Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-20
A visit to Alexandria, Va,

"A Visit to Alexandria, Va,
A correspondent of the New York Evening
Post, writes letter from Alexandria. 1t con-
tains many errors and an exaggerated descrip-
tion of the ''dulness and grass grown streets"
of the old town But as people generally like
to see what is said abroad Of our city, we give
it as it Is, leaving the reader to make the
corrections
"A feeling Of awe steals ever us as we tread
the grass-grown streets Of this old town. The
general appearance OF uninterrupted decay, the
angular shingle-roofed houses, with their faded
green blinds on both doors and windows and
the cumbrous cellar-doors, betray the tenaclty
with which Alexandrians cling to the hallowed
memories and historic associations, that cluster
around this monument Of the past.
In the days of its colonial magnifcence the
Old Dominion town was noted tar and wide for
the rare beauty ofits brilliant bellies, its courty
DANES and gallant cavaliers, whose reverence
for English customs made the town decidedly
''loyal' in its sentiment. \ tinle-worn family
carriage, drawn by. antquated horses, with Il
venerable coachmau, is pointed out as the old
est establishment in town. As this remnant of
Lrcavcd aristocracy rolls on we catch glimpse
of two ladies within, who, though clad in rusty
mourning, and sad eyed and faded, retain
traces of great personal lovelinest They were
in their youth among the beautiful and taScl-
mating bellies Of the place
There arc many places in the vicinity OF
Alexandria rendered sacred by the footsteps
of Washington, but Que is most torclbly re-
in which there is high backed, crimson-lined
Dew in which Washington and his wife used to
sit. The quaint-looking and beautiful old
church is covered with ivy, and is surrounded
by the stately trees whose branches form a
natural arch over the brick walk on which, in
olden times, ladies traied their costly silks, ac-
companed by polished gentlemen of the old
school, with powdered toupees, top boots,
rufled shirt-bosonls and cooked hats On
either side Of the walk the high grass waves
over broken marble slabs that mark the resting
places of many noted representatives, or southern
aristocracy Alexandria is essentially city OF
churches The departure Of former glory, the
general decay and the Sabbath-like stiffness
and duet repose of the ancient town, are SO
suggestive of solemn thoughts that the inhabi-
tants have devoted their attention chiefly to
church going and the little town'now boasts OF
of seventeen houses of Christian worship, be-
sides 4 new Jewish synagogue. The time
dscolorcd Marshall House, over which the hrst
rebel flag that waved within the town was
raised, is still standing, but is unoccupied and
will soon be torn down. We assembled slowly
and carefully the rickctty stairway up which
the rash but brave Ellsworth hurried. The
two bullet-holes still remain in the crumblipg
wall, near where he was murdered; but the
stairs have been literally cut to pieces by the
knives of Unsuitable relic hunters.
The large conhagration last summer destroy
ed the old museum and not one OF the valuable
relics placed there for safety escaped destruc--
ton There was heterogeneous collection OF
curiosities belonging to some Of the oldest
southern families, and i number OF valuable
portraits in their tarnished gilded frames, that
had hung for half a century on the sombre,
mustv walls of the museum. The most attrac-
tive looking picture in the collection was that
of Martha Washington in her youthful days.
The shrewishness which it is said counter:bal-
anced her many virtues during her later years
was not betrayed in single line or feature of
the gentle, intelligent face of the old portrait.
The eyes were soft and dark, and the wealth
of beautiful hair was rolled back from the fore
head All that was visible of the dark green
dress was made in style similar to that pre-
valing at the present day. There was also a
portrait of W illiam Peen painted by West, and
another of Lord Fairfax. The figure OF the
latter WAS elcSduIiJ dildSC Au 'SA'S'
coat with an exquisite lace rufHe. There was
bust of John Paul Jones which was present
cd to Washington by General Lafayette, and
an antique clock which once ticked its mono
tonous music in Washington's home.
About one mile from the town lies the Ma
tional Cemetery, in which are buried, three
thousand and six hundred soldiers -
Near the National Cemetery is the old grave
yard belonging to St. Paufs church. 1t con-
taips a number of dilapidated, mouldy looking
vaults, in which for a century or more, have
reposed the bones of some Of the ''oldest tami-
lies. The grave of the Female Stranger here,
has been regarded with intense curiosity tor
nearly fifty years, and has given rise to all sorts OF
vague coniectures and improbable stories. In
the year iSlG beautiful, young English lady
came to Alexandria, and shortly afterwards was
married to British officer. After few short
months of happiness she died at the Mansion
House, and was buried in the old graveyard
A large marble slab covers the grave, upon
which is the following inscription: Sacred tG
the memory of the Female Stranger, who died
in the arms of her bereaved husband, &c;-
There is no name given, nor the slightest clue
afforded, by which the history Of the unknown
could be traced.