Evening star., 1938-08-28
BY John Clagen Proctor.

UGUST has certainly MAIN
n tanned its reputation this year
~ for torrid days, with the re-
"a "A suit that we have been forced
to extend the usual warm" reception
to our visiting friends, though we
would much rather not have done so
just in this way. But then, after all,
control the weather, though 1t does
prove very uncomfortable at times,
but where would you 90 to find IL
months of more agreeable weather?
However, the recent hot spell car
'ries us back to nearly century and
q quarter ago, to an occasion when
1t was we who received the warm re-
ception at the hands of the visitors"
when we should have made 1t very
hot for them.
This particular incident occurred
on August "a, 1914. when the British
invaded Washington after routing our
forces at Bladensburg, and burned the
Capitol and White House, and the fol-
lowing day other public buildings and
places. But here kind Providence put
an end to the unwelcome visit by
sending timely and violent thunder
storm, accompanied with high wind,
that fairly blew the enemy from our
fair city, and caused it to seek its
boats at Benedict, Nd, much sooner
than it Otherwise would have done.
A FEW days ago the writer travelled
over some of the road used by
the British in their march to and
from the Capital upon the sultry oc-
casion referred to. But the recent
trip was peaceful and an interesting
one and one that carried him through
Upper Marlboro (or Marlboro for
short, quaint place once upon q
time, though now 4 busy, hustling
town. But when Gen. Ross came this
way 1t was quite different. both as to
size and Importance, as we look upon
places today. 1t was a beautiful little
village at that time, and even one Of
Ross officers, G. r. Gleig, who came
with the invading army, later said nice
things about it in his "A Subaltern in
America"
TT was o'clock" he tells us, when
the neat houses and pretty gardens Of
Marlborough presented themselves TO
our view, and I know not whether
the scene would strike me now as 1t
struck me then were again to visit
1t, but at that moment I imagined
that had never looked upon land
scape more pleasing or more beau
tiful.
The gentle green hills which on
either hand inclosed the village, tufted
here and there with magnificent trees,
the village itself struggling and wide,
each cottage being far apart from its
neighbors and each ornamented with
flower beds and shrubberies; these,
with lovely stream that wound
through the valley. formed. As far as
my memory may be trusted, one Of
the most exquisite panorama on
which it had ever been my good for
tune to gaze.
Though no lover Of the American
character and nation then (whatever
may be the case now, could not
behold this peaceful scene without ex-
periencing sincere regret that 1t should
suffer PROCLAMATION from the presence
of hostile force. and I determined
that no exertion on my part should
do anything to hinder the orders al
ready issued against plunder and
rapine.
ITO say the truth, however, 1t was
an easy matter to keep our men with
In bounds Of tolerable subordination
and discipline. The attacks which
they from time to time made upon
farmyards and pig sites were. to q
certain degree at least. allowable
enough. 1t would have been unrea-
sonable to expect that hungry soldiers
IN an enemy's country would sit down
to digest their hunger, while flocks Of
poultry and herds Of swine were with
IN their reach. But not q single act
Of wanton mischief was perpetrated,
and when we marched out on the
following day we left Marlboro not,
perhaps. so rich in livestock, but
quite as picturesque and rural as when
we entered It,"
INDEED, in the early days of the
country Marlboro was one of the
foremost social centers of Maryland,
where balls for the elite OF the country
were frequently given, and theatrical
plays performed by leading actors
and actresses. 1t was also famous
for its horse racing, and is still noted
for its fairs. But most important of
its early activities was the Eversfield
School, where were taught by its distin-
suished founder, Greek and Latin.
Today, when 1t costs fortune to send
one to = university or, at least, what
would have been almost a fortune
q century ago, it is interesting to note
that at Eversneld, where a classical
edl,ration oouid be obtained, the an
nual tstnan including bed and board,
costs only $50.
Marlboro is 100 years older than
the District of Columbia, for the site
at least was settled about the year
1890 by company of Scotch Presby-
terian emigrants under the pastorste
of Rev. Nathaniel Taylor. This group
included about so families, who were
soon attacked with malaria, which
proved so injurious to health, and
was so fatal in many cases, that
the covenanters were compelled to
seek a more healthful site. and Bla-
densburg was chosen for their future
home. And though they were forced
to leave their homes at Marlboro