The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-21
A CITY OF OLD RELICS.

NS"Af 49, 9NANAAA tHlN-A
terrupted decay, the angular, single
: rooted houses, with their faded green
blinds on both doors and windows anu
: the cumbrous cellar.dOors, belray the
tenacity with which Alexandrlans cling
to the hallowGd memories Of historic as
sociations, that cluster around TINS mon
ument OF the past" -,,-..-
In the days OF its colonial masnlhcence
the Old Dominion town was noted lar
and wide for the rare beauty OF its bril-
j Ilant bellies, its courtly danes and gallant
cavaliers. whose reverence for English
customs made the town decidedly "loyap
in its sentiment A time.worn family
carriage, drawn by antiquated horses,
with venerable COachman, is pointed
out us the Oldest establishment in town.
As this remnant OF deCayed GristOCracy
rolls on we catch u glimpse OF two ladies
within, who, though clad in rusty mourn.
ing, and sad.eyed and faded, retain traces
of great personal loneliness. They were,
in their youth, among the beautiful and
and fascinating bellies of the place,
There are many places in the vicinity
of Alexandria rendered sacred by the
footsteps Of Washington, but one Is most
lorcibly reminded Of him while sitting In
Christ Church, in which there Is a high.
backed, crimsOn.llned pew in which
Washington and his vile used TO sit The
quaint looking and beautiful old church
IS covered with ivy, md is surrounded by
the stately trees whose branches form a
natural arCh over the brick walk on
which, In olden times, ladies' trailed their
costly silks, accompanied by polished
gentlemen Of the old school, with pow.
dered t0upeeS, top boots, rutiled shirt.
bosoms and cooked hats On either side
of the walk the high grass waves over
broken marble slabs the resting.plaCes of
many noted representatives OF southern
aristOcracy Alexandria is essentially u
city OF churches. The departure of for.
mCr glory, the general decay and the
Sabbath.like stiffness and quiet repose of
the ancient town, are SO suggestive OF
solemn thoughts that the inhabitants have
devoted their attention chiefly to church.
going, and the little town now boasts Of
seventeen houses OF Christian worship,
besides new Jewish synagogue. The
time.discOlOred Marshall House, over
which the first rebel flag that waved
within the town was raised, is still stand
ing, but is unOCcupied and will soon be
torn down. We assembled slowly and
carefully the ricketty stairway up which
the rash but brave Ellsworth hurried.
The two bullet holes still remain in the
crumbllng wall, near where he was muir
dered; but the stairs have been literally
cut 10 pieces by the knives of Unsuitable.
reliC,hunteTs, fn- T...
The large conllagratlOn last summer de-
strOyed the old museum and not one of
the valuable relics placed there for safety
escaped destruction, There was heter-
OgeneOus collection Of curiOsitles belong
Ing u some Of the Oldest southern fami-
lies, aud q number of valuable portraits In
their furnished gilded frames, that had
hung for halfa century on the sombre,
must walls of the museum. Tho most at.
tracttve.l0Oking picture In the collection
was that of Martha Washington in her
youthful days. The shrewshness which
IL Is said COunterbalanced her many yir-
tues during her later years WINS not be.
trayed 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 forehead. All that was visible
Of the dark green dress was made in a
style similar to that prevailing at the pres.
ent day. There was also a portrait of
William Penn painted by West, and an.
other Of Lord Fairfax. The figure of the
latter was elegantly arrayed in maroon
velvet coat with an exquisite lace ruflle
There was bust of John Paul Jones
which was presented TO Washington by
General Lafayette, and an antique clock
which once licked its monotonous music
in Washington's home. Several rusty
models were great curiOsities, Ond very
valuable, being the only ones Of the kind
In existence. There was q model Of tho
first war.ship built In tho United States,
The original was built at Portsmouth
N. H., aud carried seventy.thrGe guns. II
was presented to the French government
by Congress rs b token Of gratitude for
services rendered The model was made
by one Other officers the Viscount de Bar.
rails, and presented to Washington. There
was also u model Of tic triumph arch,
wreathed with evergreens and adorned
with flags, through which General IIaGy.
cite rode ut Alexandria In 1924. An IN.
slightly model Of the first French guillo-
tine recalled tho horrors Of the days of
terror.
About one mile from the tOwlt lies the
National Cemetery, in which arc buried
three thousand six hundred soldiers. Two
hundred and forty nine Of them belonged
to the colored troops, and twenty.nine
i pnlnt t,Hi1n1npu nj SAN Frkn
etery Is uniquely laid out, and the sur.
roundings are rustic and beautiful. The
centre Is designated by the letters "U. g."
beautifully formed with grass bordering,
and surrounded by large flower.beds, each
one representing cOrps.badge, while on
either side diverge the long parallel rows
Of white.painted headbOards The only
large monument in tho cemetery is the
one erected TO the memory of four young
men who lost their lives on the Gath OF
April, 1865, while In pursuit of Booth
alter the assassination. 1t will be remem.
bered that they were going down the
river In small boat, Rtraining every nerve
In their eagerness TO overtake the assassin,
wheil they were run into by steamer
and Immediately disappeared w
Near the National Cemetery Is the old
graveyard belonging TO st. PaGl's Church.
II contains number of dilapidated,
mouldy looking vaults, in which, for
century or more, have reposed the bones
Of some Of the "oldest families" The
grave Of the " Female Stranger" here,
has been regarded with intense curiosity
for neatly fifty years, and has given rise |
to all sorts OF vague Conjectures and i'm.
probable stories. In the year 1916, u
beautiful young English lady came to
Alexandria, and shortly afterwards was
married TOT British officer After few
Snort months ofhappiness, she died at the