The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-04-02
A Rlsll 20 she TdlnD of NailIlpg-
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80 tonf A-i tf u
Az parsims fis|t Mecca 10 look upoh the
the tomb b Mdhone,. % % the, people q
Americs ls we'll . Of oder lsSds, sisit Bit.
Vernon 20 gaze spOn the gruveof Washing
ton. The reverence Of the Americans may
not be Of the same kind as that Of the Ma
hommedan for the Prophet. The latter,
worsHlps the great heOd Of his church as the
founder Of bis religious faiihi the fOrmer,
venerstes the character Of the Father OF his
County, and hangs upon his memory os a
child who IL made heir to che. great name
and virtues which c.nster about the tombs
and live in the noble deeds OF his ancestry.
A week or two since, in company with q
number Of friends, we made trip to Mt.
Vernon, the former residence Of Washing.
ton, and the spot where his ashes lie buried
It is situated about sixteen miles below the
city Of Washington, on the west bahk ofthe
Potomac river. There is, while navigation
is open, steamboat running tri.weekly be-
tween the two points for the purpose Of car
~ ing passengers who muy desire tovisit the
sacredspot. During the week Of the P'esi-
Dental Inauguration, the boat made daily
trips, and on every occasion WIS crowded
with passengers. A ride Of an hour and
half brought US to Mt. Vernon 1t is the
custom Of boats on passing this place, wheth-
er going up'Or down, TO toll the bell, and BY
its solemn and measured striking,iws were
warned of our approach to the last resting
place Of the Father Of his Country" We
passed by and landed little below the site
of the residence. On going ashore we
found ourselves ata small, narrow raRine,
with rough pathway leading around through
the brushwood and trees, dup the bill to
the right. Following this foot path little
distance, we came 10 On opening where
were cultivated fields. Just in the edge Of
the woods, and next to tho cleared land, is
the grave of Washington. .v $500 ,n'
The tomb is built of plain burnt brick,
and is situate in the side of the huh, looking
towards the South There are two npart-
ments. The one farthest back Is closed SO
that we.could not discover what it contained
The one in front contained the sarcopha-
gus Of Washington, which is made of white
marble. On it is engraved coat OF arms.
There is no inscription save the simple word
"WAsHINGToN." The sarcophaaus of his
wife 10 BY his side. The foor of the tomb
is covered with coarse gravel and dirt. AN
iron grate in front protects it from entrance.
There is however no means of protection
from the weather or the storm. The rain
and snow may beat in upon the stone cof-
fms, md the winds carry the dead leages of
autumn and strew them about the bed Of the
sleepers. The birds have built their nests
in the corners Of the ceiling above. a-olH
A person who has been accustomed to as.
sociate in his mind, when, in Imagination
visiting this spot, anything beautiful or love.
Iy, upon becoming acquainted with the
reality, will be sadly disappointed. There
is nothing beautiful, nothing tasteful, and
save the silenta ashes Of the great man who
sleeps there in his grave, nothing sacred
about it. There is no enclosure around tbe
tomb. No effort seems ever to have been
nude, to adorn the grounds around it. The
earth which was thrown out in preparing a
spot for the vault, was never levelled off as
it should be, and now presents rough and
unfinished appearance, rather than the green
and sloping lawn which we had expected to
behold. There is neither tree, shrub or
flower planted about the tomb, save those
which were planted BY the hand Of nature.
The top of the vault, which is SO imper-
fec! that the rain has driven through and
blackened the ceiling, 10 covered with rhin
coat Of earth, from which there has grown
up rank abundance of weeds and briurs.-
The mason work was poorly done. and the
bricks upon the top of the tomb, are falling
off giving it ragged and uneven outline.
A few years more, and the walls will crum-
BILE in pieces, leaving nothing behind but a
pile ofrubbish.
We must confess to a most unple asa q t
at the appear ance Of things
about the grave Of Washington. and we be-
lieve the same feelidgs pervaded the minds
Of the whole party. Expressions Of surprise
were uttered by all. The tomb of the first
President echoes with sighs of regret which
escape from the lips of pilgrims who visit
hat hallo~ ed place-regret that one SO great,
10 noble, SO true. SO warmly endeated to
he American heart, should lie in q grave so
neglected! We did not expect to End
majestic monument or a profusion of orna-
nent. This would not accord with oar ideas
# Republican simplicity, nor with the well
Inown character Of Washington. He re.
Iaired no Pompous or kingly burial to pre-
crve his honors. He needs no towering
aonament of marble TO keep his name in
etnembrance., The one and thirty States
which form this noble confederacy are the
memorials Of his greatness, and his exalted
'irtues' shall live as long as freedom finds
lone among the nations. or liberty is cher.
shed in the hearts Of men. We did, how
'ver, expect upon visiting the tomb Of w ash
ngton, to behold lovely and quiet spot.
beautiful in design, elegantin workmanship,
md adorned with trees and flowers, But we