Evening star., 1934-02-18

during the years when it rested ct
rest Lowestoft hot-water plates, as well
as sadiron from Andrew Johnson's
tailor shop. The mantel Is decorated
with pewter pitchers, fat and saucy; .
candle box on the wall Is filed with
candles made 135 years ago.
The Lafayette room, small one on
the first floor, contains 1910 hand
painted chest of drawers. q single bed
and an intriguing tiny lacquer mirror,
as well as several of the uncomfortable
and stiff back chairs of the period. A
dashing portrait of the great French
general, done with quill, showing him
mounted on q charger, decorates the
wall. But Just glance out Of the win
dow at the amusing court yard! There
an eighteenth century coach defles wind,
rain and sun, its shafts resting discon-
solately on the nagstone ground, ap-
parently waiting for the hostler's sloth-
full boy to bring out the horses. This
court yard was restored by the Garden
Club Of Alexandria.
Outbuildings and boundaries of 0adsby's
In 1902, and it showed 10 buildings, In
cluding stables, rooms for postillions,
blacksmith shop, Kitchens, laundry, etc.
All of these have long since passed away,
and when the Garden Club began its
patriotic task Of cleaning the court yard
and restoring It to some of its original
appearance, the task looked hopeless.
However, by hard work and expendi-
ture Of several thousand dollars. they
succeeded In making an attractive and
historic spot Of it. The cobblestones
which pave the center are from the
streets Of Alexandria-streets laid by
Hessian prisoners at the close Of the
Revolutionary War. Bricks and paving
stones are from old sidewalks Of the
city, and the wall Of the rear was built
of brick from the chimneys Of "Abing-
d0n," one Of the old Alexandra places.
To the right Of the entrance han Is
. small room simply called ''the Pass
age" and though it has lovely paneled
fireplace and charming highboy, We
win hurry on because the next room Is
certainly a prize winner. 1t Is the tap
room, and folk who have never seen q
really, truly early American bar should
hurry down to Alexandria and see this
one. A restoration, pure and simple,
it is no part of the Niche collection.
But one Of Mr. Rockefeller's staff, en-
gagged in tearing down new Williams
burg and restoring" the old Colonial
city, was assigned to study out and re-
place the original bar at Gadsby's.
co, OVER to Alexandria he came and
made close examination of the still
extant flooring Of the tap room. Well
room, were the clapboards, where count
less tired and cold feet had supported
the thirsty and "the wayworn traveller"
of Gen. Washington's favorite song. At
q distance Of 2 feet were the we'll
trodden boards, where mine host and
his assistants walked about, mixing rum
punches. Thus the architect was able
to figure out exact measurements and
set the bar itself precisely where had
been the original one over which drinks
were handed to solid citizenry of that
day and age. Surmounting the bar
proper, or improper, as some dry en-
thusiasts would have you believe (there
were no foot rails), is a fencelike erec-
tion having small gate that hoists up
during business hours and closed tightly
against nght-fngered gentry when
its sleepy time down South. Tobacco
and pipes were free and one helped
oneself, unwary OF germs, guiltless Of