozen or more family
and sncestra! portraits, some nv such
distinguished painters Is West and
Pcale. = light over each painting. IN
srz gallery style, gives one a perfect
view not otherwise obta4nable.
TIE Es1r iu one q the pictures Of a
maternal ancestor struck the writer as
berg n.srTel0usiy perfect Another
thing thai ne Etill recalls and which
left ITS impression Was the beautiful
decorative plaster3ug throughout the
n121S1on PlasTeylng today Is severely
pain and not Nkat il vas when this
house vas erected, nor even as recently
Is So years ago. and the man wflo
eo8.c duplicate the beautiful work mere
- 9e seen VcuAd truly be 81 artist
Egecf1svlac
AzseEer thing whtch appealed 10 ne
Is besog decidedly peculiar and yet re-
.re2Essg2g was ts2e fact tEaat IL all ire art
housed r fhix nsnsaon there wzs roy
ere EsggcsiiVe statue CT canvas
TOWARD the front os this large
roczn en May 1850. vas cele-
EEste1 oae q ne Eagsk important we'd
cs1gs q ~ 6ay-shaf u William
7 IscUnsSsh Sherman ard Ellen BogIe
ZS4ssg. The bride wsz t9ae daughter d
Js2e Secretary q the interior. Taonax
EwaE-g. ard wTlBe-s1g of the eYeut vas
eagerly sought sn Ire columns of the
ssztAez2s2 Tntell3gencey. o9t without
sI2a- t0r al ff2at seemed 70 appear
tgaeFe was t1e brief announcement q
tzAs marriage as follows
MARRIED.
r. k<1As caSy. cu ne evening of the 1st
- Rsy. ay Tie EeT. sares Rycer. Pres
1ee9s ~ CS@grgesoEn CclAegs. Ws3larn
e Sherman, United States Army, ard
Es4e1 BoY.e Ewing esoesg daughter 81
t1e aaz- Thomas E@I-g
Z za2s have osen = brilliant affair.
&or s. H2& stseneel ~ President Zach
sfg Tzy59g syac Ezs entsre Csosnet. se
BeA aa ~ Henry Gay. Dsnlei WEBSTER
arc EsgRyazs W Ee1tca.
EneTm.SC. Is ggz cf course. nqsxss
Rrs9R'. oecsne ere q Eae three cut
Es2sac5s1g generals = gfae Civil Wax-~
Grant fsaegEza ard E8eFl1ar--aod Il
80 age aeE familiar w5ti3 the l8fe q
EEs csA2rst@e a9s14saxg ofslcer g0l
s1resy w6x be- Msge sne statue aYeefeC
~ 6.ra ~ rfe acagsg fyent ~ tire Treas
lgy E1ssg4g ire sgsass oeig4g Carr ponI
agas TSg aE1sg3a1gA&seEF. 1seo aefore
sgS arsag ~oTk q fgas WIS CDsnpseaee.