The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-07-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


only wldens his capacity for crime.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. C.,)
July 9th, 1888. !
This is a favorite season for a
visit to Mount Vernon, and during
the months of July and August the
average number of visitors is greater
than at any other time. Never is
the quaint and beautiful old home.
stead lovelier than in Summer. 1t
was in 1858 that Col. John Washing
ton saw that Mount Vernon would
have to 60 by the auctioneer's ham,
mer if something did not turn up.
and here comes in the romance of
Mount Vernon. A woman, who had
been a confirmed invalid since her
her nineteenth year, raised fund of
100000, and embodied plan that
gave Mount Vernon to the nation.
This was Anne Pamela Cunningham.
of South Carolina. She was an only
and INDUCED daughter. In her
childhood she had visited Mount
Vernon, and when she resigned all
of life except that which could be
enjoyed in 3 sick room in her early
womanhood, she took hold of the
project to buy Mount Vernon. or,
rather the the project took hold of
her. 1t is one Of the most singular
instances of indomnitable energy and
practical perseverance recorded.
This frail woman, from her sick bed,
aroused an enthusiasm, especially
among Southern women, chat result
ed in splendid success. She in
spired Edward Fveritt with her
spirit, and his lecture on Washington
poured money into the treasury. She
interested Nine. LIE Vert and Mrs.
Cora Howatt, Richie, and in 1860 it
was accomplished the house, the
tomb of Washington, and 200 acres
of land belonged to national asso-
citation. The Legislature of Virginia
granted very sensible charter to
the association. The capital stock
| was limited to 100000; it was
granted IL perpetuity, and no dispo.
sition of the property could be made
without the consent of the Legisla-
ture. None of the Washington fami-
ly thereafter were to be. inferred at
Mount Vernon, and the key Of the
vault was thrown into the P0t9mac
| River. Around the marble tomBs>
of George and Martha Washington
is wooden flooring, which, if step
ped upon, starts an electric alarm at
the houss. Through the open iron
work one looks into the brick vault,
where there are only the two tombs.
'sEats off, is the stringent rule at
the grave even the most fippant are
awed into something like reverence.
During some of the bloodiest days
of the war Mount Vernon was treat.
ed as neutral ground, and soldiers Of
boyh armies were soon fraternizing
under the trees that guard the tomb.
Frequent description cannot de-
stroy the interest of the house. Year
by year improvements are made by
the regents. AS far as practicable
every State has room ornamented
with relics Of revolutionary times,
arranged in the style that prevailed
at Mount Vernon during the lifetime
of Gen. Washington. Hanging in the
entrance hall is the key of the Basti,e,
sent to Washington by La Fayette !;
and over the door of which is called
the State dining room is Washing
toms field Glass, placed on it's perch
by the hand of Washington himself,
ana never since removed. The mantle
and hearth in the dining-room are uf
marble, and extremely curious. They
were sent to Washington from France.
On the way the ship bearing the gift
was captured by pirates. When they
found that this marble was intended
for Washington, they took an oppor
tunity of landing it on American
shores, and it was forwarded to
Mount Vernon. In the South Caro-
, lima room hangs the portrait of Anne
Pomela Cunningham. She has a re-
+ fined and thoughtful face, with deep
; meaning eyes. The attic room which
, Mrs. Washington chose after Gen
Washington's death and in which she
died, is in almost the Identical condi
ton which she left it. In a quaint
little drawing room-Nelly Custis's
drawing room-is the grand harpsi-
chord. as large as a modern granf
piano, which Washington gave her a.
: wedding gift. This was the grand
niece of Mrs. Washington, not he
, daughter Nelly, who died unmarrie,
: at twenty-five. In the grounds stand
a rose bush, where, tradition relates
Nelly Custls received her first offer
> and walking around this rose busI
six times brings every young lad,
who believes in the spell an offer o
!, marriage within the year. The plac
l is managed upon the most practices
). plan. The greenhouses arc made