Evening star., 1935-02-24
By John Clagett Proctor.

"HEY certainly did know how
to build houses in ye older
L for durability: not only to last
for lifetime, but to endure
for generations to come. Indeed,
structurally, there seems to be no
comparison between a gentleman
home of century or two ago ana
those being erected today; and, SO
far as beauty and comfort are con-
cerned. the present type of home, at
least to the writer's way of thinking,
falls short in many respects OF the
better class of habitations of bygone
days.
OF course, the designers of many
Of our best homes have fallen back
upon the so-called Colonial American
architecture for their plans, but even
here they have omitted, to any con-
siderable extent, the spacious rooms,
the high ceilings, the thick walls and
other details once regarded as indis-
pensable features of a well-constructed
mansion such as the old Maryland
and Virginia planters erected on their
plantations, in which to rear their
families and to entertain their dis
tinguished friends.
Modern conveniences are nice things
to have about the place and few
would care to give them up and revert
to conditions of 100 years ago, but
where is he who would not like to
have big. open fireplace and kitch-
en- at least big enough for three people
to turn around in at the same time?
OF course, in some of the big cities,
especially in the Eastern United
States, wood for heating purposes is
almost unprocurable. and even if OBJ
tainable, would be practically prohibl-
tive from cost standpoint. But that
was not the case when many of us
were youngsters, before the nearby
farms were depleted Of most of their
standing wood
7 UNDOUBTEDLY thousands of peo-
pie never visited an old mansion,
and an equal number has not the
slightest conception of just how beau
tiful and grand these buildings must
have been at time when their owners
were rolling in wealth, had an abun-
dance of servants, and had almost
everything that the heart could wish
for.
Many Of these homes were furnished
from the most noted art centers of
Europe. Some few still retain their
original exquisite furnishings, while
ix, L.
ing with the period for which they
are noted, but even the bare walls of
an old mansion have an attraction for
those who dream Of the glories OF yes
teryear as we'll as think Of the things
of today and of what may happen to-
morrow-of which we know so little.
The writer has visited many an
old home in his time and has always
found something different in each
one, and something. of course. to ad-
mire in all. Some have even sounded
with the revelry of English royalty,
before the days of the American
Revolution, when powdered wigs. knee
breeches and buckled shoes were in
vogue. These old mansions are, most
naturally, of special interest, but even
the near Colonial homes have their
charm and fascination for the
antiquarian, whose mind fits in with
the past.
Recently the writer received very
nice letter from an equally nice lady,
who was born and reared in the North
ern Neck of Virginia, but who now
lives at Riverdale, Md. not far to the
northeast of Washington. OF course,
she spoke feelingly of her native State,
but was profuse in praise of the place
in which she now resides.
This lady was Mrs. T. w. Vene-
mann. and she asked the writer to
visit the old Calvert mansion, which
once bore the name Riversdale, from
which the town Riverdale gets its
name, the letter IS" being dropped
from the word.
Things do not always work out just
as one would like to have them, for
hardly had the letter been received
and the trip to this little suburb
planned, when the recent heavy snow
storm set in, and automobile riding
was at disadvantage. But neverthe-
less, having in mind what some one
has said, Where duty calls. it's ours
to obey" the writer decided to make
the trip, snow or no snow.
At Riverdale Mrs. Venemann was
met and made up the party of two,
and soon We were being shown
through this stately old mansion
erected. well. no one seems to know
just when, yet a conservative date
would be about 1900. For, about this