National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-15
MOUNT VERNON.
Impressions of q First Visit.

Long had / desired to visit that celebrated
place. Tho hour had come to crafty my
wishes. On Wednesday, the 1lth Of June, 1879,
l made my first visit to Mount Vernon. left
| tho city Of Washington at ten o'clock a. m, on
| board of the w. w. Corcoran, aud arrived at
| that place at "high noon." had delightful
sail down the Potomac, with a refreshing
breeze tanning my person. 1t is true 1t was
hot morning, but that cooling breeze miti-
gated the intense heat. When the w. w. Cor
coran reached the wharf at Mount Vernon, /
left the boat and ascended the hill on q
gravel walk that brought me Immediately in
front Of the newly-constructed vault" Look
ing through the grated door leading into the
vault, could distinctly see the "sarcophagus"
containing the remains Of tho illustrious dead
| George Washington. Also another "sarcopha.
gus" containing the dust Of his beloved wife,
Martha Washington As / stood there felt
solemn and reverential. To uncover my head
first impulse of my deeply.affected heart
which did. As l proceeded from the vault
toward the old mansion of tho renowned pa
triot and illustrous warrior / felt as il were
treading on holy ground. The words which
the Lord spake to Moses, when gazing with
amazement on tho burning bush, came vivldly
to my mind. Aud he said, draw not nigh
hither; put Off thy shoes from off thy feet for
the place whereon thou standest is holy
ground. i felt that l ought to go barefoot,
treading where Washington often walked.
When ! reached the dwelling, old as il was,
the ladies of the Mount Vernon Association had
everything in perfect order. / was conducted
by an old Maryland friend-J. McH. Hollngs
worth, superintendent-from room to room
He explained everything that needed explana-
tion. l stood ON the first floor, and there was
to be seen the key of the Bastilc, presented to
Washington by Lafayette and painting In
oil of the fleet of Admiral Vernon in the waters
of tho West Indies, in which Lawrence Wash
ington served as u midshipman. l stood also
in the large state-room and dining-room. / OBJ
served much Of the furniture in tho same posi-.
tion as left by the father Of his country.
then assembled to the second floor, when
entered the chamber where the great chieftar
slept and died. was emphatically impressed
} could not keep my hands of some articles o.
, furniture. If / could not shake hands with
tho illustrious dead, wanted to touch some
thing in that room, where he departed for
better world. Standing in that chamber
everything saw-everything ! touched--gav,
n new inspiration Of patriotism. | love every
star and stripe of our National escutcheon NOR,
ardontly than ever. Old as l am, if foreign
J foe was to invade our nations rights / woulC
enlist, ii knew would fall in the first battle
When had satisfied my curiosity in review
ing the various articles in that apartment,
ascended TO the room Immediately above, wher,
his beloved Martha after his death, shut her
self in and secluded herself from the gay ant
busy world. No person entered that room OK
cept an old domestic servant. From the win
dow of that attic Mrs. Washington could lOol
down upon the old vault" whore first the 10
mains of General Washington rested, till tn,
new one was built. / felt peculiarly impressed
! while standing there, where ono of the lowell
est and sweetest women gave up her soul Il
God and to Christ.
A hole was cut in the lower part Of the doc
, leading into that room for tho entrance AM
exit of iayorte pet cat.
As / passed along / looked into the room
, where the immortal Lafayette slept when on
visit to Mount Vernon, and thus | went from
e room to room, and even in the kitchen.
The garden is splendid-full of bloom, beaut
, and fragrance. The grounds around the coll
mansion" are in elegant order-verdant an
3 beautiful. My last visit was TO the "old vault,
o empty and silent.
As loft tho Mount saw an enclosure owe
in the woods, and | inquired what it meant
? was informed that it was the grave of Jenn,
, Nelson the servant of Judge Bushrod Wash
ington, SO paid my respects to her by stand
ing over her grave.
: Countrymen, if you feel the fires of patriot
Q ism burning low in your bosoms, 90 to Noun
Vernon, stand before the vault of the might,
. dead think of Washington, the good, the tru
Q and the pure patriot. Then enter his sleeping
= and dying.apartment, think Of his noble deed
and wonderful ACHIEVEMENTS and If you do no
, feel flame of patriotic fire rekindled in you
, souls, you are not true Americans.
. At two o'clock / embarked for the city Q
4 Washington. Just as l started dark an
lowering cloud rolled up from the west, an
accompanied us all along the western horizon
with vivid flashes of lightning and terrid
I peals of thunder. Down came the rain IN tor
rents tho winds blew furiously the w. "
Corcoran moved on mNjestoally and proudly
o and and safely brought MS to the city whar
h That Is a fine steamer and commanded by Car
tain l.. l.. Blake, courteous and obliging. Blu
how could the boat be otherwise than nobl
. and safe when we remember the name sh
b bears-W. w. Corooran-named after one o
q the most generous, liberal and benevolent ger
. tleman la the District or in tho country.
ISAAC COLE
Pastor of tho Second Baptist Church,
. Washington, ID. c.