Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-18
EVENING STAR.
a Visit to Mount Vernon.

We copy the following interesting account o
a visit to Mount Vernon in 1896, from a recent
ly published memoir of the late Thomas II
Perkins, one Of the solid men of Boston. >
When in France during the terrible scenes o
the Revolution, he was able to render som
important services to the family Of Lafayette
TO which he attributes his receiving an invi
tatiOn, in after years, to visit President Wash
ington at Mount Vernon. In an autobio
graphical sketch Of his life, which he prepared
for his children, Col. Perkins gives the follow
ing interesting account of his visit
The circumstance of my interference In send
ing young Lafayette to this country, was the
cause Of one of the NEST interesting .eyepts q
/ my life. 1t was known to General w ashine
ten, through the father or son, or both, that
had been active in effectng the removal of the
young man to this country; and from the
great partlallty he had for the Marquis, be
was pleased to regard the actors in favorable
light.
In the summer Of 1896, visited the city of
Washington, which was decided upon as the
| future seat OF Government. He lodged at the
house OF Mr.. Peters, who married Miss Gus
tbs, granddaughter to Mrs. Washington. At
ball given by Mrs. Peters, to which I was
| invited, was introduced to the General by
Col. Lear, his private secretary. and was
graclousiy received, and invited to visit Mount
| vernon, and pass some time there. This was
not TO be declined; and, few days after,
went, as invited, to pay my respects to the
man cherished in my mind beyond any
| earthly being. There was no company there
except Mr.. Thomas Porter, form erly of Boston,
| who then lived at Alexandria, with whom /
was intimately acquainted, and who was a
Crpaf fauorita ot
to the residence of General Washington and
returned after dinner to his own residence
LII is we'll known that the General was not In
the habit OF talking on political subjects with
any but those connected with him in the Gov.
eminent. Indeed, he was what may be called
silent man, except when necessity called
upon him to be otherwise. He convered with
me, on internal improvements and observed
to me, that should probably live tn see an
internal communication, by canals and rivers,
from Georgia to Massachusetts, The State of
Maine had not then been separated from the
old Bay State. He little thought at that time
or ever, of the railroads that now span the
country. General Washington, it IL under
stood, was the first protector of the Dismal
Swamp Canal, between Chesapeake R,v and
Albemarle Sound, in North Carolina, at that
time great undertaking as well as the lock-
age OF the Little Fall of Potomac. As was be-
fore remarked, was the only guest at Mount
Vernon az the time spoken of. Mrs. Wash
lngton and her granddaughter, Mis-, Nelly
Custls, with the General, were the only in
mates of the parlor.
The situation of Mount Vernon is known to
every one to be of surprising beauty. 1t
stands on the banks of the Potomac, but
much elevated above the river, and affords an
extensive view of this beautiful piece of WA
ter and of the opposite shore. At the back of
the house, overlooking the river, is a wide |
piazza, which was the general resort in the
afternoon On one occasion, while sitting |
there with the family, toad passed near
where sat conversing with Gen. Washington,
which led him to Ask me If had ever OBJ /
served this reptile swallow FREELY. Upon 4
my answering in the negative, he told me that |
he had, and that, from the thinness of the |
skin of the toad, he had seen the light of the /
freely after it had been swallowed. This |
was a new, and to me surprising fact in nat /
ural history.
/ need not remark how deeply I was inter-
ested in every word which fell from the lips Of |
this great man. L found Mrs. Washington to /
he an extremely pleasant and unaffected lady, /
rather silent; but this was made up for by /
the facetiOus and pleasant young lady, Miss |
Gusts, who afterwards married Major Lewis,
a nephew of the General, and who is yet liv- /
ing. During the day the General was either
in his study or in the saddle overlooking the /
cultivation of his farm
/ shall never forget a circumstance which
took place on the first evening l lodged at
Mount Vernon. As / have said before, it was
in July, when the day trenched far upon the
evening, and at seven or eight o'clock we
were taking our tea not long after which the
ladies retired. Knowing the habit of the
General, when not prevented by business, to
retire early, at about nine o'clock | made
movement in my chair, which led the General
to ask me if / wished to retire to my cham
Der. Upon my answering In the affirmative,
observing there was no servant in the room, he /
took one of the candles from the table, lead
ing the way to the great staircase, then gave
me the candle, and pointed out to me the door
at the head of the stairs as my sleeping room. /
Think Of this
In the room In which l laid myself down
for do not think | slept at all, SO much was
I occupied with the occurrences of the day
was a portrait of Lafayette, the elder, and,
hanging over the fireplace, the key of the
Bastille, which, think, retain the same
places to this day. On the afternoon Of the /
second day after arrived, / toek my leave of |
Mount Vernon, more gratifed tnan can ex-
press.
In the autumn of the year of my visit, Mr.. /
Stuart (Gilbert) painted the full length por- |
trait of the General, which is much the best |
likeness have ever seen of him. The bust |
have, also by Stuart, is fac simile Of the /
original. The portrait of Mrs. Washington,
too, by Stuart, now in the Athenaum, is an |
excellent likeness of that excellent lady. l
remember her amiable expression of counte-
nance, and courteous, unaffected manner, as
well at this time as half century since.
How TO OVERCOME EvIL.-Johnny Wilson |
sat on the stairway, crying as though his |
young heart would break. I took him on my /
lap, and told him TO tell me why he was crying. |
t'Billy johnson was just above me in the |
spelling class, and because turned him down,
he got angry. At noon / was flying my kite |
on the plain he came up asking me to let him |
fly it. Thinking it would make US good |
friends let him, but on purpose he let il go |
into a tree, and tore it I'll be reyenged, yes, |
I'll be revenged."