Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-02-06
RELICS OF THE WASHINGTON FAMILY.

RELICS OF THE WASHINGTON FAMILY.
When Mrs. Lee left the Arlington House,
some time after her tratorous husband had
joined the confederate army, she undertook to
carry with her all the Washington relies which
had been so jeaously preserved by her patriotic
father George Washington Parke Gusts. Re
peatedhy she wrote to Gen. Mcdowell, with
whom she had been acquainted as her husbands
assoc ate on the staff Of Gen, Wool during the
Mexican war, that she had left nothing at Ar
lngton in any way connected with the public
or domestic life of the father Of his country
What Mrs. Lee or any one iavoring secession
ahd the rebellion could want with relics which
must be constant reminder of him who said,
"Whatever measures have tendency to dis
solve the Union, or contribute to violate or les
sen the sovereign authority, ought to be con-
sidercd as hostile to the liberty and indepen
dence of America, and the authors of them
treated accordingly" cannot easily be imagined.
Nor is it surprising that after all their protcs-
tations to the contrary the wife of the confed-
crate general should have left behind some of
the choicest and most valuable mementoes of
the home life of him whose wise teachings both
she and her husband have SO thoroughly Ig-
uored.
For long time after the flight Of the Lees,
Gene al Mcdowell though quarcred on the
grounds, refused to enter the Arlington House
A scrupulous respecter of private rights, he
would neither occupy, nor allow to be occupied
by his officers or men, any portion of the man
sion, which, il his opinion, belonged to Gen
| Lee quite as much as though he still made his
home within its massive walls. When the con-
! fscaton act was passed by congress, and Il
! telegraphic operator had taken possession of
! the best rooms, he was still reluctant to enter
! the old building, on account + the Washington
memories clustering around it, and it was at
last by force of circumstances, rather than by
| his own free WILL that he made il his hcadquar-
tiers. For long time access to the upper
rooms was forbidden, and even the cellar was
not open to curious visitors The daubs of Mr..
Curtis, nick named historical paintings, which
so clearly demonstrate that however true a
patriot that worthy descendant of the Washing
ton family may have been, he was by no means
an artist, and which Mrs. Lee had shown good
taste in leaving behind, were most carefully
guarded. Never did tena,t use a house more
singerly. Relies of inestimable value might
have slumbered in its upper chambers, or had
quiet preservation in its basement rooms for
ever and aye had none but General Dowell
entered the yencrabl premises.
But there lately came to Washington Gu.
riosity hunter-an antiquarian, vigorous and
insatiable-an enthusiast in Washington relies
Caleb Lyon by name-he of Lyonsdae, who
disdaining the letters of Mrs. Lee, sought per,
mission to unyei the deepest recesses of tho
establishment He searched the house from
foundation to rooi-tree. Fortunate search fol
in an inner cellar he found priceless prize, in
variety of household articles identified as be
longing to Washington but which one les,
familiar with the history of Mount Vernon anC
Arlington would have passed by as of no es
; pecial interest or value.
Among these articles are q number of piece
+ of the Martha Washington China. The oenir,
of each piece has the monogram IN. W.
from which four golden rays diverge, eacl
point reaching to u blue oval, in which, in dis
unct rings, connected by golden links, ar,
written the names of the original states an,
Kentucky while around the rim the Egyptial
: symbol Of eternal union--a green serpent will
tail In its mouth-and a crimson ribbon bear
, ing the legend, "Decus ct tuiamea aJaio." ex
quisitely painted, complete the decoration