Mohave County miner., 1889-05-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondents.

u
OF MeAl!ister's 400 and the New York
aldermen over the question Of prece.
dence at the centennial celebration oi
Washington's Inauguration, the interest
10 deep and widespread, and the observ.
ance OF the day viii not be restricted ta
the crowds in New York. The day will
be observed here not only as q public
holiday, but as the anniversary oi su.
preme event in American history.
IL may be the agitation over the cele.
bration that has so largely increased the
number of visitors to Washington's old
home, Mount Vernon on the Potomac. ]
was surprised on u casual visit las. week
when counted seventy-fve people in the
party, and the guide told me that the
number, in any sort OF weather during
the past winter, so long as the boat had
been able TO run, had not fallen below
fifty. Think Of the pilgrims to this tomb
during the year; not uninterested visit.
ors, not tourists who merely drop in to
see such places in travelling, but people
| who come hundreds and oftimes thous-
snds OF miles to see this spot. was
struck by the eager interest taken in
every feature by an English advocate in
the party. On the boat going back he
said that more than anything else he had
looked forward in visiting America to see
Mount Vernon. He had his pockets
stuffed full Of photographs by Mr.. Dill.
Ion and bulbs purchased from the es-
taie's conservatory, and looked supremely
happy. To tell the truth the foreign Wis
TORS are far more enthusiastic admirers
OF Washington than are Americans.
While great number Of our own schol-
ars have been keeping up a postmortem
hunt for his faults, the students of other
countries have regarded him only as the
grandest historical figure in the annals oi
modern struggles for liberty.
The old place at Mount Vernon is,
however, eloquent evidence Of the esteem
in which the memory Of the father Of his
country is held by his people. Every
year sees Improvements made on the es
tate. The mansion stands ut consider
able elevation above the river, hut the
descent is in no place very precipitous.
Within the last two years a private dona-
ton has entirely restored the old deer
park OF Washington's day on this old
river front. A great stone wall and a
fine iron fence, with a particularly impos-
ing gateway, now incloses the park and
score OF deer may be seen.
So IN the mansion. The donations are
continually coming in, and the pieces Of
old furniture and bric-a-brac are so nu-
merous as to unduly crowd some OF the
rooms. Ii generous souls would now buy
back the library, which was sold some
time in the 30's to the Boston library,
the furnishings would appear as complete
as possible. The old tomb where the re-
mains oil George and Martha Washing
ton reposed prior TO their removal to the
present tomb, has been fully restored
within the last two years. In fact, the
thought and zeal exhibited by the ladies
OF the Mount Vernon association are a
moniiment to American womanhood.
The old church at Alexandria, from
which iust 100 years ago last month
George Washington issued and rode away
to be Inaugura'ed at New York, is az
carefully preserved. l was seated just
back OF the old Washington pew last Sun
day, and tried to imagine how George
must have longed to be out of that pew on
such Sundaya, when the spiritual food
offered by the pastor was particularly
stale, aud when he had but 20 look out of
the window TO see the budding leaves of
the trees beckoning him away, and but
TO lister to bear the birds calling each
other among the headstones OF the church
yard outside. II George had not been
busy living oat an historical existence /
believe ne wonld have induced himself to
cut the long service and 90 away for q
walk
Visitors 10 the old church have 10 pay
at least cents 10 the sexton 10 see the
church after service tilns. A close in.
sgection Of the plaeard conveying this in
formation showed tha. the various YES
tryutM must have been much exescised
in their minds regarding the price to be
charged. Evidently the price was first
fixed at . cents, then at Is and again at
10. Thus we nee that competition is not
the only arbiter Of prices.
The fee, however, is an absolute neces-
sity. The sexton told me that he was
Obliged TO watch every movement Of Wis
itors. People allowed to go into the
Washington pew steal the buttons off the
cushion in blissful ignorance ef the fac.
that only the hair inside is part Of the
original upholstery. Several years ago
when the sexton bad happened to leave
the door unlocked some enterprising
traveller entered and tore the old plate
off the pew door. Vandalism is 3 crime
peculiar to no people, but it reaches the
sublime in impudence when it works in
church.
The movement to build grand ma
tional road 200 feet wide from Arlington
cemetery 10 Mo1nt Vernon, q distance Of
about sixteen miles, is meeting with favor,
and the proposition 10 have each State.