The Portland daily press., 1868-07-01

WASHINGTON, June 25. 1856

n ttsh 10 Mount vernon.
WASHINGTON, June 25, 1868.
To the Editor of the Press:
Yesterday embarked on board the steam
er Arrow, and took trip to Mount Vernon.
The day was delightful, and as we steamed
down the Potomac, its banks, adorned with
summer verdure of leaves and flowers,
with rich fields of waving grain, and little
white cottages scattered over the old planta-
tions, and with narrow paths winding up
from the river, and around among the hills,
presented beautiful and lovely appearance.
We shot rapidly down by Alexandria where
Col. Ellsworth met with his untimely fate,
and passed Fort Foote and Fort Washington,
the former temporary earth-work thrown
up during the Rebellion, and the latter for
midable fortress, with easement guns locking
through the embrasures, and others mounted
en- bdrbette. They looked down sternly and
grimly upon us, as if to hail us with a salu-
tation which we should not be willing to re-
ceive; but, as they uttered no voices from
their fiery throats, we dashed on with arrowy
speed, and soon came in sight of Mount Yer
non. 1t is magnificent place, and the Old
Mansion, as its red roof and white walls
peered out through the branches of the
majestic oaks and chestnuts, well cores
ponded with the lofty and pure char
acter of the Father Of his Country
We soon swept around the projecting head
land, and came alongside the wharf, where
we were to effect our landing. We jumped
from the boat and walked rapidly up a small
winding path, arched overhead with the
spreading branches of the trees, and bordered
along the sides with Towering shrubs, and
soon came to the tomb OF George and Martha
Washington. 1t is plain structure, but poor
ly comparing with some of the princely maui
e.i---.,aS of Mount Auburn or Greenwood
cemetery, New York.-se-ss.-ssSa of br;cLs
and is about fifteen feet wide and ten OF
twelve high, the ends of the wall being built
up perpendicularly and making nearly a
square front. The interior has the form of a
common arch, open in front, and having the
floor on the same level as the outside. 1t was,
consequently, exposed to full view, only an
iron gate made OF small bars preventing one
from entering The two sarcophagi were d.
rectly in front, and the foot of each being to-
ward us, Washington's was on our right,
and Mrs. Washington's on the left. They are
both made of white marble, neatly ornament
ed with sculpture on the lid The sun sent
down its soft light through the little opening
among the trees, and we gazed long and
thoughtfully upon the resting-place of tho
great and good man whose mortal remains
were lying before us.
Turning from the main path to the right,
we came in a few moments to the Old Tomb
where Washington was first buried in 1909
sixty-ninc years aSu. ciambered up the
steep bank, holding on by the small trees, and
soon stood directly in front OF the entrance.
The tomb is surrounded by numerous trees,
the dense foliage of which casts deep shade
around it, and gives the place somber ap-
pearance. 1t is much smaller than the new
one, being about ten feet square, made of
bricks and painted white. The entrance is
about four feet high, and two and ahafwide
without door or gate. There is nothing to
prevent one from entering, except a white
fence, very unpretending in appearance,
which surrounds it. This is the tomb which
Lafayette entered in 1925, and, as we are in
formed, ''cried like child" as he stood by
the remains of his great companion in arms,
sleeping the sleep of death. The rural SIM
plicity and natural beauty of the place, and
the sublime associations which two warriors
and statesmen so renowned as Washington
and Lafayette give to it, will always make it
an object of intense interest to the visitor of
Mount Vernon.
Passing on a few rods down the bank we
came to the family spring, from which the
crystal waters were flowing the same as when
the great hero saked his thirst there in the
days of the infant Republic. 1t is inclosed in
small brick house, perhaps eight feet
square, with red, shingled roof. The limpid
waters come in at one side, aud flowing quite
around the walls pass out on the other. 1t is
delightful retreat in the heat OF summer,
and we all quaffed cooling draught, which
was as sweet and refreshing ii as slipped from
'.The old oaken bucket which hung in the WE'LL"
My companions had already gone along be-
fore me and 1 FASTENED as fast as possible to
the mansion. Passing under the piazza, and
entering the house on the side facing the
Potomac, turned to the right and found my
self in 2 room which appeared to have been
the parlor. 1t was spacious and well finish
ed The mantle is made of white marble,
beautifully wrought in bass-relief, and repre-
| senting country scene at sunset. The
horse just unhitched from the plough, the
children and dogs playing upon the lawn, and
| the maid drawing wafer from the well, are
peculiarly truthful and interesting. 1t was
executed in Italy, and presented to Washing
on by NJ. Vaughan of Philadelphia. In
one corner of the room was Larpsichor
| made in London. l touched the keys, not
altistically, and it sent forth some faint but
z.Ilinh- -shoI1A1 ham ola it
might have been in the days OF Washington
Leaving this room entered another on
| the front of the house, with an outlook on
| the spacious court and toward the old gate
which, after the English style, was placed at
the entrance of the way that led to the man
sion. This was the study OF the great chief
tain where he prepared his Farewell Address
to the people, and the other official papers
which we love to read so well. On one side
was large picture paneled in the wall, but
so dimmed with age that l could not tell
what scene it represented. Near the win
dow, stood large globe which must have
been very fine in its day, and was used by
Washington for geographical reference.
| As | looked around for a moment,
thought could almost see the strong and
| manly form of Washington, and hear the