Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-26

age could b., IL was designed dfter
the Temple of Theseus. at Athens. with
walls of brick, succeed, the bricks used
having been made on what Is now the
Fort Myer property. The tall, massive
columns Whica may be seen at great
type of architecture. Prior 70 the Civil
war 1t was by many considered the
finest specimen of residence in the
.;outhern States, and today only the
White House and Noun, Vernon can
b. said to be better known.
y \ +
GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKE
GUSTS. its founder ana proprie-
tor, was for many years part of the
very life Of the National Capital. Few
men Of note he did not know. and few
men did not know him. He was pop
ular with the people Of Washington,
and threw his grounds open for their
amusement and entertainment. There
is still many hoary head among US
able to recall the picnics at Arlington
Spring.
Even the oldest inhabitant would
have extreme difficulty In finding today
the old spring and grounds where our
mothers and grandmothers probably
danced the heel-and-toc. the maZl,rka
and the minuet And for some one now
living to give a good description OF 1t
would almost be out of the question. so
I am going to give you the benefit OF
Benson J. Lossing's description written
Is wears ago. It follows:
"At the foot OF a wooded slope, near
the bank of the river, Is Arlington
Spring SO we'll known 20 picnic parties
who come there from Washington.
Georgetown and Alexandria. during the
warm season II Is pure and copious
fountain, gushing out from the roots OF
a huge and venerable oak. which doubt
less stood there when the Red Man. In
remote age, came thither to Stake his
thirst. Around the spring is a beauti-
full grassy lawn. shaded by variety OF
trees. and af1ording pleasant Sum-
mcr resort Actuated by that generous
hospitality which Is everywhere preva-
lent at the South. Mr.. Gusts erected
several years ago. various structures iol
the accommodation of visitors to Ar
| lington Spring. He built o wharf iol
convenient landing: O Storeroom: XII
chen: a dining hall. so feet in length
! and. a saloon of the same dimensions
for dancing in No spirituous liquors
are permitted to be sold on the prem.
| ises. nor are visitors allowed to come
there on the Sabbath. All that Is asked
| in return Is the observance OF tnos:
moral rules. and reciprocation OF the
| kind feeling which makes every class OF
| respectable citizens cordially welcome
| A little boat called the @. w. p. Gusts
| plies between the neighboring cities anc
Arlington Spring during the warm sea.
son: and almost c1ory day parties OF
| from so to 200 are seen there. 1t !.
estimated that during thu Summer eno
Autumn OF 1882 more than 10000 poo
pie visited Arlington Spring.
have before me very interesting
relic along this line. sent TO my mother
many years ago. It Is an unusually
| neat card. and displays more typograph'
| ical art than one Is likely to obtain
today in a similar card. 1t reads:
Ladies Invitation
Americas Club Picnic
.ts ct
Arlington Spring
~s Committee Of Invitation:
w. H. Beardsley. p. J. COLLISION.
w. l.. Dowden."
| After the death Of Mr.. Gusts. in 1857
| the privilege Of using Arlington Spring
seems to have been taken away, or per-
hapS. more likely. Mount Vernon
| Springs and other river resorts super.
seeded 1t In the affections OF the tickle
and terpsichorean public.
| Though never success as a play
wright, yet the sage of Arlington wrote
several plays which were acted out al