Show T X V 0 vu am YA TV 1 1 Z M OMEN IK have done much at alexandria va to preserve the relics of the days of george washington it is not the capital of the nation despite its ite name that Is richest in intimate a B s a a 0 c I 1 a lions with the life of the first president but alexandria which stands midway between mount vernon and the city of washington 7 alexandria played no small part in the formative years of youth and early manhood A representative senta tive virginia town it stood then and tor for 9 generations later for all that was best of colonial standards its people had much to do with the molding of character and washington richly repaid alexandria or bello belle haven as asit it was first called by his never falling failing concern for its welfare and advancement probably no surviving structure in alexandria harbored washington within its hospitable walls more frea lauy than tho the old carlyle house and certainly none was more directly associated with the foundation of the military side of its his life strange as it may seem for many years this historical landmark has been hidden away behind the battered front of alexan once noted hotel the braddock addock Dr house occupying one corner of the in ner courtyard shut away from the public gaze and denied the outlook of the broad approach which it once enjoyed in the days of its ite well nigh baronial importance until a few years ago the carlyle house was largely used as a storage place by a local dealer in colonial antiques but a few patriotic virginia women saved the building from further indignity though not entirely from danger as the old furniture found a new abiding place within the still more inflammable braddock addock Dr house adjo adjoining lhing in 1732 john S carlyle imported from the isle of wight tho the stone of which the house Is built and he absorbed for part of the foundation a portion of an anold old fort which had been built many years yeara before for tho protection tion of the english traders at hunting creek as aa tho the place was then known against the Ind indians lans the barracks ot at that ancient defense became the cellar of at the carlyle house and in those cool dark dry retreats were stored in day the bulging casks caska cob webbed bottles and delicious old hams for which virginia has long been noted another part of the old fort forms the plaza at the rear of the house upon which the broad central hallway opens it was upon this plaza in the tar far away days that the carlyles and their guests gathered on summer evenings to discuss the questions of the time or to pass paris the hours chatting over a hearte ome glass amid the soothing smoke of the fragrant orono ko it was there the young people watched the moon rise over the elvei and took their pleasures in the dectis decoi ous dug manner of those days then the gardens ran down to the rivers bank and overlooked the docks itt it which the trading craft were m ob red trading craft tha that came from overl over the seas to barter the silks and riches of tire east cast and the tropic abundance of the west indies in return for the famous tobacco with which alexandrian Alex andrias one big warehouse was waa filled that was a period of bounteous hospitality and courtly grace on the right of the broad hallway la Is the largo large drawing room in day it was waa finished in gold and white and there on many occasions he took an active part in ball and fell festivity and led many a fair virginian VIT gInIan through the stately stops steps of the minuet and the less exacting reel the hallway itself if tradition be borrest cor rest to la not without its sentimental interest for it was lit at the foot of the beautiful staircase of solid mahogany that waa washington lington awaited the coming of the lovely sally fairfax upon a particular eyell evening ng and while escorting her into the ballroom offered her his big heart which she rejected on the opposite side elde of this same hall Is tile the blue and white room which was john carlyles Carly los particular retreat within that room washington received ills his commission as a member of general eral braddicks braddocks Brad Bradi docks locks staff in 1755 what that meant to washington we can only partly divine but there Is no doubt of its significance to us as a nation because of what it taught him of the fighting ways of the british soldier from the broad portico of mount vernon washington saw braddock addock Dr ar ri alva IV ats with his transports and hla his regiments of red coated soldiery and pass onward to alexandria nine miles above coming with the splendid traill traditions of the tha kings troops troon and with all the martial fanfare of regulars As a leader of the local provincial troops washington had won for himself a creditable renown but here were soldiers supposedly of sterner stuff and higher military capabilities general braddock addock Dr promptly accepted the hospitable invitation of john carlyle and established hla his headquarters under the root roof of 0 that gracious host the little blue and white room becoming the council chamber in which were planned the preparations tor for that memorable but ill fated campaign against the indians previous experience per peri lence ence as aa a leader of local troops against the savages made him welcome at those conferences and his hie keen judgment and practical advice earned tor for him braddocks braddicks Brad docks admiration and the invitation to serve upon the british generals staff it t Is enough to add that in the trying wo work rk that followed the british records testify that the virginia officers and troops behaved like men and died like soldiers and washington came out of the strife unscathed and riper for the far more serious task that lay ahead of him the architectural ural student will find much to interest him and to warrant study in the carlyle house the old windows the jhb doorways the primitive cupboards clipboards chair boards doorsteps cor car nices molding etc are exquisite in taste and rich tn in quaintness and elegance of detail there they are as they wore were in time and in common with the rest of the mansion are regarded as among the best beat specimens of the so called colonial style stile in february 1752 1762 a market was in in alexandria and the citizens were justly proud of their ente enterprise apprise the market place then lay directly in front of the approach to the carlyle house and that same mart of country produce was intimately identified with domestic life at mount vernon and was one other means of displaying ills hla common sense we of today know but little of the hardships hardship A that colonial period and feasting was not always as abundant as tile the story atory book would have it rev mr air weems that chatty chronicler of the times tells us that alexandria then boasted more rightly of its beauty than its means of charming the palate the neighborhood of bello belle haven was not a desert on the contrary it was in many places a gard garden en spot abounding with luxuries but its inhabitants the wealthy were not wise by the successful culture of at tobacco they harmoney had money and having filled their coach houses with gilt carriages and their dining rooms with gilt glasses they began to look down upon the poorer sort and to talk about families of course it would never do for such great people to run market carts cartel 1 hence the poor bello belle Ha though em bosomed in plenty were often in danger of gnawing their nails and unless they could cater a lamb from some solve good natured cracker or a leash of chickens from the sunday negroes were obliged to sit down with long faces to a halt graced dinner of salt meat ineat and journey cake this was the order of the day A D 59 when washington just married to the wealthy young widow custis had settled at mount vernon nine miles below bello bella clarn haven the unpleasant situation of the families at that place soon reached hla his ears to a man mail of ills his character with too much spirit to follow a bad example when he be had the power to set a good one and too much wit to took look for happiness anywhere but in his own could not long be questionable what part lie he had to act A market cart was instantly constructed ted and regularly three times a week eek sent oft off to belle haven tilled filled 1 with nice ro asters kidney co covered vered lamb and veal green geese fat at ducks and gobblers chickens by the basket fresh butter new laid eggs vegetables and fruits of all sorts country gentlemen dining with their friends in town very soon remarked the welcome change in diet bless us all exclaimed they the meaning of this you invited us to family fare and here you have given us ua a lord mayors feast Ys yes replied the others thank god tor for sending a colonel washington into our neighborhood |