Page 192 [192]
ec zizéétő ———— op
Kt B. BEER TAMES
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Tuckahoe only reinforced the impression . . . that Virginia writers,
through ignorance, probably, have greatly exaggerated the social
splendors of the ‘Old Dominion.’ ”’
- And yet, William Ellery Channing, who was a tutor at Lucka¬
hoe for two years, speaks with pride of the Virginians: “I blush
for my own people,” he says, ‘“‘when I compare the selfish prudence
of.a Yankee with the generous confidence of a Virginian. ... [here
is one single trait which attaches me to the people I live with more
than all the virtues of New England. They love money less than
we do. Their patriotism is not tied to their purse strings.”
An interesting feature of Tuckahoe is found in the three-foot
brick walk, which encircles the house and leads to the outside
kitchen, over one hundred feet away, and still in use. The archi¬
tecture of the house permits courtyards upon the east and west
fronts, and, upon either side of these, clumps of boxwood grow as
they did years ago, though unrelated as to family and newer as
to age. Over the west entrance a gnarled catalpa leans to uphold
a crimson rose vine, which makes it look "all rose-tree. " Honey¬
suckle is banked against the brick foundation on the north side;
lilies—Hemerocallis fulva—against the south. And to this wing,
climbing vigorously to the second-floor windows, cling multiflora,
microphylla and pink rambler roses. Nestling against the south
steps, an old, red rambler reaches up to the paneled ceiling, which
marks this portico as one of the most interesting in the country.
The present kitchen was, in plantation days, the Master's ofhce,
the original kitchen being the small brick building in the rear; and
this still has its swinging crane and old Dutch oven. [he quarters
are still at Tuckahoe, and in excellent preservation. [he smoke¬
house and toolhouse remain as they were, but the icehouse and the
weaving-room have gone.
Flanking the office upon the east is the inconspicuous little
building where Thomas Jefferson went to school. Peter Jefterson,
father of the second president, in compliance with the dying request
of Colonel Randolph, his wife’s kinsman, moved to Tuckahoe in
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