Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-05-25
"REMINISCENCES OFMOUNT VERNON.
The Tomb of Washington Thirty-six
Years Ago.

Years Ago.
| Mr.. William Scott has written to
Colonel W. H. @. Hosmer an interest
ing letter about visit he made to
Mount Vernon in 1885, which Colonel
Hosmer publishes in the Rochester
Advertiser Mr.. Scott, it appears,
found some difficulty in getting admis-
sion to Mount Vernon, and with let
ter from Mr.. Bradley, Mayor of Wash
ington, called on the GUSTS family at
Arlington He writes:
"a tinkle Of the bell brought a SER
want to the door, by whom l sent in my
card, and in a minute or two Mr.. Gus
tbs appeared, and / gave him Mr.. Brad
ley's letter; after looking it over, he
remarked that Mr.. Bradley had stated
the truth by saying that it would give
me pleasure to introduce gentleman
from New York to Mrs. Washington at
Mount Vernon; but at present that is
out of my power, as the lady is now
absent on visit with friends over the
mountain, and will not return till after
New Year, and the house is locked and
no persons there except servants. But, ,
said he, Il think can anticipate your
wishes Your object is to learn things
concerning General Washington
g 'True, said /, L venerate any
thing connected with the memory of
that great man
"'Well, said he, 'if it is so that
you cannot get into the Mount Vernon
honse, there is nothing to prevent you
from entering Arlington House; SO
walk in, you and son, and spend the
evening and night if you can with me
and my family, and take supper at
Washington's old board, and | can
show you things, and tell you things
concerning matters about Mount Yer
non, which you cannot see nor learn in
any other place.
~ told him his invitation for the
evening would be accepted with pleas
ure, but that we should be obliged to
return to the city within a reasonable
hour as our friends would expect us.
] need not say that the entertainment
for the evening was all that could be
desired.
That only treads on flowers
"Mr GUSTS was much of q gentle
man in manner, great talker, and
very communicative.
When supper was announced we,
with Mr.. GUSTS and wife, repaired to
the dining room, where we were intro
duced to lady and gentleman as Cap
tain (since GeneraD Lee and wife,
daughter and son-in-law.
"All took position around the table,
and before taking seats Mrs. Custis
asked blessing to which her husband
responded "amen. " Being seated,
Captain Lee at my left, his wife next,
Mr.. Custis next, Mrs. Custis next, my
son next to me.
"The supper consisted of Virginia
corn pancakes, very nice, good butter,
molasses, with the usual ct ceteras, &c.
Mr. GUSTS observed that we were now
seated around Washington's old board.
1t was ample in size for six or eight
guests.
''While at supper ] inquired concern
ing General WashIngton's military suit,
and was told his military clothes were
in possession of relatives, but with
whom / could not learn And that,
said Mr.. Gusts, brings to my mind an
incident which occurred two or three
years ago. Three gentlemen from the
city of New York called on me with
coat for the purpose of having it iden-
titled rs having once been worn by
General Washington 1t was spread
out on the table before me, and the
first sight got of it caused my blood
to boil Hold, gentlemen, said /,
You will allow me to be plain with
YOU You desire me to say that that
coat was once worn by the great Wash
ington, and viii tell you plainly that
don't believe General Washington
ever saw that coat you think that he,
being plain man, would select such a
material for a military coat; true he
was plain man, but you ought to
know he was n gentleman. A man of
fine taste and never under the necessi-
" OF wearing coat of such a material
as that coat is composed of.
I'm conversation with Mr.. GUSTS
that evening, | received more salts
factory account of the domestic habits
of General Washington than / ever
obtained from any other source.
about ten o'clock We took leave of
the inmates of Arlington House, by
whom we had been so pleasantly enter
tanned, and retraced our way to the
city, where we arrived in safety. well
pleased with our evenings entertain
ment.
1.-The following day we made our
contemplated trip to Mount Vernon,
and from what Mr.. Gusts had told me
! ,1, a., | ,,sn,,,l