Show THE I me lilt MI MOUNTAIN INTER I I tn iLI LAM UNA VI I IA A Travelers Traveler's Impression of Old Mount Vernon Home Christmas time three years eal fig n ago found foune me In the tIne magnificent el city c cWashington ot Washington the capital of oC our coun corn try I spent pent several days In i the man many places of Interest an and the toen took tool advantage of the thc opportunity I t to make a visit to Mt Alt Vernon the ol old home of oC flU our beloved Washington anthe anthe an ani the place where he lie now no lies at re rd relt in peaceful slumber The he association of or Washington wih with tho the place hav havo ia made slId will wiil wi continue to make Mi M I. Vernon a shrine of patriotism and tic de- voton for Cor all al time to come Thousands Thom ands of or pilgrims visit this hits sacred even every year car but perhaps It Is 18 at th till thIs season ason that the they flock here In greatest great greatest est numbers to pay Jay homage to tin memory of ur one Olle whom they au all al love There ore are two ways of or reaching Mt Mi I. Vernon from Washington Cl City thone the th ono one Is by steamboat up the Potomac the tine other is overland b hy I electric railway During warm weats- weats er 1 the Journey Is more pleasantly made I h by steamboat but as the tho boat honts had quit quilt running at nt this time tinne I was wi compelled to mal make the journey by rail rai The Tho trip b by this route rout Is a 0 most de delightful dl one however anti and severn severa places of Interest are seen len which coult coull not be seen cen by the river route Tin TIl distance from froni froma Washington a to Ml Mt lH Vl Ver Vernon Vernon r- r non by hy rail rai Is IR sixteen and ever Inch of or the wa way vay is sacred nn and hear dear leal tr to every true American heart he Some Sonic o othe ol or orthe the most exciting episodes odes of the thc Revolutionary and of oC the Civil Civi wai wn occurred in Iii this vicinity landmarks Jan marks anti and places Illace of historic Intel In In- In pointed out t to terest tel est are arc everywhere c tho the tra traveler Tim Tho day after Christmas Christma was bright clear an and tay beautiful beautiful beautiful-an nn an Ill ideal al day oy Inn for CO COuch such uch a n visit and having previously formed the Ow acquaintance of tiC several voral t excellent men and women who w. w ere v rc going I deckled to accompany th them tn At U U 9 o'clock a. a in m. wo we W boarded tine the electric car ear In Washington and were the rapidly whirled away auay through aley valley alleys and anti hills or f old Virginia After Hes crossing the theamous amous Camous Lon Long Bridge Uridge over uvel the the- Potomac ve we soon onn then thon passed Arlington cemetery conic conic- ery tery en sleep sixteen thousand ravo soldiers of the Civil Civi war var Low hey they lie and sor softly I and sweetly do dohey dohey hey they slumber forgetting all al but hot Th They heed not the they hear not They hey are arc free fron n aI tUl pain iain aln The rho traveler tra eJer who goes to Wash Wash- ash should not nol fall fail fal Li to th visit Arling- Arling Is con- con ton on n cemetery for mere hero truly ground How fitting CUing Is It i that hat these thes heroes of or our nation should le ie e here in quiet anti and an peaceful repose repos so 0 near neni the capital and the heart henrt of the he IC toun which tine the gave ave their H lives hIves to 3 save It I Is all al the mure pathetic when we e C pause to reflect rene that moro more than two vo o thousand of or these noble nole eons o ohe at atthe the he 10 Republic Jc are away awa in nameless graves A ride of about twenty five twenty miles mies rings brings tho th tourist to the quaint old ol town own of Alexandria The Tho principal point nit of interest here Is Ss Christ church he the ie place where Washington used to atten divine worship and nd changes hanges have been male made yet et the v yen yen- fn n- n abio old church chulch r remains much the same ame as In days lays of oC ol old Washington's pew remains exactly the same sames as s 1 it wa was when he sat st there an and worshipped wor- wor shipped nipped I Go God It I is on Ott the left hand sIde tie Ide near neal the front and ant may be iden- iden fled by a silver siver plate plato with wih a fac fae simie mile of Washington's autograph The inc he pew is now reserved for fOl visitors and nd rid strangers After ACel a 0 short hort stay In 1 I Alexandria we resumed our jour jour- journey ney ey Euy to Mt lI Vernon passing places whIch have witnessed the making of oC story from the founding of or James James- town own vIt down own to the present time We 0 were due clue at nt Mt t. t Vernun at 11 clock and as a that time approached I al 11 ti eyes watched eagerly for its Is first Su d nl as the co car I roun ed a slight elevation which ob- ob o tho the view the hallowed ol old spot pot lay before us In all al its Is beauty an and magnificence Our Om car was soon glon rought brought to a standstill and we ANC Im- Im mc lately set foot on the soil sol which has las as been so often ofen pressed by y the thc feet teet of the Father of his ISIs country countr The crowd with which our party parlY happened to be numbered about fifty men an and women omen of various o ages es from sixteen to sixty They rhey hey had been a 0 gay and n lively company compan during luring tho ho entire entre journe journey jour jour- ne ney but ut now all al voices were hushed as if b by some sonic magic spell pel auth a silence I a as ann profound as that of the tomb tomi seemed seem ell to steal over nil all ni one seemed e mcd to tn fully realize that he heWa was Wa tr treading on sacred nUl holy ground Arriving Arriving- at the tine mansion In which th the Father of oC his Co Country un tn lived an and died l we were shown through h by b the per persons on having charge chargo of the prem Ies Tho Tine building hulling Is six ninety iX by hy thirty feet feel two stories toris hl high h. h annul and has hasan hasan hasan an a te with wih dormer dornner windows anti and anda antia a n cupola above e. abo It I is he built of or wood woodcut Imitation of oC stone cut and painted in I I I I Ilen In front a it piazza extends the tho th entre len length th of or the bu building Ic Ins Ins- InsI It I Is feet reet wide wile by I feet fet hl big h. h I The rhe upper part Is supported 8 by h cig eight square columns column and the floor is made of flagstones Imported by Ya Wart Vas h- h ington from the Isle Islo I lc of or Wight T man mansion lon contains twelve largo large commodious cot con rooms besl besides es several sm sma ler ones These rooms are arc all J fui tur- tur fished throughout with furniture t ot that period and several of ot tho the root rooms contain the original furniture of or Geera General Gen Ger era cral eral Washington There TherL are s si six rooms on the first floor besides ti th main hall ball hol which runs run from front t to rear namely flannel the tile banquet room roon east parlor west parlor library Mi Mi- Washington's sitting room an and ti in family tIming dining room Everyone of these theto rooms is unique and interest I I ing Ii g. g In the main hall are 31 to be bp set see seen I three of the the C five swords wor s 1 by hy General Washington one ono to eat each of his five nephews lephew The rue other tw tv two have never been cen restored In his wll WI wil I Washington enjoined tl that hint tine these swords s never be unsheathed for Cor tI th the purpose of or she she-Q shedding ln human bloot 1100 except It I be in defense of or self seif IC or 01 o country countr an and then it I were better heter t to fall Cal with them unsheathed in the linn hand than to relinquish a cause cano so worthA worthy worth A fac fae s simile of ot General I I agreement with wih Silas Dean D Deanto an to serve I Ithe In the American army as ns major genera general and anti the discharge papers of oC an o ol old soldier of oC the Revolution Ht voluton signed b bWashington's I by Washington's own hand hun ar are also pre pre- served servell in this hall bali hal The rue he cast contains sever severa several quaint old mu musical In Instruments wilch all al lovers loyer of music note with anti ami all curiosity curlo Among these relics ar am aran arc arcan an n old silver mounted rosewood Cute Jut a guitar anti anel music book bool while which once ice belonged d to Washington's cousin Mrs Fauntleroy The most interestIng interest J Ing ng of or U these ese tl sc old treasures r. r titer after one learns their thel history are a ai an nt anch-nt piano forte an and an old old-fash tuned lone The Tho latter latel was pre plC by Washington to his adopts laughter Nellie Nele Custis on her wed wed- ve ling hug day cay It I was a fine Cne In int in n H Us its Is ta day a and 1111 Jl was wa imported fron rot London Condon at nr a cost of 1000 How flow n w Inn long longI I stood and gazed at this ole ld titi Instrument I know not but a any al alny al m ny emotions were fully aroused nou I could ima imagine lne m myself In the oC Pr f those to whom it i has belonged I could hear hal tine the sweet strains of mule music mu mu- sic le Ic which It I sent forth at th time the touch or f skilful fingers that have IK ag agn into sacred dust How v lon lonh h hoes does oes It stand there now nouv In tn In Jui vain do clo those faded ann und await the time deft gliding worn worn line keys kOs of f lingers fingers which alas can n T nurn n- n 1 turn urn All Am if it this were only po possible hen lien once again would woul the vlon ol Id Instrument burst bun t forth In Into Inlo to tin lush usi an nd mid melody the tine vei vety y walls wails would II nd echo re-echo tine the sweet sounds with wit gIan s and amid rejoicing the tine who whole I. I t i on I listen l tn with rapture and an delight and nd even the tine angels anges would stop to hica heal In i In tho tue wet west parlor arlor arc are several se s cral chair chairs als ais rice nee the property of ot Washington he it board on un which Washington am un unc Lafayete used to play whist whIst era Se of or furniture in this room wet wen here ere at Mount Vernon before Wash Wash- ington came mc A painting o of Admit a ernon's fleet neet and a portrait of Kit Kin King ouis Louls XVI X I of or 1 a adorn the walls The inc library contains ani only a er ser very tc few ci cit o t tina orI original of or General Wa Wash luli- luli h- h iston Nearly at nIL all ni of aro are n w h ii In he IC Boston Hoston Athenaeum Tile The ones which arc re lucre here here however are arc duplicates of tin the orl and one notes nodes with In and nd curiosity the tine titles Lles of or the tue book s which hick constituted the th reading rending i matte of f I. the tine master r of or Mount Vernon as soller sol sol- let ler Iel statesman and farmer Mrs Irs Wash a hIngton's h- h sitting room and anti t the omit dinIng Ington's room contain man many in interest int of or those gone br-gone gone by-gone days Im Tin he wille Ide chasm of or a century Is here ct vcr ter and on one can see the comfort comforts nd rid the luxuries which the tine Washing ton on family enjoyed and anti can an even Vin fancy tano anne seated sentell with wIh them around ii thel COS osy Washington's room the one in which he ie C died remains the same with wih Iden cal leal furniture standing standing- In the ver cr same ame posH position Ion Of or course It I has beer been ten ell but has inns been restored un- un hanged Tine The bedstead on which th tin tl other Father of oC His Ills Country suffered ant ani anc lied led Is an nn old fashioned one with tai tal tal posts on which were wc rc lining hung hunA curtains according to the cU Custom tom of those days Just beside tho tine bedstead stands a n chair mid and on omi this thus chair thal lies hits the Holy Bible lien a at t the tine very same sam chapter from fron ron Zilch whIch Mr Mrs Washington read to h her hei be be- lo ed ovod hus husband and only u a few Cew moments before be be- fore ore nrc ho lie passed away awn Long Lung I stood am an razed on these sacred scones scenes with wih tears team In For a tunic time I could no noi n I m my c eyes e move nove from Crom tine the spot and stood a as om tnt II and when I did finally gWay gc go goa and again t te to a Way I returned a again peat the tine gaze pa To Tu me inc this room wa he the IC holy of hole holies at Mount Vernon A Ui Ii h Washington hol Vash Washington how we WI Jove ove we 11 thy name maine And Amid how much ch 1 do wv wc iced neul thee IOlla today to u us now our ur beloved father aunt and bring with tie thet lefferson afferson and Hamilton and Franklin rid ind Ja Jay tumid and all 31 those who loved d print than thon and amid rl righteous Pl more immure money mil loro esS more than greed Would to Coil Goil 0 1 tat hat our legislative chambers fled wih such int-ii int Jen today Then should forever fit sit upon lien r lawful throne ironic und mul then should not nol tine tho the strong tr lJ upon tine the weak wAk nor the tine cry ofle of oft t he le oppressed be tin inn herll heard Such Sueh wre ny my ny as us I stood reverently r I gazing axIng on the thu scenes s which were WI tint last ast beheld I by him hint whom we delight tu o style First In war Il t In inn peace pi ind nd first in Inn the tine hearts of or his country country- men Tine The furnishings s of Mrs Irs Washington's lons lon's are arc only reproductions of or what 1001 he thc me room originally contained The rhe door loor leading Into her room room room-an an oll- oll old old- batten haten lo door r has a a. hole cut at the tine bottom bottoni large In n 1 the the- corner cormier I the tine cats to Into tough nough to permit pass and ind from front l time the he room at their pleasure i j u VIM i r i i i n i LJ r ri i r i D n u H i In Miss Custis room Is to be bo seen an time old high bedstead which Is r reached aCh 1 by covered carpet CO steps The The room roum Is P I vcr very neat and attractive c ond and has hos a n decidedly de d. appearance The Tine general gen gen- eral rul arrangement nt of or this room with Its Is antique mirror dressing cant cant- washstand wash wash- stand and other toilet necessities leads learl ono on one to t. reflect that the of or womankind wom wom- to appear bountiful beautiful trul hf Is ever e the thc I same in fill all ni ages and anc among alt all al nation na ua tion And nd may It I ever be tho same samo for tor without It tt very cry little Is left heft of ot that thai which constitutes true truo womanhood I Beauty and anti character belong to hr hr lit IA their highest perfection She can not aol truly possess posses the Um Il one Cue without the other for or they are Ire Inseparable I General Gc Lafayette's room the ono one which h Inc occupied while a gue guest t at al Mount Vernon IK is lI one unc of or time the neatest fbI and Ant room rooms In the whole building The Th wa wall I I ar are well uvell decorated with line limit paintings and portraits and the fur fur- arc are the best that coul could be obtained ob ob- obI I in daja A fine One white whit coun countermine I CO termine covers corr n it huge hinge feather bed bcd which h almost burled buried the tho th French Fr gentral gen gen- ml when wll he lie hI T retired trec Washington loved Lafayette as aa a n son nun Hon and amid tIne tho latter hitter Juler wa sure furl to be snugly tucked away when he ramo eam to Mount Vornon Vernon The rie most Interesting article artcle of furniture In the tin River room Is a n chair which I is saP said lo to have been brought over to America In the Mayflower The rue bedstead In this tinh room was wn use used by Washington In th the Pennsylvania ia campaign of 1777 1737 On onn one one- of the tine window panes of the Green Greenroom Greenroom Greenroom room appears the tine name O of ot P. P Cus Cus- tl the date Aug 2 2 1792 The name iK was carved |