Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1931-04-10

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington. d. CT
(WNU Service.)
rHE setting aside of three areas
in Virginia as the Colonial Ma
tional monument, by proclama-
ton of President Hoover, creates
what might be termed a Junior ma
tional park" that is a shrine of Amer
lean history. Included in the monu-
ment is the southern half Of James
town island, where the first Virginia
settlement was made; portion of the
town of Williamsburg; and the east
ern half of Yorktown, with the sur
rounding battlefield area.
But there are many other shrines in
this region in which so many of the
leaders of the Republic lived. AS one
wanders up the James river Journeys
up the Rappahannock, follows the Vir-
ginia shore of the Potomac, or motors
along the eastern foothills of the Blue
Ridge, he discovers hundreds of fine
old estates that have played a part
in the drama of America.
What a galaxy of gems of residen-
tial architecture greet us as we ram
BILE around the Commonwealth!
Mount Vernon, the home of homes
In American history, has been de-
scribed and pictured innumerable
times. Monticello, second only to
Mount Vernon in its sacredness as
shrine, unrivaled in its perfection of
line, angle, and curve, unsurpassed in
the magnifieence Of its situation, has
also been described by many pens. Ar
lington, with its memories of Robert
e. Lee and its Valhalla OF soldier dead
round amout, is third Virginia es-
tate we'll known to all readers.
But Westover-what fairer spot is
there than this fine old home, with its
memories of the second William Byrd
and his fair daughter Evelyn? The
emerald clasp of the golden necklace
Of the James, it has been called. AS
one sits on that glorious lawn, with
its magnificent trees, two centuries
old, history recreates itself.
Courtly cavaliers in brilliant coats,
flowing ruffles, satin knee breeches,
and with silver shoe buckles, jeweled
swords, and golden snuff boxes, gather
there and pay court to lovely ladies
with powdered hair, patches, fans, and
dresses of Powered brocade, who come
and go as in the days when William
Byrd II was known as the Black Swan
and Evelyn's beauty was the toast of
two continents. We see again William
Byrd III. in his scarlet regimentals,
French and Indian war, or in his lord
~ coach-and-six with liveried outrid-
ers, going with his ladies to visit their
neighbors at Shirley and Brandon and
other seats of the "River Barons"
The fine old mansion, chaste and
beautiful in its design, mellowed to
old rose in hue, lovingly restored by
its present owners, stands in as rich
a glory as in any period of its history.
in the midst Of its magnificent river
bordered, yew-and-elm-studded lawn.
Shirley and Brandon.
Shirley is its neighbor up the river,
Brandon down the stream. Who that
has visited Shirley could ever forget
this fine old three-storied, dormer-win-
dowed, square-built mansion? For
nearly two centuries it has sheltered
hundreds who have played distin--
guished roles in the drama of Ameri-
can history Here came, to wed the
lovely Elizabeth Hill, John Carter, son
Of 'GEling" Carter of Corotoman who
owned a quarter Of a million acres of
Virginia's choicest land and built a
dozen baronial seats for his many sons
and daughters; and here also came
Light Horse Harry Lee to WOO and
win the fair Anne Hill Carter
Brandon, seat Of the Virginia Har-
risons-who can describe its simple
beauty, with its two wings, its central
structure connecting them. and its de-
lightful garden, as 1t has been re
stored by its present owner?
A list of the flowers that grace the
river garden of Brandon would consti-
tute a catalogue of all that are beau
tiful and capable of thriving in the
kindly soil and genial climate of the
James. They have been brought to-
gether in a way that combines the