The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-03-02
MOUNT VERNON.
\ VISIT TO IT ON WASHINGTON'S
BIRTHDAY.
A Young North CarOlinian Tells of His
Visit To the Mecca of America, on the
22pd of February.

Taking advantage of the National holiday.
Feb, 22nd. we took a trip to the Mecca of
America, the tomb of the immortal Wash
| lngton, IN honor of whose memory the
holiday is given. Boarding the Seventh
street car, we are conveyed to the wharf,
Where is anchored that lovely steamer, w.
W. Corcoran, named in honor of one of
the most public spirited men that our
country has produced. Soon the words
"Ail aboard, are heard from the lips of
tie captain, and 500 people are seen hur-
rylng here and there on deck seeking
positions that will command fine views of
the scenery. whistle of the fog horn,
a turn of the ponderous wheel, plunge
OF the ship, and We are atioat on the his
torc Potomac, amid the huzzas of the
seekers of pleasure, and gay snatches of
music from Washington string band
All nature seems propitous for the trip.
The day is calm, the sky serene the air
braclng; such day as we often have in
Western North Carolina during Indian
| summer X
What jolly crowd this is They
gather around the piano and play and
sing, while "a Virginia negro pats and
! dances, much to the amusement of the
spectators. a short stop is made at Fort
toote earth works erected by the Union
lists during the Civil War and another at
| Fort Washington. Onward we speed across
| the river; the bell begins to toll, the bands
strike up a dirge. Off in the distance we
see the cause; there upon the wooded
heights, commanding d full view of the
Potomac, is Mount Vernon, with its large
| white buildings, looking, in the sunlight,
| like masses of purest marble
| We land at the wharf. about 100 yards
| from the iron fence that incloses the
grounds. The crowd arranges itself into
long column, and, headed by the band
and soldiers with muskets reversed, we
are conducted up long plank walk to the
| tomb OF Washington. which is draped with
an American flag. Here, while the bands
play softly Nearer My God to Thee, land
| other such solemn hymns, we are allowed
| access only to the gate Of the brick vault,
IN which is a marble sarcQphagus, covered
with flowers, containing the ashes of
| Washington. " Near by is another contain
| ing the remains of his noble wife, Martha
| Washington. This is also covered with
exquisite flowers. In he rear of the vault
is a bic tablet bearing this inscription:
- AN THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
| SAITH TIE LORD; HE~THAT BELIEvEI1i IN NE,
THOUGH HE WERE DEAD. YET SHALL HE LIVE;
AND NHOaOEYER RELlEVETH IN NE SHALL
| NEVER DIE"
| In a crevice just under this little wren
| has seen til 10 weave its nest. Near this
| vault are several small monuments to the
memory of relatives of Washington. We
| move on to the Mansion, and here the
COnt1nentalS are drawn up in line Just in
| front of the building, listening attentively
| to an address by Hon. Ed Wright. of
| Washington, who, as representative of the
| Ladies Mount Vernon Association, vel
| comes them to the grounds. He was fol-
| lowed in his remarks by Col. E. NJ. Bail,
| the oldest representative of the Washing
| ton family. He is tall old gentleman,
with handsome figure classic features,
| long curly white locks, and calm blue eyes,
! Many were struck with his resemblance to
| the one of whom he was speaking in such
| touching terms. In the hall of the Man
! sion were other relatives of the Washing
ton family, namely: Mrs. Louis Wash
| ington and DR.. Hurtburn, of West Vir-
ginia; Hon. Joseph E. Washington and
wife, of Tennessee; Hon. Thos. w. Buckley
and wife, of Washington, ID. G. Mrs.
| Cougle, descendant of Gen. Putnam, of
Revolutionary fame, was also present.
| The Mansion is large white building of
| wood cut in imitation of stone. The win
dows are small and numerous, and are
shaded by green blinds. In the hall is
| key Of the old Bastile, presented to Wash
| ington by Gen. Lafayette. In the rooms
on the first floor are found relics and por
traits of Gen. Washington, his wife, and
| some of their relations. On the second
floor. at the south end, is the room in
which Washington died. 1t was the room
occupied by the General and his wife.
| After his death she moved up on the third
| floor into an attic room, ust above the one
formerly occupied by herself and husband.
| The furniture IL these rooms, as in many
others, is heavy, old fashioned, and time
worn. On the third floor, in the north
! portion of the building, Is the room which
| was furnished 10y North Carolina 1t is
small, and the ceiling is so low that one
can almost touch il with his hand. Here
| we find a carpet, much too small for the
room, three straight back chairs, an old
fashion bed, and handsome dressing
case, presented to the room by the wife of
one Of North Cardinals most distinguish
| ed and generous men. Julian 5. Carr. In
the rear of the Mansion are seen the
smoke house, laundry, gardeners lodge
| servants hall, kitchen and other buildings,
all painted white so as to correspond
| with the Mansion. In q walk over the farm
We note the apparent richness of the dark
soil, how symmetrically the lovely walks
| through the undulating swards are laid
off and what great tact was used in lay
ing off the garden and in the arrangement
Of the trees and shrubs many of which
were planted by Gen. Washington himself.
Indeed here is the place to see to what a
wonderful degree art can improve nature.
The brick walls surrounding the garden
are much time-worn, and are falling
down in many places. The greed of the
relic-seeker is something MIRABILE DICTU.
We We're quite amused at lady who
scraped up handful of rocks and dirt
near the grave of Washington and tucked
it away in her dress, as though she Were
guilty of stealing treasure. We believe
if they were allowed access to the tombs
at night, soon the remains of Washington
and his wife would repose in the vest
pockets of men and the handkerchiefs OF
women. Al O'Clock the fog horn is heard
there is rush for the river, and the
soldiers are seen coming over the hill at
double quick, to the tune of Tramp
tramp. tramp, the Boys are Marching.
} All aboard, and we are off for Washington
City. Mount Vernon seems to recede il
, the distance; soon the only thing visible
to remind one of Washington is that mar
ble shaft, miles away, which towers higt
} above the sodom of America, and like al
} index finger points to the noble deeds o.
} him, who was a statesman, soldier, patriO
and a model man.
, LEWIS J. BATTLE.
-. The rumor that the railroad shop:
at Laurinburg are to be moved to Raleigh