Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-11-07


chambers. Among the many distinguished
prisoners who were confined within its walls
and who suffered the most severe and barba
rous treatment which the minds of wicked
and depraved tyrants could conceive, were
the famous Man of the Iron Mask, Fouquet
the Marshal of Rcheieu, Voltaire, Cardi
nal Roahan, and the Duke Of Nemours who
spent thirteen years in an iron cage placed
In one of itsmost gloomy and damp compart
ments. Strange to say, the first prisoner in
generated within the Bastlle was the build
er himself, Huges Aubriot. In the revolu
; ton of 1889 the Bastle was destroyed by the
Parisians. Lamartine gives an interesting
description of this selge in the first volume
of his French Revolution. The sight where
stood the Bastle is now marked by a lofty
column of bronze, dedicated to the memory
of the patriots of 1889 and 1880, and is
crowned by gilded figure Of Mercury. A
model of the Bastile, cut from the granite
stones of the demolished prison and present
ed by Lafayette, accompanied with a plan of
the interior, can be seen in the State room.
The next object of interest which attracted
our attention was the harpsicord, musical
instrument Gen, Washington's bridal pres
ent to Eleanor Custis II is a most artistic
piece of workmanship, elegantly finished
and cost 81 900. In the same room Is to be
seen large plain chain which came over In
the Mayflower in 1920.
1t would be q task of considerable labor
to give You description of each room and
that which II contained In all were to be
seen relics rich with interest. The liquor
case presented by Lord Fairfax, the militia.
ny equipment used by Washington In the
Braddock campaign, portraits of Hamilton,
Burr, Knox, Lafayette, Patrick Henry, Rich
ard Henry Lee Hudon, Trumbul, and many
of the great generals Of the revolution and
most distinguished men of those times adorn-
ed the walls. In the Fast room there are
many interesting relics, among which are
the fine bust Of Washington, Lafayette's
Masonic apron, Washington's compass and
tripod used in his early surveys, together
with various autograph letters, conspicuous
among which is the one from Col Jonathan
Trumble announcing the approaching mar
rage of Nelly GUSTS
The room In which tourists and visitors
seem TO take the most interest and which Is
generally the first enquired for is the one In
which Washington died. II is plain and
medium-szed with large old-time fireplace.
II has attached to il u dressing and linen
room On the south side are two large win.
dows, which command beautiful view
down the river. The bed-stead on which
Washington died remains in this room and
is dressed as il was during his life time.
From the cupola grand, sweeping and
animated landscape greets the eye 10 the
westward the blue hills of Virginia rise In
towering and graceful sublimity, whilst from
their base stretch out succession Of dim
pied valics. In the far off distance you
catch the winding Of the Potomac, whose
waters seem to exult in gladness as every
wave which makes to the ocean bears upon
its bosom the Shadows Of Arlington and
Mount Vernon. Eastward, the hills Of Mary
land are plainly disccrnible with their sum-
mits crested with large groves Of forest trees,
their gently sloping sides dotted over with
smiling homesteads and studded with the |
the products of hardy and enterprising |
husbandry. Furtherup come within clear
range the frowning Qualifications of Fort |
Washington and still further on can be seen |
the dome Of the Capitol lifting into the clear
blue sky the Goddess of Liberty But we
must not linger longer at this point, scenes
Of far deeper and more hallowed interest
await our inspection.
Leaving the mansion ut the west door you |
step at once upon beautiful lawn some four
or five hundred yards in extent This lawn
is arranged in the shape of an American
shield, around which is Il graveed walk or
drive densely lined on either side by i'm.
mense trees, many Of them selected and
planted by Washington. This lawn can be
entered at the arched gateway which stands
at the end Of the avenue. Through this
gateway Washington brought his fair bride,
and forty years afterwards slowly filed the
long train Ol mourners that attended his
funeral" TO the right Of the lawn and near
about It's centre you enter under the shade
Of four magnificent trees, ash and poplar, the
iower-gardcn. Here again Washington has
shown great taste. Most Of the squares are
laid off in the shape Of Masonic emblems
and are bordered by hedges Of box. On the
right and left Of this lawn, near It's head and
directly opposite each other, stand the family
kitchen and office. They are connected with
the mansion by curved colonade. The Of.
flee was nsed TO cook in on State occasions
Passing under this colonade, we came out
upon grayeled walk which winds around
to the tomb, and thence on ~ the White
river landing. Immediately on this road
and about half way between the river and
the mansion stands what Il known as the
" Washington Oak" II Is n primitive tree
and some ten or twelve feet in circumference
II Is said b have been a fayorite resting place
with Washington. It's decayed trunk and
many lcailess branches tell plainly Of the
sad rayagcs Of time and the fury Of the
storms, could il speak, what volume OF
mighty thought II could furnish.
A short distance from the Washington
Oak, and at the upper terminus Of bcauti.
ful and romantic rayinc Is locatedthe Tomb,
lit Is brick structure, plain and unprc.
lending. The location was selected by Wash.
ngton and built Of the material as dictated
in his will. The front OF the tomb bcar- the
inscription
within this enclosure rest the remains OF
General George Washington"
The original tomb In which the remains
Of Washington were laid Is situated nearly
In front Of the Mansion. Il was at the door
Of this. vault that Mr.. Gusts presented Col.
Lafayette with a gold ring, containing some
Of the hair Of the soldier, patriot, philanihro-
phist and christian. II was not until 1891
that the remains Of Washington were re-
moved to their present resting pace--and |
a. late as 1892, Congress made second at
-