Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-29

W the east 'front.' by an enterpristng and
loquacious artist, who requests the men
70 remove their hats and the women to
lower their sunshades. Then they are
photographed, the Johns and Thomases,
the Susans and Marias of modern every.
day life on the seli-same piazza where
Washington stood Ia the old picture that
graced the parlors of the last generation,
talking IN his courtly fashion to Martha,
his wife, while Master John Park Custis
and Mistress Martha Custis gamboled
near by, and an ebony nurse beamed upon
them.
II is ON record that the house was in a
dilapidated condition when it became the
property OF the association. Such repairs
as have been made have not spoiled the
place. Since the war many genuine
Washington relies have been returned 10
Mount Vernon from the Lee mansion on
Arlington Heights and elsewhere. and
some OF the rooms are furnished now in
something like the original fashion. The
music room of Nelly Custis Wash
lngton's adopted daughter contains
the harpsichord over the keys
OF which her fair fingers often strayed,
and some other objects that were
formerly kept there. Fac SMILES of the
Generals handwriting, neatly framed,
hang on the walls in different parts of
the house. Washington's four-post bed
stead, made for him In New York in 1850,
stands now in the room in which he died.
This il one OF the articles cherished by
George Washington Parke Custis, and It
was recovered from Arlington House
after that property was seized by the
Federal Government. The bed is made
up, and 1t only needs a wax effigy of the
General lying in IL TO complete the pic
ture the visitor sees as he gazes through
the picketed doorway. IL has been found
necessary to barricade many Of the doors
to keep visitors from crowding into the
rooms, and my mind reverts as / wander
through the old mansion TO the cOsmora-
mas IN the museum at Broadway aud Ann
street. through which in my boyhood |
used to peer with vague delight. Most
OF the rooms, IL is well known, have been
allotted to States. Relics of Revolution
airy days are crowded into several OF
these which are not specially appropriate
TO the place. But far more Interesting
than the relics within It is the quaint,
roomy old mansion Itself wish 1t could
be preserved for another generation, with
needful repairs from time to time, but 1t
does not seem possible that 1t can be un-
less the visitors are placed under more re-
stricti0ns, and large portion OF the In
fiammable material In it is removed. IL one
wants to see George WashingtOn's clothes
and knives and forks and other house.
bold goods he may be accommodated At
the National Museum. The old house 40
Mount Vernon is not a suitable place for
such display. There is danger that the
articles there which possess great value
because Of association with the General
may be iost forever, and any article there
which did not belong TO him or his people
Is superfuous. The furniture presented
| by GimCrack IL Co. and other enterprisinR
| firms who know the value OF good adver-
tisement, for instance, Is out of place.
The house will fall down some day II
crowds are allowed the run OF 10 from
cupoa to cellar; il will burn down ii in
iiammable material is not removed from ii
as tar as possible. The country owes a
debt Of gratitude to the Mount Yer
non Association for buying the
/ place and taking care Of IL;
but If WashingtOn's home and tomb
are to be preserved for many years longer
they ought TO be directly under govern
ment control. The old vault from which
the body OF Washington was removed In
| 1887 is an unslghtly ruin, and should
either be restored or removed altogether,
and its place marked by a stone properly
inscribed. The old dry we'll on the edge
Of the blutf, in which butter and milk
We're kept cool until the ice house was
built a few years before the Generals
death, Is another ruin. A substantial stone
railing should be built In front OF the
tomb of Washington, inclosing the shafts
erected 10 the memory Of Judge Bushrod
/ Washington and John Augustine. the
4 father Of the last Washington who owned
I the place. And, above all, visitors should
I be made 10 feel that the spot Is sacred
one. ! see no reason why the same tran
4 quill atmosphere that exists at Arlington
4 Heights should not prevail AZ Mount
Vernon There are not 1900 heroes
/ buried at the latter place, TO be sure, but
4 the ashes Of one lie there who was greater
than any Of his fellows.
Here In Alexandria--W Washington's port
Of Alexandria-wh his t0DaccO aud
corn were shipped, where he w0rshiped
/ for many years In the church which stlll
stands, and where the Masonic lodge Of
which he was a member still displays the
insignia he wore upon Important Occa-
sous, the name Of Washington is held in
the deepest reverence. We feel here that
Mount Vernon should be a shrine rather
than a show. We feel that ii forms 10
itself-the wooded prOmontory, the tomb
the buildings, and ala monument 70
Washington on the banks Of his beloved
Potomac quite as noble as the mighty col
uinn south Of the White House. And, by
the way. how that splendid monument
10 the first President has been abused.
do not remember that q good word has
ever been said for itin print. From Alex
andria II presents a majestic sight, rising
in ~ might above the Outspread city. over
which 10 seems 10 stand In guard like
giant sentry, towering above the massive
building on Capitol Hill, and presenting a
perpetual example of uprightness and
strength 10 the legislators there. From
near It's base the monument Is surely
not imposing; II Is impossible there 10 re-
alize les great height, the stone blocks
look ike bricks, and the likeness 10 huge
factory chimney IL the first thought in
spired. From any considerable height,
+ however, the monument ~ seen 10 better
advantage, aud becomes impressive.
/ Even a. looked at from the upper story Of
i the White H0use IL Is more striking.
+ President Cleveland told visitor the
other day that he had grown to like the
\ monument very much. He frequently
I wheels around In bis chair, by the desk
I In the library, and looks out upon a..
\ There is certainly simplicity and dlg-
nifty in the structVa. From Arlington
+ Heights there Is a pDtendid view Of the
monument with the kkers ION Of II In the
/ river. The moDVme.At S0ufents another
aspect from z e lie Que sver road be-
! low Arllngtonr = fe II Is seen to exactly
4 intersect the z. From the Soldiers
/ Home, perm /. the best idea OF the COM
parative height Of the monument can be
( obtained. 10 dominates the landscape.
1 IT Is u matter of fact that the people Of
/ Washington are beginning 70 like the
z "a "a has N.issf