May, 1906 VER tewN FLOMES AND GARDENS 
Lafayette’s Bedroom 
corner. There is a fine old mez- 
zotint of the Duke of Welling- 
ton and another Morris mirror. 
Everywhere historic bits are to 
be seen, for in this mansion have 
been gathered the treasure of 
five distinguished households; 
the McNeil, Stark, Morris, 
Pierce and Wentworth families. 
Leading from the living-room 
is the dining-room. At one side 
is Gov. Pierce’s sideboard, filling 
a large space, while his eight-day 
clock ticks off the time as it stands 
in one corner. Gilbert Stuart’s 
portrait of Robert Morris hangs 
in a favorable light, and a rare and beautiful treasure 
it is. Under it is a framed letter to Mrs. Morris, 
bearing the date, 
1799, and signed by 
both George and 
Martha Washington. 
In this old house 
there is not a piece of 
furniture or a bit of 
silver and china that 
is not valuable 
through historic asso- 
ciations. 
Large fireplaces 
are to be found in 
every room. They 
are fitted with old 
brass and irons, fen- 
ders and accessories, 
all of unusual shapes, 
the hearths filled with 
birch logs and pine 
cones. 
Ascending the odd 
old staircase at the 
i 
vw 
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“~ 
There are several chambers, 
each one of which is of interest, 
one more particularly so than 
the others, from the fact that it 
was here that General Lafayette 
slept during his visit to Major 
Stark in 1824. All of the furni- 
ture in this room, including the 
high four-poster, is the same that 
did service at the time of the 
coming of the distinguished 
guest. It has been left un- 
eplace and Furniture Cc] 
changed and is held in sacred respect by the Stark 
family. Treasures are everywhere. Inside may be seen 
Molly Stark’s bonnet, 
old bureaus, dressing 
tables, lamps and 
curios too numerous to 
mention, while outside 
are others of equal in- 
terest. There is the 
silver-mounted saddle 
presented to President 
Pierce by his fellow 
citizens at the time of 
the Mexican War; the 
old two-wheel chaise in 
which Madam Stark 
took her annual pil- 
grimage to Ports- 
mouth, and many more 
of equal historical 
value. 
Is it not a house of 
abounding _ interest? 
Its walls and contents 
are veritable treasures 
end of the entrance py: = = - sae : a of interest in them- 
Bulb which winds by | EAB Powaie A selves and for their 
low treads to the sec- association with this 
ond story floor, one finds, lining the walls, ancestral portraits very house. No other Colonial mansion would more amply 
of inestimable value and of great public interest. repay those who are so fortunate as to visit it. 
