Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-29
GEN. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
MOUNT VERNON AND THE BIG
MONUMENT.
How the Pilgrimage to Mount Vernon
is Made and What ts Needed There
Good Word for the Monument.

How the Pilgrimage to Mount Vernon
is Made and What is Needed There
Good Word for the Monument.
AIeeaRdriG Ya.l Correspondence Qf the Se's
York Times
In war times, when vast amount OF
surplus patriotism found its vent in
melody, the Northern school children
used to sing some verses set to the old
tune of ''Belle Brandon" with this re-
frain:
mount Vernon is the Mecca OF the Free"
This is as true now as it ever was. The
free make the pilgrimage TO their Mecca
in large numbers in this bright June
weather II they go by the back road
from Alexandria, driving over nine miles
Of bun and dusty Virginia soil, they pay
% cents each at the end OF the journey
for the privilege of entering the incl0-
sure, II they 90 by the Washington
steamboat, the w. +. Corcoran, which
maks daily excursions to the tomb
and home Of the Father OF His
Country, stopping at the Alexan-
dria wharf, they pay 81 for the round
trip, of which "a cents goes to the
Ladies' Mount Vernon Association. Most
people prefer TO make the journey by
water; the sail from the capital to Mount
Vernon Is pleasant and Interesting one;
the banks OF the Potomac between the
two points have been famous in history;
the scenery is agreeable, and there is apt
to be a refreshing breeze on the water, no
matter how parched the land may be or
how sultry and oppressive the atmosphere
on shore. 1t is an impressive journey,
and every American citizen who can
make IL should seize the oppor-
tunity. Mount Vernon is beau
tiful spot, and no person with an
ounce OF reverence or patriotism in his
composition can visit IL without feeling
better for the visit. The broad, green
lawns, the stately trees, the splendid views
of the river have restful and refreshing
effect; the delightful old flower garden
with its b0x-lined walks gives rise to
pleasurable sensations, which even the
unpicturesque darkey, who is there TO
sell pOsies Of hot-h0use flowers and plants
IN pots 'tor the benefit the association
cannot dispel, the old mansion, with its
many lOw-ceiled rooms, its broad piazza,
from which, gazing over the tree-tops on
| the hillside, one sees the winding
river in three directions, is
still pleasing in an aesthetic sense, in
spite 0f the accumulations Of ''rare brie-
a-brac." Theimportunlty OF the itInerant
photographer, who sells his views s'for the
benefit Of the associations" and the re-
minders OF generation Of deYout pill
I grims who have scribbled and hacked
/ their Valueless names upon the walls and
/ woodwork In every part OF the building.
+ Aud who can gaze upon the tomb Of
/ Washington and Martha his wife without
/ a feeling OF aver A strange sensation
/ comes oyer one as he realizes that in the
i marble sareoppagus before him reposes
! the dust Of the founder OF this Republic
\ 8 mi tho raWQrauf pia5tpr "a q NJ m lba vavaG
/ at this moment by the proximity OF an
1 other unintereeting eol0red person who
/ has canes TO sell for s'the benefit Of the
/ association" rough whitfield sticks from
! trees grown on the plantation. do not
I wish TO be quoted as grumbling about the
/ work done by the lady Regents Of Mount
4 Vernon, they do all perhaps that can be
/ expected Of them, but the suggestions Of
/ the bazaar and the ''museum" at the home
+ and tomb OF George Washington are very
I distasJeful to me, and ! think must be dis
I tasteful to all right-thlnkiug citizens Of
I The Republic. ] think that the photog-
rapher, the flower seller, the vendor OF
! canes, and even the labeled guide who
stands before the tomb and talks Of its
sacred contents after the manner Of the
4 exhibitors Of "maryeis" In the dime muse
ums might be dispensed with at Mount
Vernon. / think also that the curiosity,
4 called Of the great sightseeing public
would be sufficiently grati6ed II visitors
were not permitted TO crowd close 10 the
iron gateway Of the tomb, iOstling each
other in their anxiety 90 get the first view,
/ and if the male visitors were encouraged
/ 70 remove their bats Ia the presence of the
mighty dead. People do not act IN an uu-
/ becoming fashion in an ordinary ceme-
I terv: why should they be permitted 20 do
{ sf n q NVaahtunfawg / Ta MT
mean to say that the crowds who visit
Mount Vernon act IN an unruly and bOis-
ferrous manner. On the contrary, the pe0-
/ pie have seen there have all been mOder-
ately we'll behaved, and would be perfect
7 ly willing to remain at a respectful dis
tance from the tomb If u hint were given
them OF the prOpriety OF 80 doing. But
tue guide establishes himself close to the
/ grating, keeping bis hat on his head and
the visitors naturally cluster about him
+ to hear hts Oracular utterances, which,
Z IS | have intimated, are altogether un-
necessary, for the Information he imparts
I Is accessible 10 all who can read, and It
/ is 20 be presumed that a large proportion
I Of the visitors know as much about Wash
ingt0n as the guide himself II Is the Gus
tom to Toll the bells Of al Potomac steam
boats as they pass Mount Vernon; the
same decor0us and reYerential spirit
/ should bc preserved as far as possible on
the grounds. The central object there is
the tomb OF the hero; IN its neighborhood
Is the home OF his bOyhoOd and lis Old
age; some Of the trees that be planted
after the close Of the Revolution now east
the shade Of their mighty branches upon
the buildings, the serpentine road ways,
and the green sward. Mount Vernon sure
! ly ought not b be regarded as a picnic
/ park or a fair ground.
The old mansion has been kept in a re-
markably good state Of preservation, CON
I sidering the Immense number Of visitors
who have tramped over It's floors and
I climbed It's stairWays. Ia the quarter Of
century that has elapsed since the
l Ladies' Association was formed 10 buy
the buildings aud 300 acres Of land from
/ John Augustine Washington much ju-
/ dclOus work has been done. The devices
10 which the association has been Obliged
/ 10 resort for the purpose Of obtaining a
/ revenue are none Of them any worse than
| those have described. MIX Is sold a. a
1 moderate charge in The kitchen of the
/ old mansion, and / understand that n
/ light luncheon is served 10 visitors
this summer in the south c0lOnnade.
/ Visitors will get hungry, Of course.
| Many OF them bring baskets with
them, and pickles and hard-D0lled eggs
make their appearance before the short
| Journey from the wharf 70 the tomb IL
I hnished. These picnickers spread them
selves all over the grounds. and eat their