on many of the walls. Great skill is shown in the planning and 
planting of this place for although so small, one feels at once, 
the dignity and seclusion of it all. 
As we walked up the abrupt Box-lined brick path to Sevier Sevier House 
House from the road, we realized what Mrs. Sevier told us that 
when the lane between her home and Tudor Place had been 
changed to a paved road, the hill was pared down, while Sevier 
House was perched up. Our hostess stood at the door to give us 
her gracious welcome and told us pleasant stories of this historic 
house — how Lafayette had slept there and left his eye glasses, 
found between the leaves of a Bible — and how many officials used 
to leave Washington and come here when serious conference was 
necessary and then plough back to Washington in the mud, as 
Mrs. Sevier said, when things were settled. There was then no 
bridge over the river. 
The architecture is Georgian, built in 1805, red brick and 
three stories, narrow dormers in the roof lighting the upper 
story. It was square when first built but now has wings on each 
side, built by the Seviers who were not the original owners. The 
doorway is interesting in detail and the mantels and fire places 
as well. The hall runs through the house with rooms on either 
side, in which are fine examples of old furniture, mirrors, 
Franklin stoves, etc. Opposite the doorway, on entering, one 
catches sight of the garden and the splendid Boxwoods which 
outline and accent it. It has been undipped for many years 
though not up-to-date, as our modern gardeners consider. The 
Garden has the good form and proportions of most of these 
ancient gardens and reflects the personality of its owner which 
we sometimes miss in our professionally made modern gardens. 
In this evolution we have gained expert knowledge which has 
developed the standard of gardening in the United States but I 
suspect we have lost this other subtle thing, personality, which 
impressed us as we talked with Mrs. Sevier and enjoyed her 
garden. 
"Tudor Place" is described in our program as a "fine Tudor Place 
example of Tudor Architecture with Colonial features." It 
stands high on a hill overlooking the river. The house is spacious 
with doors and interior finish of rare ' ' white mahogany. ' ' There 
is a beautifully proportioned stairway, and at the end of the hall, 
a wide glass door which leads to a terrace on the river side. 
' ' Halcyon House, ' ' built in 1785 — the east and west ' ' courts ' ' Halcyon 
or wings were added fifty years later — is of mellow rosy-red House 
brick with white wood work much of which has not been 
replaced, like the portico over the one-time main door. Origin- 
ally one entered from 34th Street, along the gravel paths of the 
second terrace, and the grounds swept down to the river. Much 
old Box remains on the three present terraces, fine trees and 
7 
