Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-06-28
ENvIRONS OF THE CAPITAL.
Places or Historic Interest Rich With Rcminis.
ences or Long Ago,

ENvIR0NS OF THE CAPITAL.
Places or Historic Interest Rich With Rcmlnls
ences Of Long Ago,
Special Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June %, 1888. .
Washington in its enyirons furnishe.
many features of great interest to tn,
daily throng of visitors that perambu
late our streets in search of sights
| rich, rare and racy. The old city O
Georgetown, which has recently reused
from its fifty years of Rip Van Winkl,
slumber, was founded and incorporated
in the year 1889. Prior to 1900 it hat
an active coast wise and foreign com.
merce. After the latter year this Dor
ough took the name of West Washing
ton, but the old name still fingers as th,
legacy of its founders. the two George.
Beall and Gordon. 1t is the head Of
navigation on the Potomac and is 2
port of entry. The place itself has
preserved much of the
oLD-TDdE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
although recently the numbering of the
streets has thrown its inhabitants into
closer relations with the capital than
formerly existed. Oak Hill cemetery,
containing thirty acres, is romantic
spot, ten acres of which was the Gift OF
w. w. Corcoran. Here in the beauti.
full city of the dead, sleep many whose
names are historic. Chief Justice
Chase, Secretary Stanton, General
Towson, of the war of 1912; Generals
Reno and Plummer, of the war for the
union; Commander Morris, hero of the
Algerian war; Lorenzo Dow, the strange
evangelist; John Howard Payne, and
hosts of others sleep here the sleep that
knows no waking. The Van Ness mau
solemn, in pattern like the Temple of
Vesta Mt Rome; the Corcoran mauso-
leum, and the Linthicum memorial
chapel, are each subjects of interest TO
visitors. On the high grounds in George
town stands the oldest Catholic college
in America. IL was founded in 1899,
and is under the care of Fathers of the
Society of Jesus. The old building
made of
IMPORTED BRICKS,
is still-standing. In the Potomac river
opposite Georgetown is Mason's Island,
containing seventy acres, with an old
neglected mansion which, in the years
agone, was resort of the gay and
fashionable, who filled its spacious halls
and roamed through enchanted bowers
perfumed with choicest fragrance, the
guests of its proprietor, General John
Mason, commissary general of pris-
oners of war of 1912. In this once
charming spot was born James NJ.
Mason, commissioner to Europe in the
war of the rebellion.
In the distance the visitor standing on
the heights at Georgetown can see Ar
lington Mansion, which was the home
of the adopted son of George Washing
ton for many years after 1902, and in
later years, till 1861, of General Robert
E. Lee. Here on its stately piazza the
great soldier, with his eyes on the capt.
tai of his country and familiar with its
historic achievements, wrestled with the
question of duty, turned his back on the
government that educated him and cast
his fortunes with those who sought to
destroy the union. This
OLD MANSION
for more than half century was famed
for its heightened hospitality. Its mill
tary proprietor having sworn allegiance
to the lost cause, this magnificent estate
of 1000 acres, covered in large part
with splendid old oaks, was abandoned
to most wanton recklessness. 1t be-
came the camping-ground of thousands
of soldiers, who despised the treachery
of its senseless owner. Its noble forests
became fuel for camp-fres and extern
ported homes for our boys in blue
The lands were sold under the confisca-
ton act, and it became the burial place
of 10000 heroic dead from many bat
tle-field in the old Dominion and from
many hospitals about the capital. The
silent dust of this great company of the
nations dead lies undisturbed here in
grounds that are kept in perfect order.
and daily throng of visitors here see
evidences showing the awful sacrifice
made by heroic people TO leave this
country for our children as heritage
of freedom.
ON THE ARCH
over the entrance TO the cemetery is in
scribed: Here rest Is, 5S5 of the 315,-
558 citizens who died in defense of our
country from 1861 to 1865" The flag
under which they fought floats daily in
sight of the dome of the capitol, and
here
ION fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread;
While glory guards the sacred mound,
The bivouac Of the dead -
The famous Cabin John bridge is Wis
tied by thousands of tourists. Distant
about ten miles from the capitol, the
route lies alnnor the pnfnnac and