Telegram-herald., 1890-03-28
QUIET MOUNT VERNON.
Humorous Aneodotes Tc.3 by
ColO1sl EoIingszord
Esetd~uss Co1EsctSd ~tEh the Ao11ss
Lite AsE-sl0a rae B=Hk II Shs
PotoznAe-TGe cue ss0trsl sp0t
DeF42g the Cist Mar


in6endent Ia revisiting Us different lo-
calities. snd feel that pilgrims who
have not these associations lose = great
6eaL Indeed, writes Mary Lansing Ia
TIE Youths Companion. the stories
told II each narration with the relish 4
a fresh anecaots haunt the spot ike
whispering ghosts
WAC that approaches the house ani
pauses AZ Wsshington's favorite resting
places can forget the reyerentlal pride
with which the worthy Colonel repeated
The fact recorded 70 the glory ot tie
Nation, that through the long civil war
Mount Vernon was the one neutral spot
where Unionist and secessionist met as
brothers. and where all sectional strifes
were forgottenr
Upon reaching the tomb, as ~ TO apol-
ogize FOR its simplicity, the Colonel
would tenderly say: And you remen-
Der, Washington said in bis viii: 'And
the tomb shall be Of brick.
Then pointing 20 the esgle within the
tomb, ne would tell you with a great
thrill that the only desecration OF the
spot committed during the war, though
the soldiers OF both armies met daily be-
fore IL. Was hat relic-hunter climbed
over the gate and carried away one claw
OF the eagle"
"Not in malice" he would add, 'for
be b0asted of it on his return TO Nir-
ginia. He took IL simply as a relic
hunter"
Then the COlonel's mirthful humor
L..l - - 9
the scene, and he would say with an
unforgettable twinkle: IL say distinct
ly, a relsc-hunter! i was asked the other
day who Alec Hunter was?"
From this place he would point ont
the ice-house which gave rise TO Mark
Twain's famous story OF the lady weep
ing there in passionate sensibility, mis-
taking II for the tomb; and the spot
where Washington threw the silver dol
lar across the Potomac clear 10 the other
side, linking with it the story of Mr..
Evarts, who, when asked If he believed
it, replied quickly: Why, yesl A dol
lar went great deal farther in those
days"
Wandering on, he would point out the
storied shrubs and trees, the magnolia
plan ted the year that Washington died.
which, only ninety years old now, is
coeval with the century; the trees
planted by the Emperor of Brazil, Dom
Pedro, and by the Prince Of Wales.
"They died and were planted again;
died; planted again; died. Royalty can
not flourish on this soil; but look here"
he would say, 1.-the temperance ladies
planted this and it lives and flourishes,
and, every day, we give st a little drop
They wish me to say, however, that the
bottle of Washington's which General
- saw taken out Of the wall probably
contained vinegarl'
There were all sorts Of things taken
out of the wall after the falling of the
ceiling in the banqueting-room, in 1883
or 1884, slippers, snow-shoes, belts,
skeleton Of mouse in bottle, etc, all
OF which were displayed as curios.
The "hatchet story" Colonel Hollings-
ford maintained, belonged to an earlier
day than Mount Vernon, and the scene
OF it he laid forty miles further down
the river, on the farm where Washing
ton was born and where the veritable
hatchet was plowed up from the soil.
His version oft was very different from
the traditional cherry-tree story. Wash
ington, so be said, had little colored
servant who was the partner of all his
childish pranks, and when the father
solemnly asked about his favorite tree,
George boldly replied: Ike did it with
my little hatchet"
In the Colonel's story-bag there were
many pleasant anecdotes of Parson
Weems, whose Life of Washington"
was the delight of early days, and
among them there was one which he
told with infinite zest when he would
find himself among party of church
men.
The good parson preached on one occa-
sion at a little neighboring church about
five miles distant from Mount Vernon.
The coach was sent at the close of serv-
ice to bring the parson TO dine with the
family of Washington. Riding alone
and loving TO talk, he fell TO catechising
John on the cosch-box.
Are they religious people at Mount
Vernon" he asked.
"Oh very, very, NASSAU was the re-
ply.
We'll, what denomination are they
at Mount Vernon"
"Oh, every denomination, every de-
nomination at Mount Vernon"
'Ahl and what may you be. JohnY'
Mel q massa. hain't any religion
At ALT Is an EpiscopaliaD.
Perhaps no story was dearer 10 HIS loyal
heart than that OF the superb msntel in
the banqueting-room. carved IN Italy of
the finest Carrara marble. On It's long
voyage from the editerranean shore it
met with many perils. and was captured
By pirates who then rosmed the high
seas in search % plunder.
The old adage says; There is honor
even among thieves" and it Is not
probable there beats a human heart
that has not some good in it.. II rightly
touched. So when these viId pirates saw
the honored name of Washington"
upon the box. reverence and love over
powered greed. and they shipped II a.
once to Washington addass
a FEMALE HERCULES.
Emily Hsrper's SuddeniT and Wonderful
ly-Devrioped Strength.
Nearly every one within twenty miles
o. Alexander. Genesee County. has heard
during The 1sst few weeks more