The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-04-15

nanv-esneciallv were the voices hushed, as one
and another entered the chamber where w ash
ineton died. 1t is a low room, OF modest dlmen-
sims, with two good sized windows In 1ront;
All the rooms on the second floor are low, and
most of the windows are of twelve panes OF x
10 glass, which might well pass for the windows
of a certain house | know in Hilo. We were
told that Martha Washington never slept In the
room where her husband died, after his deatn'
but took a closet in the attic Tor her Deoroon'
The Blue room which La Fayet1e occupied when
a guest of Washington, retains something Oh ls
ancient character, but is now occupied oy solne
one in charge of the premises. Ihere are many
acres of what might be taken Tor wlid ioree'
land. but we were assured that the trees "ofo
nlanted by Washington. The buildings garden,
i,reen oonses. and grounds are all well kept, ana
the combined whole must be supremacy lovely In
The summer YET a sense of utter Loneliness
possesses one, in wandering through TINS earehiy
Paradise. Gone dead past lost are the "oros
crowdipg upon the mind with a terrible feaiity,
as YOUR feet echo through the bare ana shenl
rooms, where once all was intense lie, Thought,
action. The imperative whistle OF the steamer
compelled US to quit the spot arouhu WHICH u
love of a nation centres. We gathered a lew
f.llen leaves of box, holly and honeysuckle,
which last hung luxuriantly over the door. a
few hours before we bad taken our hrst look OF
Mount Vernon, ard now we took our last.
There were forts, and guns enough along the
banks of the Potomac, to mind us OF war. Inc
great BLACK monster, lying "Ithiu d eCohcS lhlo"
of our steamer, looked like some huge inert sea
slug. lust unearthed from some remote geological
period. Indeed everything in and about Washing
ton recalls the war. 1t is the first place We have
visited where we have felt the war. 1t is in the
very atmosphere, though it takes a new conner to
perceive it. Those who lived here through those
terrible four years, lived a life of daily martyr
dom in their anxiety for the country, and at
night put their apparel in an available position
for instant use, should a shell drop into the
Capital from Arlington Heights-such as these
do not notice the last faint echo of a finished
conflict. But to me it is apparent. The war is
interviewer into the very life of the people.
Here are the graves of their friends-over yondcr
are the crumbling earthworks, and there are the
swarms Of freedmen. The war enters into every
public address. The most effective speech | have
heard in the city, vas one of which the burden
was these three words, - Ten years ago" What
could, and what could not be done in Washington
ten years ago. And here are the SCARED and
MANNED. A few evenings since, two gentlemen,
to make us a call. Each had lost a right arm in
the war. Yes, in Washington we become fully
convinced that there has been a war.
Our Visit to Mount Vernon was a fitting close
to our week in the Capital of this great country.
We left it more hopeful than we entered it. for
there is deep and healthful religious life in the
city. There is a noble army of workers who
have not forgotten the lessons of heroism they
practised during a few years struggle for the
nations life. And more, there are good men and
true in our Capitol. The Senators especially, as
a body, stand high in the estimation of the
citizens. With such men at the helm, and with
our motto, " In God we Trust we may hope
that our nation is saved.