Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-11-02

49, NU' ~ Oh 1AAACi4Ooh CdH II
with shield and darts. A simi-
lar though plain coffin by il
marks the resting place of his
consort, Martha Washington.
These are said to be locked and
the keys thrown into the deep
Potomac i'll order that no one
should open them. On the wall
Of the inclosure above their
heads, and opposite the iron
gate, is written: 81 am the
resurrection and the life; he that
believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live. And
whosoever liveth, and believeth
IN me, shall never die.-John XII.
25, 26."
On the right of the path lead
ing to the mansion is the old
vault in which the body of
Washington was first placed.
His honOred remains were
thought to be insecure on ac-
count Of relic seekers. Conse-
quently by an act of Congress
in the year 1887, he was moved
to his present resting place.
The old tomb is about one hum
dred yards from the new and
fifty from the way leading from
the boat-landing to the mansion
on the rivers bank. Return
ing to the road, We reach the
cd oak tree under which Wash
ington is said to ave rested as
he ascended to the house, when
weary from climbing the hill.
"Tbis historical tres" says Los
sing, "is more than two hundred
years old. is the most ven
cradle tree on the mount, yet it
appears to be in o fiourishing
condition"
We now approach the man
sion which is made of wood,
cut and colored in imitation of
stone. It fronts east toward
the river, with a porticO which
extends the entire length of the
building, and is supported by a
number of tall columns, which
are substantially based on a
stone floor. In the hall is the
old rusty key Of the French
prison "Bastile," presented to
Washington by Lafayette. 1t
is enclosed in a glass frame, and
is said to remain where the hand
of Washington placed it. To
the right is the east parlor in
which are a number of relics.
Here may be seen Washington'e
spy glass, his old jugs and
pitchers, q suit Of his clothes,
his oil globe, lock of his hair,
tue tripod used in his early sur
veys, and many other articles
Of interest. Passing through
this apartment we enter the pub
lie dining hal! This is in the
north end Of the building, and
its walls are decorated with q
number of fine paintings, a.
mong which is a beautiful work
of art, representing Washing
ton before Yorktown. A mod
el Of the Bastile, two very old
chairs. and a table owned by
W ashington, are among the
objects of interest in this room.
We now pass through door in
the southwestern corner of this
apartment into the west parlor,
in which is an old picture Of the
attack on Carthagena, ,174l, Ad-
miral Vernon in command, with
whom Lawrence Washington,
the brother Of the General,
served. Two large mirrors are
here suspended OIL the wall, as
their honored owner left them.
On the left of the entry, just
beyond the library room, in
which are many mouldy look
ing books, was Washington's
private dining room, where he
and family relished their meals
when not tbronged with guests.
On the second floor, at the south
end of the bnilding, is the room
in which Washington died ON
the 18th of December, 1899. 1t
is a small apartment with two
large windows opening towards
his tomb. Through these win
dows it is said he often looked
upon the place he had selected
for the family graveyard. Tins
room is decked as it was when
the father of his country" was
ushered into the future world.
The same curtains hover over
the now vacant bed. The visl-l
tor is struck with a strange and
inexpressible soleInnity, as he
gazes on this quiet spectacle.
On this floor in the north part
of the house is the room once.
occupied by Lafayette, who vas
a warm friend and frequent
guest of Washington. Apoth-