The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-05-09
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"ASnANoIOn, L. ", April 20, lCOS.
Editor HOrSdidn.: left Richmond two weeks
ago for this city, coming by Fredericksburg and
Alexandria. At the former rest the remains OF
Mary, the mother of Washington" and at the
latter George Washington cast his first and last
vote-1754-1799 Both show the marks Of age,
having been founded before the Revolution.
Crossing the Potomac at the long bridge found
myself for the first time, in the Capital Of the
United States-"the city of magnificent dis
tances." Any one who does up" Washington
will readily see the propriety of the latter appel
lation.
have been busy two weeks sight seeing, y
and now what shall l say? or how begin to de-
scribe what have seen So much have seen
that scarcely know what to say, and indeed
cannot attempt TO describe even had time and
space. However, will briefly mention q num-
Der of the more important objects seen, as well
as some of the celebrities of the nation, whose
names are not unknown to most of your readers
Although ! have been here but a short time,
still have seen more of Washington and yicin-
ity than many who have lived in the city for
years This, you know, is the Capital of our
nation; hence my desire to thoroughly explore
1t, so far as my time would permit 1t has been
too, pleasing task, cheerfnlly performed
AT last have seen Mount Vernon, the home
of Washington What memories throng the
mind of the visitor as he looks upon the grounds
once owned and cultivated by the great cbieftainl
How the mind reverts to his history from the
story of the hatchet and cherry tree to the fare
well address From the wharf, ascending by a
winding walk some three hundred yards, passing
on the left the new vault in which repose the
remains of the illustrious dead, and on the right
the old vault, the ice-house and the Washing
ton oak" then the left, the old brick barn. :"
erected by Lawrence Washington in 1913, we
reach the east piazza of the Mansion House.
Entering main hail. the first object of interest to
attract attention is the key of the Bastile- pre-
sented to Washington by Lafayette We enter
next the east parlor in which is an old harpsi-
chord and other interesting relics. A century
ago the harpschord cost a thousand dollars,
and was bridal present from the first President
to his step daughter, Eleanor Custis Next we
go to Banquet Hall, where have met around the
festive board with the generous host Lafayette,
ROchambeau, DEstaing. DeKalb, Hamilton,
Jefferson, Madison, Marshall, Patrick Henry
Lee, Robert Morris George Mason, the artists
Houdon, Charles Wilson Peale, Trumbull, La
trObe and Pine, and many other worthless and
great Generals of the Revolution Among other
interesting relics here, is a model of the Bastile,
cut from granite stone of the demolished prison.
An armchair, said to have come overin the May
flower is also TO be seen in this room We pass
next into the west parlor, in which, among other
curious things, is gilt framed mirror, with a
memorial device above the glass, and the initials
and date, G. W., 1904" Next into the family
dining room, on the walls Of which hang a num-
Der of portraits, among them those of the Earl of
Chatham, General and Mrs. Washington. Next
we pass into Lady Washington's room Before
the extension of the Mansion this was
the study of General Washington and in it was
written the Farewell Address, delivered at An
napols, December %, 1888. Next we go to the
Library, but none of the original furniture is
here aud nothing of interest, except a bust of
Lafayette, the bulk Of the library having been
purchased by the Boston AthenRum in 1849
for the sum of 5 900. Ascending the stairway
we see Lahyette's Room" occupied by this dis
tinguished Frenchman on each of his visits TO
1AOOub NClHOu- AuC OuiCou OblcL dTUCicd
used by Lafayette are still to be seen Then we
pass to the guest chamber, to Miss Custis' room,
the Brides room, in each of which are number
of interesting relics, but have not space to men
tion them We come next to the room in
which Washington died. Even the bedstead on
which he expired is here as when the first Pres
ident occupied it. Other interesting articles may
be seen here, among them a newspaper pub
lished in New York, in which was the first an
nouncement in that State of the death OF
Washington. Just over this, is the room in
which Mrs. Washington died, for she never oc-
cupied any other after the death of her husband
| up to May 1901, when she expired. There are
| five small rooms on the third floor, being only
half stories. lighted by dormer windows Next
we ascended to the cupola, from which we had
beautiful view of the Potomac, and of the
| grounds around the Mansion Descending we
pass out at the west door into the yard On the
left is the family kitchen, where visitors may
now find an excellent lunch, and on the south
side Of which is the old well. On the right is
the State kitchen, used when distinguished guests
were to dine at Mount Vernon. Each kitchen
is connected by a covered walk with the dining
room adjacent Many q loFdly guest has re-
ceived the hospitaties of this distinguished host
in the days that are passed and gone Went
next into the flower garden, which Is on the
| right, the vegetable garden being on the left
Each used to be fanked by large orchard. In
the flower garden IS a spacious green-house,
from which visitors may obtain q floral me-
meuto OF Mount Vernon. The walks in this
| garden are heavily bordered with The box plant
To the west 10 the lawn, At the west end OF
which il the gateway, through which Washing-
| ton brought his fair bride 10 Mount Vernon, and
beneath the arch of which forty years later
slowly filed the long train Of mourners hat al
tended his funeral
Having written cards 10 Q few friends and
posted them here, Tor there is post-o1ace 1t
Mount Vernon, We returned to the steamer hy
the vAuit where all visitors seem to linesr, as II
reluctant to leave this mecca Of the levers q
liberty. number Of the Washington family
and relations sre inferred in yault IN The rear.
and four Of them at the fFons and on the north
side of the tomb, among them Boahrod Wash-
ington, at one TINE Associate Justice of fhe 81
pEeme Court Of the United Shtes Saw he not,
few feet in front Of the tomb, where the Primes
Of Wales planted walnut Tree, when on visit
to the Unissd emte6 In 1e17,' bslIeve The
tss disd, hi near b. b b N elm, planted By
fha Wwunnnnv ~ H-.~t 49, -. h an2a