Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04

of Columbia. in which ONCE he served until
1871, when he resigned. In 1915, when Henry
FoxaH decided to return to England to live,
Gen. Mason purchased his iron foundry and
operated 1t for awhile. He was also active In
other directions, and at one time was menu
Der Of the firm OF Fenwick, Mason q Co, mef-
chants. Joseph Fenwick being in charge OF the
business at Bordeaux, France, and Mason man
aging the Georgetown house.
just what part Gen. Mason played in the
War Of 1872 we do not know, but it Is evident
he believed, as so many did, in the Battle Of
Bladensburg that che who fights and runs away,
may live to fight another day." for we find the
President retiring from the notifying scene
on horseback, accompanied by Gen.
Mason and Mr.. Carroll" We also find it stated
that ON the gath of August. President Adams.
MIR. Jones, then Secretary of the Navy; Gen.
Mason of Analostan Island, Mr.. Charles Carroll
of Bellevue and MFR. Tench Ringgold took pains
distance.
Gen. Mason had a host of friends and admir-
ers, and since he was fond of company, many
were the gay parties held at his island home.
Undoubtedly Gen. Washington stepped in to
say word when he was taking the ferry over
the river, and Thomas Jefferson purpoSely
stopped in occasionally to talk matter over.
Another of the many distinguished visitors to
come to the island, at very early date, was
Louis Philippe. who left France. his native
country, when so many heads were being
chopped Off with guillotine, including In the
number his own father, the Duke of Orleans,
the richest man in Europe and chiefly noted
for his reckless dissipation. Louis Philippe
landed at Philadelphia after a most narrowing
experience, evading those who relentlessly
sought him for the sole purpose of decapitaton.
THIS was four years before the seat of Gov
eminent was moved to Washington, and
limited to the extreme, indeed were the ac-
commodations in the Federal City for tourists,
even though they might happen to be of royal
Bourbon blood, as was the case with the duke,
and so he stopped at the Union Tavern, then
just completed, at Thirtieth and M streets
northwest. but which later destroyed by
fire in 1882. and replaced by the present build
ing in 1886.
This hotel was not far from AnaIostan Island,
where the lovers Of republican institutions
could always find cordial welcome from the
son of that noted American who wrote the
bill of rights and other historic documents
previously mentioned by the writer, and who
most likely assisted in providing funds with
which to carry the distinguished visitor on his
way, since while in this country he at times
was almost compelled to live on charity though
his fathers estate, valued at 500, 0O0, 900, wsW
soon afterward restored to him upon his return
to France.
II is indeed unfortunate that our lower-grade
Scnoot histories DO not deal more In the inti-
mate and human side Of such men as was this
worthy monarch. who. on August 9. 1880.
assembled the throne as Louis Philippe I, King
OF the French. and who served that country
with marked distinction until deposed by the
Revolution Of 1846.
Like many Of the lives of our own great men,
the character Of Louis Philippe might well be
taken as worthy of emulation. Born of a
father OF boundleSS wealth, who embraced the
infidel philosophy. he. however. had the good
fortune Of having a mother noted for her piety
and virtues and who secured for him as tutor
the celebrated Nine. de Genlis, whose teaching
II religiously followed today, especially In the
primary instruction Of our youths. would un-
questicnably produce results.
ZEN. MASON married Anna Maria Murray.
daughter Of Dr.. James Murray of Annap-
oils. Md, by whom he had a number of chill
dren Of whom James Murray Mason and John
Mason were the best known locally He also
had daughter. Maria. who married Gen. Sam.
uel Cooper. and whose daughter, Virginia Maria
Cooper. married Nicholas Dawson of Leesburg.