Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-11-16
The PILGRIMS at Mount Vernon.

Measurable emotions. Capt. HolIingsworlh,
who is in charge ri the grounds keeps them
in perfect order. aud by strenuous aud deter
mined purpose has succeeded in saving the
place from being ruined by the Iara pirates
Who by courtesy, are called visitors.
Speaking on this subject reminds Inc 10 say
that the next Centennial will iai5h it, that ls,
if it survives; Tor another such Eruption Of
Centennial pilgrims will utterly denollsh The
old MANSION house. Their acts are simply
with the naules of all the Tom Jones and JoiIr
Smiths from Oregon TO Maine. Every foo
who had pencil used it on the walls, aud even
they arc discounted by the reilo hunters, whG
| steal everything they can lay their hands on.
| They chip spnters off the mantle, cnt pieces
from the carpet. and actually have surreptl
tiousy made of with u bed slat, bureau knob
and stair rod.
There is one llrt OF history very much
doubt, anu that IS the tale OF Mira Gen. Wash
/ ington occupying the garnet room for eighteen
months subsequent 10 the General : death. II
is q little room With ssop;ng ceiling, that you
| bump your head against every time yol move,
and is lighted by one small peaked widow
The apartment is very small. There IS mol
enough room to swing cat; that Is, without
hurting the cat, aud it ii 81 badly lighted that
ycu caonot see across il. Now 1t Is very toctl
cal to think Ct the old lady mmurng herself
| ia this Door relation chamber aud gazing al
WAYS upon her husbands tomh, alone with hel
grief aud sorrow
| "Peering forth iC solnbro night,
! Or when the legves are green or Drowned.
Or when the soft snow shrouds tho mound
! Where lie.h the sleeper under ground"
1t is 4 very poetcal picture, ard the guide:
tell it, parrot-iike. to every visitor, aud run
through the story like charity Boy "ho has
crammed the alphabet; and every uiau. womat
| or child that has note book writes 1t down
! Mrs. Washington was i0J sensible lrslh!t
malron TO let the servants, the house, and Tho
estate 60 to the dogs, while she shut herself
up 10 y garrett without any fire. and in company
with an old cat, aud. forgetting her duty, gave
way to useless grief. Ii IS pure tatiou, but
is still very pretty one.
Everybody, Of course, PUSHES to SEE the room
where the immortal George expired 1t is {
big bed he died on--laIger than billiard table
one Of those family affairs that all tumble il
to. ether on c cold winter night. 1t was guard
mao, who seemed to be about 10 burst tote
tears every lncmen., and looked IS woe begone
end yrier stricken As Mark Twain a! he tpn,l
OF Adam.
The Tempsrs we're Most Hospitality ;uIcr
taiuel By Captain flauk lloliingshead, OF the
steamer Arrow, and If he lives 81 long as hi:
friends wish hin,, !t viii BIC very Oh mar
ateeu
WasEiu2tuu musi have been very happy
man in the last years ii lis life. He had al
that should accompany old sge--horNr, io7e
obediance and troops of lriends--all that or,
could have. Uf the two greatest men 10 tul
world one sank peacefully TO rest, successful!
aud famous the other died OF broken heart Il
Lexington, unsuccessful, but greater IN ei7sf-
SHY than anyone else could be, whose brow 4
bound By lsurals snd tHined with myrtle.
While che band was playing. afd thc yi,:Df:
waking. sau1teTlng AID sLro.ng over iht
beautiful grounds, | Went IL Qusint -;o!, n't
lar oil, where there was rustic circular !onci
| built around the trunk OF massive tree. Seat
ipg myself, | was soon lost IN one OF those luIu
rious re7eries which The bursts OF sweetiy soil
| music aud beautiful scenery are sure TO produce
| OFF to the right the river bant 20 bold cn-va
like bow, and one could trace the winding:
ia and ont for miles and miles away. l. sud
DENY became conscious that others had also 0c
cupied seats near me, Tor though they were or
the opposite side Of the tree, yet could haa'
| them plainly, and their clear voices were DIS
Iuclly audible above the music. Their con
ycrsation puzzled and bewildered me, and hav
lug note book and pencil, | took capy, aad
like Captain Cutie, made several notes Of it
aud this is What occurred. So he said some
thing real nice about me- did he SIl down
on this bench and tell LIE. Oh, never mDl
about old GEORGES toni; was it anythiDg about
ring Yes, said the other. lle-Uh my! o!
L9r +. Good gracious alive Oh, thought
had fixed it. Oh turned To offer Ivy aSs!s
tance on hearing her cries, for all the natura
chivalry Of my nature Pas aroused, aud
would have dared death, or, like Romeo, have
fought liyrcan tiger or rugged Russian bcal
for fair women in menace or in peril. My IN
lcntions were nippcd 10 the bud and sank
breathless 10 my seat, for heard her colnpan:
ion say, Have you broken wire Broken !
wire? the other rctorted in whitening tone
why every bone and wire 10 the plague take il
| thing is broken, though uiended it before
came, and it set beautifully, and did1't wobble
a BIT Come arcund the tree, the ether replied
and will fix il up AS they came to where
was seated edged around the tree, and al! IN
CONSCIOUS they kept up their dialogue. II wa:
all right rejoined the other, sadly, but Tor those
horriI creatures who damned it up. hate L
crowd. Got pin, a piece of string? hair pin
will dc aud the other voice rcioined, WoudcI
it didn't kill you. am sorry long ones haze
come into fashion. Yes, said the other, 50 an
|, but used Mas shawl. Her companion re-
marked 7ivacously l always use newspapers
but since Pas commenced to file the Gaz5tte,
| doa't know what to d. Tor think it sin 10
use the Southern Churchmao. As they sauDt.
cred off the last words that entered my ears
were Does it set well The music died away
and its tones echoed over the far loWlands. and
left me studying what those girls wero talking
about. | asked |! Templar who was busy sort.
ing brands OF Captain llong>lrad's whiskey
what they meant, and be ooly said damlino,
and so | won't adle my brain over TIC strange
ways OF girls any onger.
Captain Blake, D charge OF the Mary Wash
ipgton. excrted himself to make the passeDg-
ers have M agreeable time, aud his kindness
mos r ar ,,rblv ,pprnniataa hu oil IN hon ri