The Osceola times., 1882-09-16

fence of each was that il was quite
as uncomfortable as many of our
modern chairs. Other rooms Of in
terest were visited, the large dining
hall, the breakfast room, Gen. Wash
ington's morning room. The floors
of most of the rooms and the porches
are of stone. AS we passed up the
broad fashioned stairway, the
first object that attracts our attention
is large iron key, rusty with age;
this is the key of that place, whose
name even yet, we can scarcely hear,
save with feelings of horror, the Bas.
tile. 1t was presented to Washing
ton by Lafayette. The second floor
contains the family rooms, and few
guest chambers. The charming room
to our right, with its broad river
view, was occupied by Miss Nellie
Gusts. Our guide informed us that
the room remains as it was in her
life time; the same bed, and the same
step ladder upon which she assembled
and descended this marvellous struc-
ture. We enter another room, large
and sun-shiney, in which the gentle
men stand with uncovered, bowed
heads, and the conversation is car
ried on in whispers, for this is the
room in which the great General
breathed his last. The furniture has
not been altered, the bed has the
same position; it is Il high-posted bed
stead, plain even for those days. In
a large press with glass doors, we
see his wardrobe, conspicuous
among which is the suit in which he
delivered his farewell address to his
army. It is literally dropping to
pieces with age. Near it is waist
coat CT orange and red velvet, show
ing that the General had n fondness
for dress and gay colors. At one OF
the windows, commanding fine
view Of the river, is his armchair, 9
perfect Sleepy Hollow, with its can
dle-stsnd near it. A long, narrow
hair trunk occupies a prominent cor
ner, the hair has long since yielded
to the ravages of time, leaving il
bold relief, the following: &c. Wash
ington, l77G," formed Of brass nails
A number of States have furnished
rooms here, in the style Of that pc
riod, each room is name for the Stat,
that has furnished it, and the regent
at their annual meetings occupy thes'
rooms.
We could have spent several hours
wandering through the diifcren
rooms, enjoying the beautiful anc
varied views from the old -fashione,
windows, but our time being limited
we were hurried on to the visitors
dining hall, where we enjoyed plain
we'll cooked old Virginia dinner, witt
plenty Of rich milk, rice, and delight
ful coffee. We spent another hou
in roaming over the fine grounds
grand in their natural beauty, pass
ing through the ld-fashioned gar
den, with its prim privet hedges, an
the large green house. We loo
with longing eyes upon the orchar
with its trees loaded with lusciou
peaches, pears, &C., but eifectuall
protected by stone wall, surmount
ed by an iron fence. Before return
ing to the steamer we literally sup
piled ourselves with relics, sold by
gray-haircd negro, who makes his liy
ing in this way. 1t is needless t
say that our visit is one long to b
remembered; it was bright and sur
ny as the day, and fraught with men
, orsble interest to all. ! negiccte
to say that one Of our party was fc
many years a resident of your Stat'
| refer to the Hon. II. J. 7. Whit,
at one time Secretary of the State {
, Arkansas. Nj.
A Rhode Island Rustic
Iunvn 4