Historic Gardens of Virginia 



hall that we feci we are In a house planned by an artist as a 

 dwelling for people of taste and distinction. 



The splendid winding stair ascends to the hallway above, ter- 

 minating In a gallery the shape of an artist's palette. The banis- 

 ters of the stairway are of rich mahogany, while on Its base board 

 is carved a festoon of magnolia buds and blossoms. An ornate 

 chandelier of bronze suspended in the center of the spiral stairway 

 has gas jets of exquisitely wrought design on each landing, so ar- 

 ranged as to light both upper and lower halls, replacing the original 

 chandelier of prisms and candles. Square and gracefully-arched 

 doorways lead from the hall Into the spacious rooms on the first 

 floor, and the doors are of solid mahogany with silver knobs and 

 hinges. One of these Is of a very unusual curved design. The rooms 

 are of beautiful proportion, giving a sense of statellness and ele- 

 gance, and contain now many handsome carved mantels of Floren- 

 tine marble, which take the place of the originals of carved wood. 



First, one enters a small library, thence into a large drawing- 

 room, through the center music-room into a spacious and imposing 

 dining-room. Running along these three rooms, the outer wall of 

 which makes a sweeping curve at the back of the house. Is a beau- 

 tiful pillared veranda, which opens out onto the old garden. 



It Is, Indeed, an unique surprise when visiting this treasure house 

 of objet d' art and relics of ancient days, to step from the drawang- 

 room onto the portico and find oneself In the midst of a garden. 

 It is true, the small strip of ground on the street front of the 

 house boasting of old evergreens, yews, euonymus, yuccas, on 

 each side of the porch, would suggest plant lovers here as well as 

 builders; nevertheless, one experiences a thrilling surprise on de- 

 scending the steps at the back into the terraced garden of a century 

 ago, which originally occupied a city block. An archway in the 

 wall enclosing the flower garden led Into a paved court where were 

 the outbuildings, thence into the fruit and vegetable garden. 

 Splendid hollys, elms and other trees can still be seen beyond the 

 wall. It is a pity Its confines have ever been restricted an inch. 



[82] 



