House and Garden 
WASHINGTON’S GIFT TO ALEXANDRIA 
HPHE notice in the “Sun” of the large 
-*■ amount which had been realized 
by Boston upon £ 1,000 given by Franklin 
to that city in 1798 has led to a com¬ 
parison of the work done there with the 
work done here by £1,000 left by Wash¬ 
ington to support a free school in Alex¬ 
andria. Franklin left £1,000 each to 
Philadelphia and Boston as a fund to 
assist young mechanics to enter busi¬ 
ness. 
Washington in 1785 invested £1,000 
Virginia currency to aid in the education 
of the sons of widows or other indigent 
persons in the town of Alexandria. 
Both funds have now been in operation 
for over a hundred years. According 
to the published statement, Franklin’s 
fund has realized $500,000 for the bene¬ 
fit of Boston. Washington’s fund has 
led to other investments and the con¬ 
tinuance of free schools in Alexandria for 
113 years, and as the result of it about 
10,000 children have been educated up 
to 1871, and since that time at least 
1,000 children per annum, increased at 
this date to about 1,800 children per 
annum, have had free tuition. One 
fund was put at one kind of interest, the 
other at another kind of interest. It 
would be a problem to determine which 
has been more effective. — Baltimore 
Sun. 
THE CURSED TOWER OF THE RHONE 
'’T'HE Cursed Tower is an architectural 
curiosity. It is almost as far out 
from the perpendicular as is the tower at 
Pisa, and is far more impressive, because 
it stands upon an isolated crag which 
drops below it sheer to the river in a 
vast precipice. Anciently, before it 
went wrong and its curse came upon it, 
the tower was the keep of the Benedic¬ 
tine nunnery of Soyons. Most un- 
gallantly, in the year 1569, the Hugue¬ 
nots captured the abbey by assault; 
and thereupon the abbess, Fouise d’ 
Amanze (poor frightened soul!), hurried¬ 
ly embraced the Reformed religion,*, in 
dread lest, without this concession to the 
rather decided opinions of the con¬ 
querors, still worse might come. Sever¬ 
al of her nuns followed her hastily 
heterodox example; but the mass of 
them stood stoutly by their faith, and 
ended by making off with it intact to 
Valence.—£ homas A. J anvier, in the 
Century. 
Cottage Extension Table 
(Suggestion) 
Our Specialty is Cottage Furniture 
(Simple in line and well built) 
Adapted to Shore and Country 
Houses. Can be furnished un¬ 
finished or stained to match interior 
decorations. 
A request will bring a package 
containing 200 distinctive patterns. 
Visitors are invited to inspect 
specimen pieces displayed in our 
ware rooms. 
WILLIAM LEAVENS 4 CO. BOSTON 
A NEW BUILDING METHOD 
organization, which directs, co-ordinates and 
controls every part of a building operation. 
It includes under a single contract the ser¬ 
vices of the architect, builder, decorator and 
furnisher, and places the responsibility for 
every detail of the work on a single firm. 
"The Way to Build" mailed on request. 
HOGGSON BROTHERS 
CONTRACTING DESIGNERS OF 
Residences, Banks, Clubs, Libraries 
7 EAST 44th STREET, NEW YORK 
The old colonial candlestick. 
A perfect re¬ 
production of 
one found in an 
Old New Eng¬ 
land home. 
r jpHIS beautiful ex¬ 
ample of colonial 
tfays must not be con¬ 
founded with the less 
expensive spun brass 
candlesticks; it is of 
cast brass throughout , 
stands 9§ inches high 
and is highly finished. 
$5.00 per pair. 
Carriage paid in U. S. 
C. B. Pfahl Co., Depf. G„ 190-196 W. Broadway, N. Y. C. 
AGENTS WANTED 
We want a bright active agent to represent HOUSE 
AND GARDEN permanently in every city and town in the 
United States. We have a special offer, covering both new 
subscriptions and renewals, by which a permanent and profitable 
business can be established with little work. Experience not 
necessary. Write for our Special Offer. 
Sub sen ption Department 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
1006 Arch Street Philadelphia 
In writing to advertisers please mention House and Garden. 
17 
