Evening star., 1937-07-18

Continued From Page ~
bolster, pillows, rug and blankets, ons
pair Of sheets and bedsteads.
A MONG the few original furnish
ings Of the house which have not
been lost or destroyed by fire is sew
ing table Of beautiful carved mahoe-
any, now in the possession of de-
scendant of the original occupants in
the city Of Washington. Some years
ago, too, on the estate, there was un-
earthed silver dessert spoon bearing
the Yates insignia. This prlzed piece
was carefully restored and is now IN
the possession Of member OF the
Barber family.
Theophilus Yates had but two chill
dren, Robert and Jane. When Robert
died, leaving no heir, his sister. Jane,
who married Francis Hawkins, inher-
tied the estate Of her father and be-
came mistress of Mount Republican.
Franklin WeemS. an epiCure and
sportsman famous in his day through
all OF Southern Maryland was long a
resident Of Mount Republican A ref
erence to this famous host would not
be complete without mentioning the
report-Which must undoubtedly be
greatly exaggerated-that he kept
poker game going continuously in
Mount Republican for 40 years. There
Is more substance to the story of his
famous fox-hunting parties and his
kennel Of more than hundred
hounds. The proud boast Of those who
now follow the hounds down in that
country is that their finest dogs came
from that strain which Weems made
famous at Mount Republican.
The countryside must have been
beautiful in those days. with its shady,
winding roads and its rich fields of
tobacco and grains, well cultivated bv
the many slaves of those prosperous
landholders. Carved with great dill
gence out of that wild and fertile
Tldewater country. some Of the estates
lay fairly close together. and the names
OF many of the landholders have come
OoHH W US III history.
THERE was neighboring West Hat
ton, which was the home of the
Revolutionary soldier Mai. Stoddert.
the nephew of Gen. SmallWood. Hard
Bargain, the architecture of which is
in many respects similar to Mount
Republican, was the home of Thomas
Harris, son of Col. Thomas Harris and
Ann Gwynn of Mount Tirzot. Charles
town was also nearby. on the Wicom-
leo, and became, in a later generation,
the home OF Congressman Daniel Jen-
lfer, the son of the illustrious Daniel
Jenifer Of St. Thomas.
In the vicinity of Port Tobacco.
several miles up the Potomac River.
were also number of illustrious
neighbors. These included the Stones
OF Habre de Venture. the Jenifers and
Hansons Of Mulberry Grove, DR.. Gus
tavus Brown Of Rose Hill and Gen,
Smallwood of Smallwoods Retreat.
On the eastern side Of the Wicomiro
River is BushWood, the historic Slve
mansion, which was once the home of
the Keys; the Basford Manor-now
known as Bachelors Hope-and Deep
Falls, which is associated with the
Thomas family.
On Sundays the churches were the
gathering places for these people. and
most OF them were prominent in the
organization of their parishes. There
were the christenings, the visits, the
merrymakings and the rather frequent
weddings which occurred between the
families. These people lived quietly,
though handsomely, according to our
present-day standards. Their social
life centered around their mansions.
and living was an art. The homes
which now survive reflect the culture
OF that age, and of these Mount Re-
publican is a worthy representative.