The Osceola times., 1882-09-16
Press Excursion.

paper, l was much interested in a
letter, descriptive Of the recent tour
made by the editorial staff of Arkan-
sas, particularly was pleased with
the part pertaining to Arlington.
While you were so near, l could not
help regretting that your time was
too limited to enable you to extend
you visit few miles further. As it
was not practicable for you to visit
Mt. Vernon, unless ! am infringing
upon your time, or taking the place
of more important matter, will tell
you of our delightful visit to this
time-h honored place. In the early
morning, jus. one week ago, our lit
tie party left the pretty village OF
Hamilton, situated among the blue,
Virginia mountains, and soon we
were speeding along through the
towns OF Leesburg, Falls Church,
and other places Of historic interest,
finding ourselves at the end OF two
hours, in the quaint old city of Alex
andria, where the ladies OF our party
attended to the inevitable shopping,
and the gentlemen roamed listlessly
through the quiet streets, until we
boarded the steamer, w. w. Corco-
ran, named in honor Of the great phi
lanthropist, and were soon out upon
the placid waters of the Potomac,
passing the beautiful villas that dot
either shore, and the gloomy mass Of
grey stone, Ft. Washington. Soon
the tolling Of the bell announced our
near approach to Mt. Vernon, and
in ten minutes more, we were landed
upon the soil held sacred by every
American citizen. A pleasant drive
led us through the grounds, to the
mansion; the first object on our way,
to which the guide called our atten-
tion, was a clump Of willows grown
from switches taken from Napoleon's
grave. A little further on, we stop
ped before a plain brick mausolcum,
looking through the iron grating, we
saw two marble sarcophagus, which
contain all that is mortal Of George
Washington and Martha, his wife.
In the rear OF the mausoleum is n
heavy iron door, which guards vault
containing the remains Of thirty mem
bers Of the Washington family. when
the door was locked, and the key
thrown into the Potomac, thus effec-
tually preventing the intormcnt oi
other persons. Passing on, we next
paused before an immense tree, which
had recently fallen, this our guide
told us, was an oak, two hundred ant
twelve years old, favoritc tree, un'
der which much of Washington''
time was passed, it was blown dowr
in storm a few days previous, anC
was already completely riddled by
relic hunters. A few moments more
! brought us to the mansion which Is
a solid looking building, with pillareC
balconies in front and at the sides
The house is in good repair, and il
general appearance, much resemble
} many of the old Virginia homcsteads
Upon entering the main hall, our at
tention is first directed to it'll
room upon the right, which our guild
tells us was Nellie GUSTS musi
room. The harpsichord, which i
the main object of interest, is muc'
like the modern parlor, grand, thoug'
much lighter in construction, and ha
a double keyboard. The daint
mantel ornaments of Dresden china
the book shelf. easy chair, &c, pro
claim the refined taste of the fai
young girl, who once occupied tn
room. We next entered the mai
parlor, large, rather gloomy, room
with high mantel, and many presse
with glass doors, showing the wealt
Of china and glass within. In tn
centre OF the room is table. upo
which, in glass case, is marbl
model of the Bastilc. Near the fir
place is Il large wicker chair, gree
in color. This is the greatest curl
osity in the room, it came over in tn
MAY Flower, and in after years wa
presented to Washington. Fac
visitor made it point to sit in tn