Show at at THE HOME OF WASHING ION j dw down n the just sixteen miles from washington is the old home of abw father of our country the house and barns the gardens and fields are almost armost the same as when they wre we looked after by washington himself only time has somewhat toned tue the surroundings surround inga and many of thein the in td resting old objects are gradually being worn away by the action of the eM elements ments one may go by railroad or beat baat and the ride down the river lit is a woot noat delightful one the storied hills of maryland and virginia are seen to the east and west rising gradually from the river and losing losia thenis themselves elves inthe gray uplands 1420 beyond the potomac is a grand stream and ever since captain john explored it in 1609 it has been of many historical events and famous did it become when dur the civil war the message was egton hed every ghighi night over the wires to all is quite on the po taah 13 we e reaching mt vernon the passes passe arlington I 1 the old did home holert to lert ert E lee and one of the most spots on earth soon the t ling of bells and the dipping of the i n w aronal pia colors announce mt vernon hw traveler steps on land it is with feelings of reve reverence rente and awe d tim e quietude of the surround t IC uie influence which per v ei the thoughts that one to is walk hig so over the iana same grounds and seeing ir the same scenes as our wash 1 0 all combine to make the occa L clan mog moat charming the house Is tri beautifully situated on a hill overlooking tee e river it is built of wood is two stories high but has anatole an attic with dormer windows on the roof is a cu poto and above an antique weather 1 which still turns with thi the soft breezes see from their the river r tn n front Is a U age ge piazza with columns sup supporting potting tap roof of the porch the house was waa bp H t in 1743 1748 by lawrence washington wa a half brother of george the nune mt vernan was given to the place in honor of admiral vernon vemon lawrence had served as a soldier washington inherited the hatate where here he came to live in 1759 au 1 was 4 here ere until called to the field to take pan in the great struggle for independence at his home both before apa and rafter after the wax war washington lived A and happy life the beautiful fa raful surroundings combined with the ever watchful training of his mother wont ewt to develop a nature matut e ot of sympathy and kindness of heart which even the humblest slave under him could not biala but feel he loved his home he respected all his hip workmen and he voett apt and prayed for all As one strolls through the rooms and haft and then wals walks on to the piazza aud aad sees bees the beauty stretching out in an endless vision before him the taran in all its calmness flowing on go flo tranquilly to the ocean the forests and the hills and ravines lii their summer garb he cannot but ask has haa he left the place forever in the quietude of the day when all the treet trees and the insects are beating to the pulse of nature when the sun eun Is pouting pouring his life giving rays into every nook and the sky smiles sweetly on all things one wonders if the spirit of him who loved the spot so well ever eve lofnes back and wanders over the paths d and through the fields the answer comes with force the spirits of the ep children hildren of god come to earth sometimes to direct and influence up u to something grander and nobler in life many interesting things can be seen in loitering through th the rooms in the main hall is 18 the key to the old prison of paris which was wag a source of so much terror to the people and which was destroyed by the mobs in 1789 the key is seven inches in length and was given in washington by bk lafayette f who wrote with the gift give me leave my deax dear general to present you with a picture of the bastille just as aa it looked a few days after I 1 ordered its demolition with the main key of the fortress of despotism it is a gift which I 1 owe as a son 0 fo o my adopted father as an aide de camp to my general as a missionary of liberty to its patriarch in the parlor is isa a genuine old harpsichord si which was imported from london and given by washington to nellie custis in the library are the books long since laid aside yet exhaling an influenced of inspiration to the beholder the books that washington read what a flood of thoughts and emotions come over one there in the glass case is the old family bible and kindred books and above are the shelves are his note bools books and papers As one looks at them they seem to be whispering the knowledge and wisdom of centuries ago into the ear of the listening present near the fire place Is the famous tribute paid to washington by dr reed it is washington the brave the wise the good washington supreme in wax war in council and in peace washington valiant without ambition discreet without fear confident without phout presumption WM washington ashington in dims disaster ter calm in success moderate in all himself washington ton I 1 the hero the patriot t the be fan the father of nations the friend of mankind who when he had won all sought in the bosom of his family and of nature retirement and in the hope of religion peace on the second floor overlooking the south lawn Is the dooin in which washington died the bed stands as it used to with its old fashioned curtains and on a chair near by is the bible which he had been reading on the day of his death As was the custom at that time the room was closed for three years after his death and mrs washington occupied the one just above in the attic which has a dormer window looking out to tle the peaceful tomb A beautiful story to Is told of her after the general had died she chose the room in order to watch over the last resting place of her loved one I 1 what a noble act I 1 dare say that she often looked from this window at night to the lonely and silent tomb and with the stars and the light of the moon kept vigil watch over it until the dark i ness had given way to the gray shades of the mornings in the last i room which overlooks the river are I 1 three chairs one belonged to benjamin franklin the other two to washington one of them having been brought over in the mayflower one could loiter for hours in this quaint old house and never tire the rooms the pictures on the walls the chairs and tables all are left as they were when vohen its owners walked and talked here but we must hurry on to the tomb I 1 just south of the house along a path which is gradually lost among the trees is the spot where washington lay until removed to the present tomb in 1837 it was this grave which lafayette visited in 1824 the new tomb is a few rods to the west among the trees it Is a simple structure of brick with two large iron gates above which on a marble slab Is inscribed within il tha i inclosure rest the remal re inal 11 of 0 general george washington washingto V above the door of the tomb areta aretha words of john the apostle a am aln tw the Res and the life he that believeth beli eveth in me though he were dea yet shall he live in the ante chant cham I 1 her ber are the two marble sarcophagus to which the remains of washington and his wife were put for their fit keeping after the tomb was locked the key was thrown into the Poto near by are monuments in honor of rf different members of the Washing tow family As one looks at 61 this conae crat crated d spot the words of irving comma come to him time to is ever silently turning over its pages we are too much engro engros seo with the stories of the present to think of the characters and anecdotes that give interest to the past and each age is a volume to be th rovia aside and to be speedily forgot forgotten the idol of today pushes the hero or 0 f yesterday out of recollection and witt in turn be supplanted by his successor of tomorrow there is a lesson to be learned froma trip to mt vernon many poor f worthy and honorable young men just entering the aie aena 0 of f t active life but axe are faint w weary arv and disappointed will remember the he humi 1 ble infancy and youth of our washington time has produced many sages and hei heroes roes but none have surpasses him in true worth the american boy learns the lesson of honesty perseverance and patience which malce men truly great and noble in the fairs of life mt vernon Is a sacred sacred acred 4 spa spot t and as one bids farewell to gitig e surroundings he feels as it if a wave f influence and power had overtaxed him to direct him to the good tb noble and the true LEVI LEV EDGAR younge YOUNG |