Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-11-18
ALEXANDRIA,

Though not letter writer after the man
ncr of the tourist, am tempted TO jot down
few observations of Il recent trip in which
the historic city of Alexandria became an OBJ
jcctive point. Alexandria is on the Virginia
side of the Potomac, and is embraced in the
ten miles square that formerly constituted
the District Of Columbia. The Virginia
portion of the District, however, having
been re-ceded by Congress, now forms q
part OF the Old Dominion The town is
reached by g short ferry ride from Wash
ington. On my trip thither was fortuncte
in making the acquaintance of fellow
passenger, Mr.. +. S. Fleming. promnant
citizen of Alexandria. With the proveIbial
hospitality of the Southern people Virginia
especially,) as portrayed in the Southern
sketches that have appeared from time to
time III the FREE Press, my new acquaintance
made me feel at home at once and kindly
volunteered TO show me about the CITY.
Alexandria IS the terminus Of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal, the principal nse for
which is as means oftransporting the coal
from the Cumberland Mountains to tide
water Its present population is about
10000. Though more than hundred wears
old, Its growth has not been like that of
many of our Western cities as it is little
else than suburb of Washington.
The principal buildings arc old and Quaint
The leading hotel is the Mansion House. a
spacious and roomy structure of which the
more ancient 'Braddock House" forms =
part, the newer portion being built so as to
inclose the older. The Braddock House
was so named from the British Gen. Brad
dock, defeated in his fight with the Indians
III l1o3, who used to have his HEADQUARTERS
there. 1t was in this house that a council
of war was held, preceding the campaign. at
which Washington, then a young Major. was
present. On account lis historical associ
atons it was desired TO preserve the old
structure intuct hence the Mansion JTouvn
was built around it. The historical incidont
will bear repetition that Braddock's army
was saved from total annhilation bv Wash
ington. Before the fatal ambush he had
warned Braddock of his danger and sourht,
to impress upon him the necessity of the
usual precautions, but was snubbed with the
remark: High times, by Cd. when u
Yankee Major undertakes to teach a British
General how to fight" But that Yankee
Major taught more than one British general
something about fighting during his subse-
quent career.
Intimately associated with the name of
Washington also was the old City Hotel. IA
nous III its day and generation as his head
quarters when i'll the CITY, but now turned
TO the uses OF commerce, being occupied bv
an auctioneer and commission merchant
The last address that Washington ever
made to the military is said to have bcen
made from the front porch Of the
old City Hotel, and passed the portal of
the archway which supports it with that
feeling OF revercnt patriotism which one
must feel in associating with the scenes that
were familiar to the Father Of his Country.
1t was at this hotel that the custom of cele-
brating Washington's birthday was inau
gurated, a grand ball, at which Washington
himsclfW was present, being given by the citi-
Zcns February %, 179S. Gen. LAFAYETTE
was banquetted here also during his visit to
this country in 1926. The exterior of the
building shows style resembling the man.
sard, the main portion being three stories,
with roof at an angle of say forty-tive de-
grees, and Il wing two stories high, the
whole adorned with dormer windows. The
interior apartments are about twenty feet
in the clear But few changes have been
made in the interior, which remains mostly
as it was in the days of Washington.
The market building is worthy of men
tion if for no other reason than for the plea
sure which derived from being introduced
by my entertainer to the City Auditor. Mai.
+. l.. Brockett, whose Office is in the build
ing. think l was never in public office
that reflected so much credit upon the Of
fetal as did this one. Everything was in
the most perfect order, with every paper
and voucher classified and distinctly marked
and arranged in glass cases, each year by
itself, running back 1873 years, OF to l749.
With such men to keep check upon the
public funds, whether municipal, State or
governmental, there would be fewer defal-
cations throughout the country, and it is
whispered that Maj. Broclett's fame as an
official has so far extended that he will ere
long be rendered more responsible position
as Auditor of State.
Another historical structure is Christ
Church. built in the reign of George III.
with brick imported from England. The
building stands far back from the street, the
churchyard intevenining, containing many
ancient graves marked by stones crumblinr
with age. Some Of the stones were leaning
against the church, no longer marking the
places where they were erected. The old
est date appearing was on one of these. q
large brown stone slab in good state OF
preservation, and bearing this inscription:
Here lies the body of Robert Muir, son of
Hugh Muir, merchant, of Dumfries, Scot
land, who departed this life December 81,
1856, aged about IS years." This was the
church which Washington always attended
when in Alexandria (having residence
here in which he spent portion of every
year,, or when at his home at Mt. Vernon,
eight miles distant. I was honored with a
seat in the Washington new which is = f3ou-
BILE one, numbered SO and 60. Nearly op-