Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-10-30
LETTER FROM EDDIE vAHpERlEIrn
IN COMPANY WITH Mr.. WREN, HE
VISITS MOUNT VERNON.
Interesting Description Of the
Home and Last Resting Place
OF General Washington.

Mr.. ]. vsnderlieth Is in receipt of
the following well written letter from
his son, Eddie, who departed for Wash.
ington some weeks ago in compa ny
with Congressman Wren:
WASHINGTON, d. e., Oct. 10th.
j. VANDERLETTH, Dear Papa: Mr..
Wren and 1 visited Mt. Vernon. the
home and last resting place Of our
country's father, General George
Washington. yesterday, and . spl en-
did time We had, too. We left the
pier at Washington by the swift and
commodious steamer. "Arrow," at 10
O'Clock A. NJ, and a more beautiful
day could not have been selected for
our pleasure excursion. The leaves
oil the banks we're brilliantly tinted,
some golden, some a dark grey, others
scarlet and black, and of course, this
fairy like scene was interspersed with
numerous evergreen trees. which,
taken all in all, was q OF wondrous
beauty. The first object of interest
that invites the eye Is q grand view of
Arlington, General Lees residence
and headquarters during the rebellion.
1t Is hand soInely situated on Arlington
Heights. and looks rs cosy M COM
Portable, nestled down in among the
autumnal foliage, as q tiny rosebud,
Immediately white, hidden in the
center of q bridal bouquet. On the
left ham side of the river your atten-
ton Is drawn to the United States Gov
Eent Arsenal, with its beautiful
grounds and immense The
site of the Old Pe~ritentiary, now in
oblivion. is occupied by two very
pretty buildings. Between these two
structures were hung Mrs. Surratt
and the conspirators, in 1865, for the
murder of our greatly lamented Pres
ident, Lincoln.
That large brick structure away to the
north, we are told, Is Georgetown Col
lege, and by the way, we have visited
this institution, which is carried on by
the Jesuit fathers. Here we are at
Alexandria, a thriving place on the
Virginia side. noted for its numerous
Revolutionary "reminiscences. Here
can be seen by the curious, old Christ
Church, containing George Washing.
tons pew. the City Hotel, IN which can
be found "our chiefs room; the old
Br4ddock headquarters; the house in
which Lafayette roonied; the house
where Washington presided at a Ma
sonic banquet. Passing by Fort Foote,
we arrive at Fort Washington, a large,
gloomy and stoutly constructed forti-
fication. Now looking back toward
our conntry's Capital. we enjoy a mag
nificent sight of the Capitol, rearing Its
lofty dome, surmounted by the statue
of Freedom, far above the surrounding
buildings; indeed. it seems the very
clouds to kiss. Upon our arrival at
Mount Vernon, the passengers start
along the bridge and up the path lead
ing to the sepulchre in file, scarcely a
word being uttered, aud naught but
the falling autumn leaves and the
sweet chirp of the English spar
row disturbs the Silly quietness of the
grand old place. Ere we arrive at the
tomb, Ne pass some charming weeping
willows, grown from sprigs transplant
ed from Napoleon's Frances WASH
is of brick, (Washington's REQ uest TO
be inferred in a brick vault), and by
looking through the iron gates can be
seen the sarcophagi, the one
on the right being the immortal
bero's, while On the left can be seen
his consorts. Over the tomb you read
this simple inscription, Within the
Enclosure rests the remains OF General
George Washington" Through the
grating may be deciphered. on a mar
bic slab, over the o of the vault, 81
am the resurrection and the life, and
whatsoever believeth in Me shall not
die. st. John XII, 25.6." Down in
the left hand corner of the niche that
contains the aforementioned marble
slab, "a sparrow has built her nest.
Dear little birdie thought it a comfort
able place for n home, and it really is.
In front Of the tomb stands u large
wa.nu, tEpglish) tree, from which fell
a nut, which l secured, and l o
have it safely stored away in my valise
along with some ferns and autumn
leaves, a piece OF rock taken from the
foundation of Washington's mill, a
basket made from a peach stone grown
IN his orchard, and a walnut grown
near the old tomb. Soon after leaving
the house OF the honored dead. passing
the stable, we arrive at the mansion.
the abode Of the General. We entered
the house, and almost the first thing
that entices the eye is the key Of the
French ~sastile, presented to Washing
ton by his friend Lafayette. There 1t
hangs on the left sids of the door,
where it was hung by himself, and it
has remained untouched ever since.
Among other relics can be seen the
iron hooks over the door OF the east
parlor. where the General psed to
hang his spy-glass, and in u large glass
case in the above-named room can be
seen his compass, a suite of his clothes,
Lafayette's masonic apron, . piece of
his (Washinston's) coffin. his spy
glass, some letters written by him, his
sword and blunderbuss, a stocking,
and a lock OF his hair. In the state
dining-rOom can be seen the harpsi-
cord purchased rs a wedding gilt
cost 81 ,000-tor Nelly GUSTS by Wash.
ington, her adopted father; also Q
model OF the old French bastile, hewn
from n of the stones Of this famous
prison, and q chair of his which came
over on the Mayfiower. At the top OF
the stairs. second floor, Is Lafayette's
room, in which is found the dressing
case, looking glass and bureau, used
by him during his visit to Mt. Vernon.
Passing Nelly Custis' room We come
to the Generals room, the one in which
he died, and herein is the he'd on
which he expired, You walk right