Stranica 338 [338]
THE MAURY GARDENS IN
FREDERICKSBURG
AAS ATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY! The name
scintillates in the realm of science in both hemis¬
pheres. During several periods of his life this
great man was a citizen of Fredericksburg. lwo
of the houses closely associated with him are still
here. Perhaps the old frame dwelling on Char¬
lotte Street, so sadly in need of fresh paint—with the blacksmith
shop and the woodyard in juxtaposition—would never attract the
attention of the casual passer-by. But if he were keenly alive and
discerning, and appreciative of the historic lore of the old town,
a certain imperceptible and compelling influence would detain his
lingering footsteps. He would pause to read the inscription on a
bronze tablet which surmounts the granite block on the pavement
in front of this house:
Noe 2 a |
Home of Matthew Fontaine Maury
1836-1842
Pathfinder of the Seas
Projector of the Atlantic Cable
Founder of the National Observatory
Father of Meteorological Science
Commander C. S. N.
He would note that the grounds on the east still bear traces
of former loveliness. Here is still the broad brick paving, and
the riotous tangle of the honeysuckle, with undisputed right of way,
usurps the choicest place, in what were once the formal flower
borders. Oblongs, ovals, and circles have lost their symmetry, and
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