Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-09-26
Cnnsort oI Wasllinpton;
-! % =. -. lJvi;
Aged Il wears.


-! ~ =. -.-. lJvi;
Aged IL years.
Near the road leading to the
Mansion formerly stood plimeval
oak, II feet in circumference, called
the &" Washing on Oak Its shelter
was favorite resting-plece of the
retired chicftain. This tree was de-
s,royed by a storm in 1882.
The first building on arriving at
the summit of the hill is large
barn, built in 1888, by Lawrence
Washington, of brick brought from
England. 1t has recently been re-
rooted and is in perfec. state of
preservation.
The Mansion house is a wooden
structure, the siding of which is cut
and painted to represent stone. 1t
was built in 1743, by Lawrence
Washington, and named Mount
Vernon in compliment to his highly
esteemed superior officer in the Brit
ISL navy, Admiral Vernon. Tie
foundation IS of stone, and it is
claimed that it was so we'll built that
that there is no reason why tue
structure may not stand 800 years,
we'll as single century. Certain 1t
is that it now seems to be unaffected
by time. The north and south ex-
tensions of the Mansion were built
by Gen. Washington in 1915. The
main building is 96 feet long and
80 feet wide. A piazza extends
along the entire length which is Is
feet wide and 25 feet high. Eight
large square pillars support the roof
which is olnamented by ballus.
trade. 1t is paved with flag stone s
brought from the Isle of Wight,
which are IL inches square and q
thick. These show the wear of age
more than anything else about the
place. The kitchens Oh the east
and west sides are connected with
the main building by curved colon
AIDES.
On entering the central hall of the
Mansion, the first object which en-
lists the attention of the visitor is the
key Of the Bastile, which hangs in a
glass case on the wall. 1t was pre-
scented to "The Great Friend of
Liberty by Lafayette, Immediately
after the destruction Of the Bastile.
in 1889. In writing of it, the Mar
auis said: cit is tribute I owe as
son to my adopted father; as an
aide-de-camp to my general; as n
missionary of liberty to its patriarch. "
This souvenir was contided to the
care of that staunch republican,
Thomas Paine, who in writing to
Washington says: "That the prin-
ciples of America opened the Bastile
is not doubted, and, therefore, the
key comes to the right place." In
this hallway likewise hangs fac
simile of Lafayette's agreement TO
serve in the Continental army. The
terms were that he enlist without
remuneration on condition that he
be allowed to return to his own
country whenever called by his fam
lily or king. Lafayette was then
only Is years Of age and he entered
the army as Major General.
One thing that the relic-lover will
sincerely regret is that the Associa.
ton, or its predecessors may be,
have allowed many of the articles
used in the Mansion to he taken
away. Hence we find in Independ.
ence Hall some of the most cher
ished treasures of the homestead,
und in the National Museum at
Washington, the furniture of an en-
tire room, the Generals military
trappings, his Masonic regalia, and
other objects which can but lose in
terest when separated from their
original surroundings. 10 supply
their place these we'll meaning Ia
dies have adopted the original expe-
dent of " restoring" some of the
principal rooms. Hence the East
Parlor is appropriated by Ohio and
tastofully furnished Tor refurnished)
in the style of the Revolution, but
the smell of varnish destroys the i'm
preston of antiquity which a first
glance Produces, and the spectator
realizes that he is gazing ugon a
counterfeit instead of the real. This
room has blue tapestry significantly
ornamented with musical instru-
ments, indicative of one of tho pas
times it was intended to subserve.
A silver-mounted flute and Larpsi-
chord, however, are genuine, the
latter being the first Presidents
bridal present to Eleanor GUSTS, and
cost 81 900.
The dining hall has been appro-
priated by New York. 1t is stately
room with ornamented ceiling in ar
abesque patterns. 1t is said that
the first paper hung on its walls was
by illustrious hands. It was the
time of Lafayettc's third visit to the