Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-05

: like MISE at this ;ins recipients Of his 10 plaity
both inoiinirg to'he p onn'"r cause what co"nso'iihS
and plens for organization must have been exchanged
White Less ecoeutricI;ieJ, hs dru'ieries and troops
Of dogs, must have created no ordiasry sli. among
the do,ues:ics, and seriously ~discompo.ed tne
Systematic h~ousewii-Ty and amiabilty OF my iady,
Us the canine favOrited took seats with bin al ths
table. and appropriated the pleasant places OF Tue
msnsion.
Tn. year 1899 was nearly completed with it's sun
mary OF events q, Mount Vernon accomplished
Fa'e's strands were almost spun, only the lest pag-
wss to he registered. Thursday, the 18th day ct
December, WAS mos: u~np.cm'sing, but the ferm-
were 70 ba looked after. IL mounted his horse about
:ea O'Clock, and was gone untli ia:e IN ths afternoon
aana il b-gsn TO rain, hail add snow, accompanied
with q cold wind. He arrived home wet and chilled,
with snow luds ing in his hair aud neck, and be din.d
without changing bis clothes. In tbs evening he
was as we'll as usual. Snow fell on Friday. which
prevented riding. In the AFTERNOON he went into the
grounds between the house aud river 10 mark come
i.ees this. we're 10 be Gu: down. Ha had a hoaTse
ns--. aud com .laiued Of sore throat. which increased
in the evening. bat he made light ot il. The PAPERS
ware brought IN he sat in the par!or With ME
Washington ani MIR. Lear. residing Till nins. Mrs.
". l.it the room 10 look after u sick gues,; the gen.
e-ai continued 10 read he was very Cheerful ana
read aloui inter RESTING and snteriaiDiugp passages as o..
hoarsen.ss permitted. On retiring, Mr.. Lear sugges'ed
II. should take something for the cold. He replied.
:" | never take anything for a cold; let 1t GO "a u
came" Bstweeu y and 3 o'clock he awoke Mira.
Washington, saying he was vary unwell, ana nad ma
All AguH. He dgrlr5d mat ono Oh inc OVerhetIe ruuuIu
bleed him. A servant was despatched fGr Dr.. Crsik,
and Others were sent for DR.. Dick and DR.. Brown
Their consultations and remedies We're useless. In a
whisper he sends Mrs. Washington for his Wilson's
he burns, and copfd-s the other TO her keeping. To
Lsar ne says: Il find | ain going. Arrang. and re
cord all my late military letters and papers, settle my
accounts and booke.'' He observed, smiling, "Death
is q debt we must all pay" He looked to the event
with perfect resignation. At 8 A. NJ. hs clothes
were put ON. aud hs sat in y char by the fire, where
hs remaiusd until 10. About S o'clock he WA helped
up sgsin. aud sitter sitting halt an hour desired to be
addressed and put to bed. He said To DR.. Craik: 81
die hard. but am not afraid to go" Nuar I'D T. NJ. he
made several attempts to speak a, length he said
Il am Just going. Havs HE decenily buried Lear
took his hand end pressed irto his bosom. DR.. Craik
placed his hand over the Generals eyes. and he e1-
pirsd without a struggle or u sigh. Mrs. Washington.
sitting At the faut OF The bed, asked, " ls he gone "
None could epeak II sign WAS the only token. Ills
well" she said. "Al! is Row over. l shalt soon fol
.ow him. | have no more trials TO pass through"
Such is the simple and touching account which an
eyewitness gives Us OF thu fual hour aud falling
rur,.in. We have The gathering of monrners, III
docking of n%eighbors ana strangsrs; tho solemn oose
1uies, the military co,tfge on the cold December day,
vending slowly through the grounds 10 the family
v1uif; ;he heavy boomIng OF the Alexandria srtlll1-
ry firing minute gunt, white II nation was waiting Tor
iis Greatest and Beat Inc hero of the most momen
rouI drama of history slept .hs sleep VI tho Just with
hs fs,hers.
F,tty-eigIt years have been enrolled since the re-
cording angel wrote him Among the blessed. And
! YET, the ns:ion has permitted his tomb to crumbie,
tho storms TO d-epoil hs rnGa-iou, the weeds to grow
over his footprints aud hi. door Fill, without An ef
tort To preserve the sacred domain. At last, in
.o9nen nj the and-God bless them!-having waited
nni hoped in vain for a recognition of the sanctity OF
Mount Vernon, moved with tem,niue Zeal and loyalty
10 the noble dead, have combined, organized, and
purchased the estate, 10 transmit the guardianship OF
Ut ths tomb from daughter to daughter. and maks the
spot from this time onward a shrine for coming gen
%eratiops.
Rescued from decay, the question of most iinpor
tauce j., what ehail bs done with the tomb, maEs'on
aud domain A. all hs com-s within tbs province
.. A't, il is Hoped n few sugges'ious from an art polht
ut view may noi be hmiss. Tbs tomb should be- re-
cnn-,ruct-d OF the most enduring materials, and of
the simplest Innunurnentsl form. II would he we'll
Ia solicit designs from native architects and ariisls,
whose patriotism would prompt a competition. The
most appropriate design should be accepted. and com
pensitod with the usual per c-ntags tor making work
ing drawings ard overseeing the construction. Inc
mansion, furniture and outhouses should be restored
to tbs condition in which Washington left them, data
being gathered from all exciting sources for The inil.
est accomplishment of this idea. The grounds im-
in-Giately about tbs house shouid he restored TO thu
same condition they were in ~ his death, allowing, OF
course, the Increased shubbery and iress 10 remain,
nut perfeoting, III far as possible, Washington .
ideal of Mount Vernon. or az hs hoped It would be
when his planting had reached maturity, aud his
plans truiiion. Then, TO identity the spot more i'm
mediGtely with The love and gratitude OF tbs people,
"a funds csm be- procured, LET there be erected on QUE
or The promontories, or on a site overlooking the Pc
totnac, a WALHALLA, or hall OF the naIion's dead,
similar in purpose, but in0ge vast in design, than that
of Bavaria. which WAS constructed 80 muDiicehtly
by Ludwig on tn. Danube, near Ratisbon, for the
great departed OF all Germany. This might be years
IN erecting. a. il l. for ell iins. and it should be buii:
of nsrivs marble aud stone. Here would bs depo:.
ite! The donaiions of individuals. communities, o.
St.;. :. il! The s.s1a uf hrsts, staiues, portraits, ar
! biographical illustration by bss rriiet Or picture ii
the great and good o. the nation. Wills tie s!ric
tire WAS in progress, come hal Or building
in Washington could receive aud keep for pubic tx.
hibiricn these art tokens. THUS each succeeding zen
| CREATION might couiriou;. lis testimonials, and tie spot
grow in perpetual interest. This sta is rhore appro
pirate inan any other, inssuilch 81 il! Is removed
from all sectional ~pr.judice or local iesiousiea. 1t Is
within The sacred ii1lsnce VI III. names oil Washing
ton, on the domain eudsafej 10 every American; in
the environs OF the capitol, and yet remote from the
| perpe:usliy changing political atmosphere; sufficient
ly central end near for every Un. who visits the seat
of government to see and make it a place Of pill
,grimsgs, where tho nuniicent and benevolent would
contribute az TO a national and universal idea. The
grounds about the building, consscrsted by art,
should be laid OIL; in a park and garden. No work
which does not reach a prescribed etandsrd should
be admitted within the walls, eud no character who
hes not done something worthy Of his day and gems
ration should have The privilege Of a monumental
position. Nor should ANY ba admitted until fifty
years have tested he or her claim 10 a niche or record
in the Hall Of immortality, presided over by the ge.
MUS OF our cuuutry'> lath-r.