Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-04
Mtsttllanp.
Mount Vernon.

Is the world aware that it is contemplated to
turn Mount Vernon into watering place ito
exchange the hal!owed atmosphere that sur
rounds it, and should ever surround it, for the
fetid breath Of fashionable life And vet such
is said to be the fact. The rafting of dice, and
the bachanaian song, and the ribald laughter
of bon Uicants may be heard yet where should
arise the patriots prayer for national prosperi-
ty, or rejoicings at the fruition Of his hopes
What shall be done to prevent the disgrace
which such desecration would carry with it p
The estate is TO be sold, and for many years it
has been offered TO congress, but with strange
Indifference congress has treated the matter,
until, wearied with waiting, the propiietors are
ready TO put it up for the highest BIDDER
There is a proposition that private subscrip-
ton be made by the people 10 purchase it for
the nation that boxes like those ict the Wash
ington monument be placed in the Crystal Pal
ace and other places for this purpose ard it
is thought that in a very short time fund
could be raised sufficient for the purchase
The proposition is good one, and men would
give their dollars for this purpose readily, in
volving, as the object does, the preservation of
the very bones of him whose name every Amer
lean delights 10 honor. The sacriege Of turn
ing the home of Washington into hotel,
would be as great as that Of the money chang
ers in the temple; and we should hope an ig-
nominy equivalent to that of the money chang
ers might attend il.
A correspondent, rather favoring the hotel
speculation, introduces the following regarding
the intrinsic value Of the spot, and a statement
OF lis existing condition, which show The ne
cessily for some immediate steps to save The
estate Of Washington from the hands Of mod
ern Vandalism, j. e., speculation =
I" AT Mount Vernon are the remains Of Geo.
and Martha Washington. The low studded
mansion, whose homely threshold so often well
coined them, still stands in a commanding view
of The Potomac, the conventional dividing line
between north and sOuth-a stream more full
Of interest for the intelligent patriot than any
river of ancient or modern historical associa-
tion. Not the Indus, nor the Pc, the Tiber,
Nile, nor Danube not g tha; great river the
Euphrates," /" nor Elbe, nor Rhine, nor Thames,
nor Mississippi, glorious as they are with the
works of God and the achievements Of man,
can so move the peculiar interest the thought
ful American citizen, as this Potomac stream,
with its few Insignificant ports and flat, sandy
shores. On its southery bank is Mount Yer
non, regarding with benevolent aspect, as
we may suppose its departed tenant did, the
opposite shore and the land beyond"
"Now, spot so holy as Mount Vernon, il
is and ought TO be the desire of every Amer-
can 10 say nothing Of all tho world beside) to
see with their natural eyes and stand upon with
their well shod feet. But have all your read
ers an idea of the difficulties in the way Of Wis
itng Mount Vernon Ii is a private estate,
out Of which its owners derive their subsist-
ence by farming. Its present proprietor, Mr..
Augustine Washington, young gentleman of
good education and proper feeling Of what is
due TO the public, has always extended TO Wis
itors every reasonable courtesy. But the num-
Der Of visitors daily necessarily restricts the
civiliies which can be bestowed on each. If a
visitor has an introduction it gains him adms-
sion to the mansion, where he is well-man-
neredly shown the apartments consecrated by
having been the home of Washington and va
rious memorials Of liberty and tyranny in the
old world and the new, among which are con-
spicuons the keys Of the Rastile, are exhibited
to him. And all, whether introduced or not,
are permitted TO visit the place where they may
behold the marble sarcophagus which encloses
The mortal relics of Z" the father of his coun-
try"
els il just to exact of the present possessors
that they sacrifice everything, domestic priya-
cy, worldly prospects, and even their living, 10
be the custoders Of the sacred remains uf their
venerated relatives The reverence for Wash
ington, the guardianship Of his tomb is the
privilege of every American. - Boston Post.
81 was terribly 'put out about it, as the
fellow said who was kicked down stairs for
making a row,