Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-01

not for the orderly beauty which is
hostile to her spirit but which man
persists in imposing upon her. 1t long
has been an occasional resort for ma
ture lovers of this sort. Curiously
enough, considering the purpose to
which it now is proposed to devote
the tract, it was here that the first
study of animals and birds and flowers
OF this locality was made. in the days
when the island was a gentlemans
Finds Curious Book.
1t was by this same David Baillie
Warden, who went to dances on the
lawns accompanied by the forgotten
Mrs. Curtis" A few years ago DR..
Charles w. Richmond, curator of birds
of the Smithsonian Institution, hap
pened to find curious book while
browsing in a Paris bookstall, "A
Geographical and Statistical Descrip-
ton of the District Of Columbia" He
purchased it and placed it In the Ma
mains with its idyllic picture of Ana
lostan Island just before the burning
of Washington By the British. Pre-
Sumably this is the only copy in ex-
iStence
Warden went there to visit Gen.
Mason, then the occupant of the man
Sion," in the Springtime, when the
white horehoundS, yellow jasmines,
Judas trees and wild cherries were in
blossom. He crossed over from George
town on "a fiat boat of rude construc-
ton. awkwardiy impelled by an oar.
which affords safe conveyance from the
mainland 200 yards away" The right
to operate this boat, he records, was
rented by Gen. Mason for $500 a year
Before the erection of the Potomac
Bridge it yielded nearly double" There
was a causeway to the Virginia shore.
Then Analostan Island was the prin-
cipal route across the river into Vir-
GINA.
Impressed by Gardens.
He was impressed by the gardens.
the sides of which are washed by the
river. ornamented with a variety of
trees and SHRUBS. and in the midst a
lawn covered with beautiful verdure."
All over the estate were fragrant haw-
thorne and cedar hedges. The slaves
were anxious for the roots of orange
lowered ascelpias, called pleurisy roots.
which they use to cure all diseases Gen
Mason was experimenting with a field
of cotton, watch crop he hoped to in
troduce this fa- north
He jotted down some curious notes,
providing the first catalogue of Wash
ington birds and animals. Some are
worth quoting:
This island is the resort of various
reptiles. We found the nest of the ter
rapin. or conCentric tortoise, or fresh
water turtle, in the garden at a distance
of about 30 feet from the water, con-
tanning l9 eggs laid close to each
other, and the interStices filed with
earth. saw another nest from which
the turtle was taken at the moment
when she had placed herself in an
erect position TO deposit the eggs. which
she always performs during the day
and, 1t is said. never returns to the
spot. The young are Matched by the
heat OF the sun and are supposed to
remain IN the next until the next Spring
The terrapln Is very shy and ceases TO
walk as soon as il sees a person ap-
preaching near TO it. When endeavor-
ing TO escape II runs nearly as fast as
duck.
Attacked BY TrutIe.
The swapping turtle is also seen in
the waters of this river some of which
weigh from 30 to SO pounds and
lay from 40 to so eggs. Gen. Mason
some years ago caught one of a huge
size, which he threw into his canoe and
it attacked him so furiously therein
that he was obliged TO leap into the
water. The reptile followed and thus
made its escape
Two species of fresh water tortoise
inhabit the island, the painted tortoise
and the Streaked tortoise. The head
of the painted turtle manifssts Symp-
toms OF life two hours after decapita-
ton.
The muskrat inhahits the banks
of this island. 1t is killed by the
blacks IN q curious manner. A square
board, bearing considerable weight of
stones or mud. is placed in an inclined
position and Is supported BY three sticks
IN a peculiar manner. P&SSninS are nut