Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-06-05

1 Il
which, the gate of Iron bars secure
ly fastened permits no entrance with
into Visitors. The entrance is arch
ed and has been covered with a plas
tering in imitation of stone, Which il
many instances has fallen and Will
innumerablc mud wasps nests cling
ing TO the sides has neglected ane
nnsightly appearance; th ground
covered with gravel forms the only
floor. and upon few layers OF rough
brick rests the marble ''Sarccphagus'
within which the coffin containing
the remains was placed, a few years
ago being then removed from the old
vault u few rods distant built by
Washington himself where they were
originally deposited.
The lid Of the ''Sapophagus" is ell
egantly and beautifully wrought rep
resenting in relief an Eagle, Shield
and Wreath interviewer with the
National Flag and has upon ii only
the inscription "Washiugton," near
by similarly placedis similar sareo-
phagus bears an inscription of Mar.
Tia, Wife OF Washington" these two
only occupy the tomb.
In an interior vault beyond open
ing from this are Judge Bushord
Washington and others Of the family
who have plain monuments near the
entrance.
The Mansion stands on the highest
point of the estate beautiful and
very elevated position overlooking
the river and surrounding country.
1t is OF wood substantially construct
ed and made to initiate dressed stone
of uniform thickness q spacious
porch or piazza extends along the
entire length Of the building fronting
the river; the roof is steep in the old
style and has been painted with some
redish color, the windows are OF
about six by eight glass with very
heavy sash, a main hall runs direct
~ through the center Of the build
ing, upon one Of the walls in glass
case hangs the great key Of the Bias
tile presented by Lafayette soon at
ter It's destruction.
The rooms have all bare and de-
serted appearance and are interest
ing only for their associations with
the past. Very little furniture or
household articles usedsin Washing
tons time remain in the mansion be
ing scattered long ago, but it is for
tunate that at the Patent Office some
OF these interesting relics have been
placed and carefully preserved-in
a large north room is the celebrated
mantle piece of pure white marble
elegantly wrossht, and representing
IN reliei upon its front severaf agri.
cultural scenes.
An ancient Harpsichord stands in
one corner Of the room presented by
Washington to one of his nieces; the
old instrument has keys in front and
bears little rasemblaence 10 a mod
erD Piano but is rather .'ude affair
and would scarcely be thought fit in
these days to grace a parlor. In an
other corner of the room are some
old saddles and holsters and the tri
pod Of u compass said to have been
used by Washington.
4 smooth lawn in front slopes
gently from the mansion for few
rods toward the river and then breaks
abruptly into steep bluffs covered
with a thick growth Of forest trees
and under brush and down these, not
far from the river is the old spring
house which is reached with some
difficulty by the aid of limbs Of trees
and underbrush- In the rear Of The
Mansion is an extensive and bcanti-
ful lawn with winding avenues laid
cut and improved by Washington
himself and ornamented with many
rare varieties Of forest trees now of
cry large growth among which is
the famous Magnolia planted with
his own hands tall stately and
growing tree covered with white
blossoms /; it appropriately bears the
title Lilly Of the Forest"
Adjoining this lawn west, a few
withercd old fruit trees remain to
mark the place Of what was once an
extensive orchard, On the north OF
the lawn adjoining it a brick wall
surmonnted with picketS encloses the
flower and kitchen g9rdens, giving
evidence of having once been laid out
and arranged with taste and Of being
carefully cultivated. bnt are now in
a really neglected condition, and the
green house is an unsightly pile of
ruins. The fields are uacultivated
and greatly overgrown with under.
brush, and the fences and out houses
are all in a dilapidated condition: an
Old negro and his old patriarchal
looking dog came forth to meet us,
and were the only signs of life or Ia
Dor disc rnab!e q cut he premises
The estate originally very extensive
now comprises only about 40 acres
which was purhased few years ago
at an enormous expense with the
funds contributed or collected alto
gether by the ladies Of our country,
to whom the nations thanks are due
for their active and untiring efforts
and that an appropriation might be