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9 September 1901 — Dolobran, Haverford, Pennsylvania | |
Monday. 9th [September 1901]. Mr Griscom left for N. York after having promised to arrange to get a private car one day this week to send us to see Niagara, Montreal & Quebec. In the course of the morng to say he secured one for next Friday 13th. Mrs Griscom went in to town (Phila) by train & left word that Nellie & I might drive in & take Aubrey Hollingworth with us. “Augustus” the coachman drove us himself in the Victoria and we had a beautiful drive through the Great Park & went straight to the Gérard college built to hold 1200 orphans. The money for it was left by a Frenchman called Gérard for that purpose– The old man is buried in the entrance to the great library which is of white marble in the form of a Greek temple. A statue of him is in front of the sarcophagus. In one of the library is a space railed off in which are preserved all his household furniture, his plate, china & the bed on which he died. The furniture is rather common with the exception of some Chippendale chairs– The different schools are in detached buildings. We were directed to No 8 which consists of a vast dining room. The meal was being prepared by woman—all was scrupuluously clean & neat as also the kitchen into which we were taken. We returned to the Lodge thro’ wh we had entered & where we had had to write our names– The old man who was the porter sat in his rocking chair & only slightly lifted his cap & never offered to open the door for us. We got into the carriage again & drove on into the town past the principal buildings. The law courts are fine buildings but are entirely dwarfed by the 14 story houses which have risen up quite close to it & are like towers of Babel. One has to crane ones neck to be able to look up to their roofs from the comparatively narrow streets– We drove to Independence Hall—a charming old English red brick building which used to be the Governor’s House & where Penn signed the declaration of independence. It is entirely panelled with wood & has a good old fashioned stair case & the architecture both inside & out are admirable. It is now used as a show & round the walls are hung pictures of patriots besides wh there are indifferent portraits of our 3 Kings George. The rooms are lofty & all opening into each other. The great bell—now cracked—which rang to proclaim the Independence is still in this house. Altogether this house is the most interesting thing we have been over here in America. Outside the house has a centre building & a lower wing on either side connects it with 2 higher square buildings. Behind the whole is the garden now a public square. From here we drove to the Griscom house which is a small house quite detached in the Broad St. We found that Mrs Griscom had returned to Dolobran by 12.50 train so we determined to drive back as to our surprise Augustus said that his horses required no rest. We got to Dolobran in time for lunch. Mrs Miller & her 2 daughters were at lunch– One married & both very fair & very handsome. I went for a stroll in the evening before dinner with Nellie. Mr & Mrs Williams dined at Dolobran. Mrs W. is sister to Mrs Griscom & still a handsome buxom woman with pretty red hair. | |
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