The Springdale news., 1889-04-26
An Eight Days Journey.

' J to New York Washington went to Freder- icksburg to bid adieu to his mother, then nearly eighty years of age, and, as she then predicted it was their last meeting on earth On the morning of April l6 l1SS, Washington bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life and domestic felicity, and with d mind oppressed with anxious and painful sensations set out for New York with MT. Thomson and Colonel Humphreys. He was eight days on the road, travelling in his pri- vate carriage, preceded ill a stage by his private secretary. Tobias Lear. It was his desire to make the journey privately, but so great was the enthusiasm all along the fine that this was impossible. Indeed, at the very threshold of his own estate he was met by cavalcade of the citizens of Alex andria his neighbors and friends, and in vited to attend public dinner in that city, which invitation he reluctantly accepted, and whereat he was welcomed by the mayor in touching speech From this point on his trip was a continued ovation. Approach ing Philadelphia he was met by cavalcade under the command of his old companion in-arms, General St Clair, and escorted to the city, At the crossing of the Schuylkill a touching incident occurred From a tri- umphal arch beneath which he passed little girl perched aloft dropped upon his head a civic crown amid the wild huzzahs of twenty thousand assembled to greet him. That night there was banquet at the "oty tavern, attended by the State and municipal officials and the city was brilliant with il- Limitations and fireworks
 military escort was to have proce eded with Washington to Trenton tho next day, but rain prevented the pageant and he and his suite went alone in a close carriage. Thence on through Nee Jersey he went by the same road over which his little army had fled in lT76 At Elizabeth Point he was received by committees of the two houses of Congress, Federal State and municipal officials and a great coneourse of citizens. To carry him across the bay to New York City a splendid barge had been prepared, manned by thirteen master pilots in white, under command of Commodore James Mich olson There were other barges, almost equally handsome, for the Congressional committees and heads of departments and private barges fell into line, forming a grand flotilla that moved across the beautiful bay, the oars keeping time to the strains of vocal and instrumental music. All the vessels in the harbor but one were gaylv decked with flags and upon some of them parties of ladies and gentlemen sung congratulatory odes The Spanish man-of-war Galveston alone displayed no token of respect Sur prise and indignation were finding expres- sion when, in an instant as the Presidents barge came abreast of her, her yards were manned as if by magic; every part of her rigging displayed flags of all nations, with the effect as Tossing says, of an immense shrub bursting suddenly into gorgeous bloom. and the roar of thirteen cannon dis charged in quick succession, attested the respect of the Spanish Admiral for the first President The effect upon the multitude was electrical. and over bay and city a shout, long and loud, foated upon the noon tide air.
 At Fort George and the battery a great crowd had assembled Governor Clinton was there to receive Washington and so was General Knox Declining to enter a car riage in waiting Washington walked to his lodgings at Osgood shouse on Cherry street followed by long civic and military pro cession. Every house on the route was dec orated with flags and silken banners gar lands of flowers and eyergreens Every window to the highest story was filled with flair omen and brave men Every man innate object seemed alive with the waving of handkerchiefs and hats From the skies apparently fell flowers like snowfakes in storm, and in every possible form of unique device and ingenious ornamentation the name of Washington was suspended from roof to roof and upon fanciful arches con structed for the occasion
 Washington dined with Governor Clinton and at night the house was brilliantly illu- minated. as were indeed most houses in the city, and yet with all this demonstration of confidence and affection Washington had sad sensations sensations as sad as pleas ing, in view of what might be, " as he wrote in his diary.