Show CARLYLE JL T T ta HOUSE boush 11 to be preserved V 1 0 ed the initiative of a few women of the old families of virginia the house in which george washington received the f invitation to become an aid to maj gen braddock in his hie famous campaign against the french has been saved from destruction this incident in career is of special interest for it was from the campaign which followed that washington gained his first insight into the military methods of european countries and of great britain in particular the house is the carlyle house in alexandria va it was braddicks braddocks Brad docko docks headquarters while he was in alexandria the carlyle house was built upon the site of an old colonial fort which guarded the interests of the king and his traders when the neighborhood was known as hunting creek creeke and V porch of the carlyle house when some security was necessary against the savages the living rooms of that old fort became the cellar of the mansion reared over them and in these compartments were stored dust clad bottles bulging casks and those luscious old hams and the like for which virginia was long famous the old fort still forms the plaza upon which the main hallway leads and it was there in day that the young people gathered in the summer evenings to chat and to watch the moon rise over the river while their elders met to discuss the questions of the day and to watch the trading craft that came from over the sea bea to barter the silks and satins gatins and riches of the east cast in trade for the famous oronogo Or in the blue and white room of the carlyle house to the left of the main li hallway allway washington was a sharer in the military councils of preparation for the braddock campaign and day after day braddocks braddicks Brad docks regard for him rose in april of 1755 gen braddock called together in alexandria the governors of massachusetts now new Y york ork Al maryland aryland pennsylvania pennsylva nia and virginia and together these distin V wished executives discussed the plans plane of the forthcoming expedition in this t little room across the broad main hallway Is IB the great drawing room which in 1 day was in gold and white and there it Is IB said the youth ful washington took an active part in rout and ball and led some fair virginian through the stately steps of the minuet the broad hallway is not without its sentimental interest be causo local tradition asserts that it was at the toot foot of the solid mahogany y stal staircase case that washington stood awaiting the coming of the fair sallie fairfax on oh the occasion of a ball and that the ballroom was where he proposed to the same ea me sallie and was wa rejected it Is believed that some day that portion of the deserted hotel which now stands between the carlyle house and the street may be removed so that the house layf may stand once more in plain sight eight of the passerby there Is little likelihood that the braddock house in its present condition will ever prove an inviting place for the tha wayfarer while I 1 Is a constant menace as a firetrap to the historic mansion shadowed within Us its quadrangular ran gular court am |