Show MOUNT VERNON A Visit to the Tomb of the Father of His Country How it Is Preserved to Posterity The Key of the Basilic Presented by Lafayette A friend having invited me to accompany him to Mt Vernon I availed myself of the opportunity to spand a day the memory of which comes to mo as I write sweet with the fragrance of southern scenes and bright with the radiance of a character both simple sim-ple and sublime I was in Baltimore Maryland when the invitation was extended ex-tended so taking the early express on the Baltimore and Ohio line wo made the journey to Washington in fortytivo minutes min-utes as this line is noted for itsspeed as well as elegance and then taking the Seventhstreet cars of tho Washington and Georgetown railway were in due time pleasantly embarked on board the river steamer and speeding along in sight of the lovely scenery of the Potomac A band of stringed instruments regaled us with the wellknown airs of a bygono period which seemed to be more suitable to the rural and nautical surroundings than music mu-sic less reminiscent of early times though the latter might have bedn more subtle in its Harmonious blendings As we glide along in the morning breeze wo perceive the arsenal grounds tho immense guns successors to those of more primitive make whoso powerful boom brought success to the Revolution and we honor those early patriots who under Washingtons mighty leadership GAVE OUR COUNTBT ITS FREEDOM and founded its present prosperity We also look with melancholy pleasure upon the strong towers of the government asy lum for tho insane Great talent it is written is akin to madness and I congratulated con-gratulated my friend who is talented at still being found outside those massive I walls We touch at Alexandria a small village of rural residences and exchange passengers for pleasurenot prisoners of war as might have been done inan earlier day Wo are enjoying the peace for which our patriots fought anu we appreciate it I We also have some reflections when we stop a few minutes at Fort Foote note in civil war times and soon after at Fort I Washington But hero we are at the sacred shrine the Washington vault in which rests in a marble farcophugus tho earthly remains of the noble father of his country Close tot i to-t lie the ashes of Martha Washington like a queen beside her consort and king Uncrowned Un-crowned it may be was this noble pair but none the less a king and quean roya l in their inherent greatness of soul and spontaneous surrender of diadem and scepter to inaugurate the principles of Republican liberty THE MOUNT VERXOH MANSION where the general dwelt was not built by him except two wingo which he added to the original structure or it would perhaps per-haps have been a more solid and characteristic od charac-teristic edifice It is composed of wood merely cut in imitation of stone and does not comport except in size with the substantial sub-stantial character of the statesman who founded this republic oe In the grounds which are spacious w e < saw the buildings occupied by his rotmu e of servants which in thoso days were ee of couree mostly colored slaves and whos < quarters were according to custom apart rom the residence They consist of a servants hall butlers cottage gardener lodge kitchen laundry smoke house etc each marked by the southern peculiarities peculiari-ties of Washingtons time The garden and lawn which were laid out under his supervision contain some trees planted by his own hand If he did cut down his fathers cherry tree he planted other trees moro longlived and fruitful It was with peculiar feelings that w e looked upon the key of the bastile whic General Lafayette presented to the deliverer deliv-erer of the colonies from British bondage It looked like a symbol the key that had held others in imprisonment was itself possessed by the greatest lover of liberty the world ever saw and we may now hop that its usefulness except as a symbol and relic Is forever past dh Washington died in a room at the sout end of the second floor and the bed upo which the spirit of him who set others fre was liberated from its tenement of clay stands in the apartment After his demis his widow had the room closed and it has been PRESERVED WITHOUT ALTERATION in scarcely any detail Some prominent ladies formed a society known us the Mount Vernon Ladies Association of th e Union including members from nil th ee state and are entitled to the thanks and support of the public for the preservatio of this heirloom of the nation They wore incorporated into a company in 1850 red purchased the entire property They hav preserved the relics from vandalism r e newed with similar fabrics thoso whic time destroyed and maintained in all its original features the home of the moot universally uni-versally admired chieftain except one that the world has ever known In conclusion allow me to add that in the library of the mansion hangs a frame tribute by Dr Andrew Reed an Enghs philanthropist to which he appends the statement How could the American people peo-ple suffer Mount Vernon to pass into ruin Surely it is a thing impossible The tribute which was written in 1S33 at Washingtons rave was left by its author Doctor Reed with the governors famil y It reads as follows WASHINGTON The brave the wise the good WASHINGTON Supreme in war In council and in peace WASHINGTON Valiant without ambition Discreet without fear Confident without presumption In disaster calm in success moderate in all himself WASHINGTON The hero the patriot the Christian the father of nations the friend of mankind who when he had won all renounced all and sought in the bosom of his family and of nature retire ment and in the hope of religion immoitalitv CUAIILES W STATNEH WASHINGTON Feb 22 1892 |