Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-10-16
A Trip Down the Potomac.

The swift, commodious and elegant steaa-
er Armenia, with very comfortable num-
Der OF passengers, amongst whom was your
correspondent, left her dock at the foot of
Seventh street, Washington, at O'Clock, A.
NJ, for her regular excursion trip to Lower
Cedar Point, slxty-one and half miles
down the river. The morning being bright
and cloudless, with temperature and scene
so delightfully."- blended that the very breath
Of life seemed priceless blessing, all sought
the open deck and there occupied with
books, conversation, and listening to the
ever.inspiring melody Of splendid brass
band, the time sped swiftly by until, with
out particular incident, we reached point
abreast of Mount Vernon. Here tap Of
the silvery-tongued bell of the steamer
brought us to realization of our proximity
to this sacred spot, hallowed in our memo
ries by Its association with George WASH
ington, who gave to our country the most
glorious chapters of its brilliant history
Of Mount Vernon the philosopher might,
in the surrounding scene, have discovered
a moral for reflection.
Five minutes before the Armenia cast Off
her moorings the swift and beautifully mod
eled steamer Il. V. Arrowsmlth, and also an
excursion boat, dropped off from her dock {,
and with band playing and streamers float.
ing gaily in the breeze, started on her trip
to Colonial Beach, resort near the birth,
place of the immortal American whose dust
lies entombed at Mount Vernon. Five min
utes seems not very protracted period, but
1t is heavy odds in a race between two swift
steamers, and had not the former steamer
been detained long enough at Alexandria to
encroach considerably upon her advantage
the race would have probably occupied the
a IRa nj Dat ola 90 ..an
the critical period arrived Just as we were in
full view of the mansion and broad lawn
of Meunt Vernon. Here the black masses
of smoke assembled from the lofty tunnels OF
the Armenia, and, with every fibre tremb-
ling, she glded by the Arrowsmth like
some huge animated marine monster, whilst
our band rendered in strains of the tender
est pathos "The Soldiers Farewell" as APP
propriate TO our departure from Mount Yer
non, which was gradually receding in the
distance. IL was an interesting period to
watch the expression Of the average Amer
lean, the preponderance of whom centered
their interest in the race, and whose coun-
tenances indicated their intense satisfaction
ut the consciousness of being, as IL were,
part owner and in manner identified with
the winning horse, and their calm indiffer-
ence to the pathetic side of the picture But
on the other hand there were those whose
sensibility received vivid impression of
Mount Vernon and its associations. Indeed
1t is difficult for one of refinement and in
the least degree tainted with fancy to look
up the lawn to the house and colonnade
which had sheltered that grand combination
of manly virtues, gravity, modesty, indus
try, integrity, patience, fortitude and wtLal
practical intelligence without feeling that it
is an honor and boon to contemplate the
sacred spot that has echoed his long. lent
voice and been the object of his attention,
both of mind and hand. We think there is
no spot on earth more hallowed by the best
and purest associations Of u nations history
than Mount Vernon, the "Mecca" of the
western world. Can Elba, Fontainbleau,
the Hermitage, or even st. Helena, for one
moment be contemplated by the side OF this
spoty
The trip down the river affords many at
fractions to the eye and heart, and Is CRATE |
many points made historic by the events Of
the war and every creek and promontory is
named for some scene or character In the |
history Of the Indians, whose canoes once
thickly dotted the bosom Of this beautiful
stream, known to those aborigines as Po-
tomac, or "river of the smoking pine.
Cedar Point Is long, flat sand bar with
but little natural beauty, but the beach is
formed of firm white sand, splendid for
bathers, and under the skillful management
and good taste OF the lessees the place is
now beautiful beyond description.
RAMBLER.
Cedar Point, Charles county, Md.