Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-11-07
MOUNT VERNON.
A Visit 10 the Tomb of Washington.
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE SENTINEL.

nave Drought you some culled flowers, will
nothing of my own, but the thread which
ties them"
Living all our life within few hours rid,
of Mount Vernon, it was not until June las
that we made our first pilgrimage to spo
rendered dear to every patriots heart ant
which occupies so prominent and conspicu
Gus position in American history.
1t was glorious day, grand and inspiring
and every one seemed to appreciate anC
partake gratefully of its chams--the God o
day seemed to urge on his fiery steeds as hi
car rose above the horizon. The river an(
the skies were tinged with brilliant hues un
til = flood of molten gold covered the waters
as old Sol mounted higher and higher in
his proud career.
Emerging beyond the suberbs Of Alex
andria, tor we travelled by land,) the eye
rested on as lovely scene as ii was ever oul
pleasure to be hold. Clouds tinged will
rich effulgence here scattered above us like
some bright beings attendant on the morn.
ing sun--the heavens above, the Potomac
stretching way in the distance, everything
around seemed exulting in conscious beau
ty. All nature was attired in her choicest
and most becoming apparel, the dew glis.
tened upon every leaf and flower, gemmed
and gilded by the soft rays of the sun, birds
in their brightest plumage, from the hedges
limbs and every dropping sprig were pour.
ing fourth the melody of their matin songs to
the Great Jehovah.
The air was clear, and as the clouds drift.
ed away, the broad heaven that hung like a
blue curtain above the busy world appeared
purer and more beautiful than ever. Here,
solemn and eternal, it spread its clouded
glory above waters, woods and wilds as if
unmindfu Of the SORROWS and cares of earth
So hovers the wide providence of merci-
fl God over His creatures. Unmoved in
its sublime depths by the joys and woes
which agitate the mind of man, and vet
stretching over him still in its clear beauty
ever reckoning him silently on to do that
which Is good-that is all
The great pulse of Nature "never beats
more audlby and unsteady than in the
leafy month of June 1t is the season when
everything in Nature is ripenng and mel
low with beauty. The trees are heavy laden
with their rich, green foliage, and gentle
winds fan delightful fragrance in the air
from the waving and dancing flowers, the
fruits Of Natures profise, but uncutivated
gardens scattered here and there with Law.
sh hand. The food of color the songs of
birds, the dewy freshness of awakening
Nature, the golden harvest fields, the com
minging Of shadows as they creep along
the hill-sides or sport on the green sward,
as gently and as softly as. come and go the
touching and hallowed memories of some
happy dreaming hours, the pillows Of Grim
son and purple as they bank and break
along every morning horizon, fiery and
splendid like the brazen large of victors
shield
1t was in the full bloom of such season
and amid such splendors as we have at
tempted to describe, that we made our way
to and from Mount Vernon. The road &C.
lected in going and returning was the one
used by Gen. Washington when having oc-
cason TO visit Alexandria, or upon his regu-
lar attendance at Christ church every Sab.
bath morning. The distance from Alexan-
dria to Mount Vernon is between seven and
eight miles. The drive is pleasant one,
the road being well shaded except when
near the river, when the monotony is even
broken by small romantic wilds whose banks
are lined with wild flowers and every de-
scription Of shade trees, whilst can be seen
at short distance every description Of barge,
schooner and steam boat walking the wa
tiers like thing of life" The country
through which you pass is poor and worn
out, occasionally, however, you pass farms
which give evidence Of careful and produc.
tive cullivators.
Lettering along the road--herc pausing to
watch the purling Of the water of some lit
tie streamlet as il made its track over the
shining pebbles Of the highway, or stopping
10 gather some of the flowers which grew
along its banks--herc resting under the
shade Of some old monarch of the forest
which has successfully defed the rayages
IF time, and seemed proudly conscious of
ts victory over the storms Of more than
II was nearly noon ere we reach
I'd the lane leading TO tho mansion. This lane
1r avenue il lined on either side with i'm |
nense cedars, which afford during the en-.
ire day dense and almost mpenetrable
'hade. Reaching lis terminous--in few |
moments we were within the enclosures |
The appearance Of the Mansion House strikes /
you at once with great force; IL has bold, |
lately and commanding look, and as we
topped upon the piazza, extending the |
'ntire front Of the house, fifteen feet wide |
md twenty-five feet high, and leaned against
me Of is large, square pillows, everything
ipon which the eye rested seemed 10 tell Of
,onderous associations of startling and Thrill.
ing memories.
Entering the main hall from the piazza
be first object Of historical interest which
tiracts your attention is the "Kcy Of the
,astile," which Is secured in glass case. II
vas presented 10 Gen. Washington by Gen.
lafayette, accompanied by the following
words; III Is a tribute which owe ~ son
D my adopted father as an aid-dc-camp %
ny general, a. missionary Of liberty 10 its
This key was for long time in
be care Of Thomas Paine, the profound Re.
the authorof the "Ageof Reason"
nd also Of "'rhe Rights Of Man" This lat
,r work Gen. Washington said was the
est he ever read. Paine, ON learning that
bis key was ~ be presented 10 Gen. Wash.
ngton, wrote him and concluded his letter
: follows THAT the principles Of America
'pened the Bastile Is not 70 be doubted, 1
therefore,, the key comes 10 the right place" |
I will be- remembered that the Bastile was
originally part Of the ancient Qualifications
which surrounded Paris. In 1859 lIuges
Aubriot, at the command Of Charles ",
changed Il into regular Bastile. II Is a
gloomy building with eight stern towers, and
for long time was used fDrmilitary and POI
litical purposes only In 1853 the Duke Of