The daily gazette., 1875-10-14
Letter from Alerandria, Ia.
DESCRIPTION OF ALEXANDRIA, vA.-AS-
GENT MASONIC RELICS, &c.
ALEXANDRIA. Va, Oct. G, 1875.

home OF more than six weeks. [ have
frequent J thought of sending you let
ter. but 'lntll now have never taken the
time to write.
This ancient city, as your readers are
aware, i, situated on the beautiful and
historic Potomac, six miles below Wash
ington. The population is about fifteen
THOUSAND. The city is beautifully laid
out, the line wide streets running at
right angles; many Of them are beauti-
fully shaded Handsome residences are
to be seen on Washington, Prince and
other streets. The people are sociable
and hospitable.
| will venture to say there is no other
city OF the same size in the Union where
better order is preserved 1T all times.
There are only fourteen policemen in the
city, and 1t is rare thing their servicea
are required to qHell disturbance or
make an arrest. There are four or five
hotels here; the largest ID the Mansion
House with accommodations for about
two hundred guests. The Fortune" is
much smaller house conducted on the
European plan, and is one OF the best
conducted houses OF the kind have ey.
er seen.
The city market house is a very fine
building erected at cost Of about $50
900. In the second story of this build
ing Is the county aad ,ltS court rooms.
| the county and city Offices. and the beau
| tlful apartments OF the famous Alexau.
dria Washington Lodge, No. 22, A. +. &
y. NJ. The first charter of this Lodge
was granted in 1888. by the Grand Lodge
OF Pennsylvania, under the title of the
Aiexinilll LJd-a Ne. 80. under which it
worked until l1SS, when, with General
| Washington ai Worshipful Master, il
! ir.c.iged 4 charter from the Grand Lodge
70. virginia, Under the assignation of the
Alexandria Lodge No. % This name
was continued until 1895, when, in order
| to include the name Of Washington Gts
first master under the Virginia warranty
It was changed to that of the Alexandra
! Washington lodge, No. -, by which
name 1t has been known tor the past
seventy year. In the rooms of this
Lodge are = be seem some exceedingly
valuable relies formerly the property Of
| the great and good Washington Among
these are Lh" following: \ beautiful
| masonic apron, prc-ented to General
Washington by Mr.. General Lafayette,
| 1t Is SAID that when General LaFayette
last visited this country he Wa, shown
tins apron. ana GloH rccugalZ Zing il as
the handiwork of his wife he shed tears.
| Washington wedding GLOW, and the
glove worn at his mothers funeral are
to be seen here; also, boot strap or
garter worn by him at Braddock's de-
feat; also, cupping instruments, field
compass, farm spurs, pruning knife, pen
knife, presented to him by his mother
when lie was only twelve years old; a
button taken from the coat worn by
Washington upon the occasion of his
tlrst taking the oath Of President of the
United States at :he Old City hall, in
New York; chamber clock that was in
the room IN which Washington died.
Att. Vernon; the hands are said to be
the same position as they were whenth
spirit II The good man took its fight, at
10 7. NJ, p,c. :, 1893; largo iron key,
! weighing tlvc pounds, of the Bastile,
y France, presented to Washing on by
General Lal ayette; "a hiick from Whar-
ton building, Philadelphia, the house
where SIR VIM. Howe, who commanded
the British forces, had his headquarters,
while General Washington lay with his
army az Germantown, date ON brick,
l!4I. The Lodge also owns SONG curious
glassware used at the time Washington
was Master; also, the large arm chair
which Washington occupied when Mas
ter. Inc following are among the por-
traits belonging to tie Lodge: Large
one IN oil ot Washington in regalia.
taken from life, by Williams. of Phila
delphia, i'll 1894, and presented to the
Lodge 10y WASHINGTON; n life size por-
| tAhAA va N't44'AhA i-ti d5ttIts one OF MS
eKcelleney, Edmund Randolph, Govern
J or OF Virginia and Grand Maste of the
, State IN lISs; one OF his eIcellency, Ro-
bert Brooke. Governor of Virginia and
Grand Master Of the State in l796 also,
medallion pictures Of the members of
the Lodge IN 1904. There are numerous
autograph letters and other valuable
relics too numerous 20 mention, which
are only 10 be seen Ivy paying a visit to
ha L.. A l.
hope that q committee will be appointed
to take these relics to Philadelphia and
= exhibit them a the Centennial. Among
the portraits | negl, cted to mention u
Q very fine line engraving, original, (proof
print of the Washington family, 1898.
TIE chairs at present used by the mem
r bers of the Lodge are the same used
when Washington was Master. A valu-
I able and interesting historical sketch"
, OF important events connected with this
e Lodge, some of them having close con-
| nection with the history of the country,
with biographical sketches of deceased
: members, many Of them of historic re
| nown, Is now in press, AID Will be sent
: to any address upon receipt of 81 90.
t either by check or postal order. enclosed
It to VIM. II. Lambert, Esq, of this city.
n There are three papers published here,
I the Alexandria Gazette and Virginia Adcer-
, | ttser, tue Selttntt, both published daily
> weekly. and the Southern Charchmdn
weekly. There are twelve churches in
the city, embracing all denominations,
o besides FIVE or six colored churehes
r Among the schools, are the washing
# tom ,for white boys) founded and en-
d dowed by General Washington. in 1885
70 The Lee school, tfor white girls.) Th,
a "Snowden" school (for colored girls.
y est. Johns" academy, military schoo
:, for boys, besides numerous priyat'
II and select schools for boys and girls
e There are four banks, and several bank
q ers and brokers officers. FoIr rail road
l. centre here. There are steam transpor
,e tation lines to Baltimore, Washington
l. Georgetown, and TO New York and Phil
h. adelphia, the latter connecting witt
al Clyde's line for Providence, the Ney
ic England States and Charlestown, Soatl
Carolina.
There is n large cotton mill, and
:. grist mill, capacity of latter is 800 bar
St roIs ,1ar dav uaither of them in opera