August, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



319 



Glimpses of Old Annapolis 



By Esther Singleton 



OWNS that spring from the earth as the 

 fabled Minerva from the head of Jove, 

 full grown and vigorous, and exhibiting 

 all the latest inventions of the nineteenth 

 and twentieth centuries, are more frequently 

 to be met with in this country than towns 

 that are surrounded with an atmosphere of 

 the past. Although many cities and towns on the Atlantic 

 seaboard still contain old landmarks of great interest, the 

 visitor, as a rule, has to search — sometimes in out-of-the-way 

 streets — for Colonial buildings; and these are not infre- 

 quently in such a dilapidated condition that it is very difficult 

 to picture the life of elegance that the old walls and halls 

 have witnessed. 



There is no town more thoroughly helpful and delightful 

 to the student of Colonial history and architecture than 

 Annapolis; not only because it contains so many fine speci- 

 mens of eighteenth century work, but because it is both 

 prosperous and unspoiled. The waves of modern life have 

 scarcely touched it, and its citizens would consider the re- 

 moval of even a paving-stone a frightful desecration. They 

 are proud of their quiet little city, and. appreciate its nameless 

 charm. Perhaps this may be attributed to the substantial 

 old houses, low and wide, with white facings and doors, 

 and columned porticos wreathed and framed with creepers, 

 which, with the gardens of blooming flowers and shrubs 

 and thick green hedges, in which they stand, speak of another 

 period — one in which abundant leisure and abundant means 

 naturally resulted in abundant hospitality. The very names 

 of the streets, too — Calvert Street, King George Street, 



I — Dining-room, Chase House 



Prince George Street and the Duke of Gloucester Street — 

 carry one back into the age of stage coaches, sedan chairs, 

 powdered wigs, hoops and brocade petticoats and minuets. 



Annapolis, named in honor of Ann Arundel, Lady Balti- 

 more, in 1695, so beautifully situated on the glittering waters 

 of the Chesapeake Bay, or, to speak more definitely, on its 

 arm, the Severn River, ranked in Colonial days with New 

 York, Boston, Charleston, Philadelphia and Williamsburg. 



The splendid harbor, the fertile country and the quality of 

 the settlers and planters in the vicinity, had much to do with 

 making the town one of importance; and apart from its 

 commercial and social attractions, the climate was, as it still 

 is, delightful and health-giving. 



In 178 1, the Abbe Rodin, who traveled extensively in the 

 northern and southern colonies, wrote : 



"There appears to be more wealth and luxury in Annapo- 

 lis than any other city which I have visited in this country. 

 The extravagance of the women here surpasses that of our 

 own provinces; a French hairdresser is a man of great impor- 

 tance ; one lady here pays to her coiffeur a salary of a thou- 

 sand crowns. This little city, which is at the mouth of the 

 Severn River, contains several handsome edifices. The 

 State House is the finest in the country; its front is orna- 

 mented with columns and the building surmounted by a 

 dome. There is also a theater here. Annapolis is a place 

 of considerable shipping. The climate is the most delightful 

 in the world." 



In 1795-97 another French traveler noted that 

 "The English fashions are as faithfully copied as the 

 sending of merchandise from England, and the tradition of 



tailors and mantua-makers 

 will admit of. The distri- 

 bution of the apartments in 

 their houses is like that of 

 England, the furniture is 

 English, the carriages are 

 English, or in the English 

 taste; and it is no small 

 merit among the fashion- 

 able world to have a coach 

 newly arrived from London 

 and of the newest fashion." 

 Eddis, who held office un- 

 der the Crown in the mid- 

 dle of the eighteenth cen- 

 tury, wrote of Annapolis : 



"Several of the most opu- 

 lent families have here 

 established their residence: 

 and hospitality is the char- 

 acteristic of the inhabitants. 

 Party prejudices have little 

 influence on social inter- 

 course. . . . The quick 

 importation of fashions 

 from the mother country 

 is really astonishing. I am 

 almost inclined to believe 

 that a new fashion is 

 adopted earlier by the 

 polished and affluent Ameri- 

 can than by many opulent 



