Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-09

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THE TOMB OF WAsHINGToS.-Strangeto say,
there are hundreds OF young, middle aged, and
even aged jewellers IN this Federal metropolis,
named from its illustrious founder, the Father
of his Country who have never made a pill
grimage 10 his burial place at Mount Vernon,
although il is distant only few miles from the
city. Does this disregard for q spot made a.
cred by the holy memories of our baptism a
nation by fire and blood which cluster around
~, indicate a decline OF public patriotism The
home of General George Washington, the house
in which he lived, the grounds hallowed by
his footsteps, the room in which he died. the
yault in which his remains are deposited. are
sadly neglected, and all because in the country
which he delivered, not enough can be spared
from the vast wealth which came with free
dom, 10 rescue such precious souvenirs from
the rayages of tine, and the small but destruc-
tive army of relic hunters, who have no rever-
ence for sacred things, and no remorse for their
vandalism, so that they can nil their cabinets
The Mount Vernon Association and the SUI.
periRtenGent who has charge OF the estate ar.
often eensured by visitors through the columns
of the newspapers and otherwise for the
neglected appearance of the house and grounds
Such cs1sure s are undeserved and u In Iust. The
ASSOCIATION of patriotic ladies who purchased
the es' ate bad TO work hard TO raise the neces-
sary mears 10 clear themselves of the debt in
CURED, which task they finally accomplish he'd
but they had nothing lett, and have to RELY
upon voluntary contributions and the small
pIttance received from visitors to take care of
the property. Mr. Upton H. Herbert, the SUI
perintendent. rs 9n intelligent and energetic
spons 4ollies of hIs position, but with only half
a dozen labOrers cannot be expected to accom-
plish the herculeln task of repairing roads and
buildings, moving lawns, clearing gravel
walks, eultiyaIing gardens, pruning trees, &C.
on this large plan1stion. work which formerly
required five times that number OF men 10 per
form. The police duties alone would monop-
Ollxe the services OF twice his present force
Were the visitors more numerous. and the su-
perm 70 ldent and his asst tants less watchful
all trouble and expense would soon be saved
for there would ere I, ng be no tree which
Washington planted, no house, no shrub or
flow or. and 10 tomb lett. The human locusts
would quickly clear the ground.
- riOusly. however, Mount Vernon cannot be
taken care of without money-no one will work
Tor patriotism alone-and those VINO grumbls
AT It's condition. without stating the cause are
only making the matter worse. Every AmerI-
can should. If convenient, visit the spot and
do what he csu tor its preservation. Washing
tonians who fail TO do % are ineXcusabIe. The
trip can be made rom this city down the Poto-
mac this pleasant Iall weather. any day in the
week, In the comfortable steamer. which now
runs regularly TO that point allowing visitors
two hours on The grounds Yesterday, udite
large party were on board, many of our citizens
awaiting themselves of the fine weather to visit
friends and acquaintances at Alexandria Forts
Washington end FcOte, and other points ard
considerable number going on 10 Mount YER
non.