Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-05-20
tQUIET MOUNT VERNON.

lhCehueHI III roNlS1GlnR us O1noreQG 10
calities, and feel that pilgrims who
have not these associations lose great
deal. Indeed, writes Mary Lansing in
the Youths Companion, the stories
told of each narration with the relish of
fresh anecdote haunt tho spot like
whispering ghosts.
Upon reaching the tomb, as if to apol-
ogize for its simplicity, tho Colonel
would tenderly say: "And you remem-
Der, Washington said in his will: And
the tomb shall be of brick"
Then pointing to the eagle within the
tomb, he 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 it, was that relic-hunter climbed
over the gate and carried away one claw
of the eagle"
Then the Colonel's mirthful humor
would bubble over the seriousness of
the scene, and he would say with an
unforgettable twinkle: 81 say distinct
ly, relic-hunter! l was asked the other
day who Alec Hunter wasp"
From this place he would point out
the ice-house which gave rise to Mark
Twain's famous story of tho lady weep
ing there in passionate sensibility, mis-
taking it for the tomb; and the spot
where Washington threw the silver dol
lar across tho Potomac clear to the other
side, linking with it the story of Mr..
Evarts, who, when asked if he believed
1t, replied quickly: "Why, yes! A dol
lar went great deal farther in those
days!"
Wandering on, he would point out the
stored shrubs and trees, the magnolia
planted 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 hero"
he would say, "the temperance ladies
planted this and it lives and flourishes,
and, every day, we give it a little drop.
They wish me to say, however, that the
bottle of Washing ton's which General
- saw taken out OF the wall probably
acknowledgements
There were all sorts of things taken
out of the wall after the falling of the
ceiling in the banqueting-room, in 1883
or 1854, slippers, snow-shoes, belts,
skeleton Of a mouse in bottle, etc., all
of which were displayed as curios.
The "hatcbet story" Colonel Holdings,
ford maintained, belonged to an earlier
day than Mount Vernon, and the scene
or 1t he laid forty miles further down
the river, on the farm where Washing
ton was born and where the veritable
Ratchet was piowed up from the SOIL
~ &c unr az - : ~
the traditional cherry-tree story. Wash
lngton, 80 he 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: like did it with
my little Ratchet"
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 thore was ono which he
told with infinite zest when he would
lind himself among a party of church.
mon.
The good parson preached on one occa-
sion at little noighboring church about
five miles distant from Mount Vernon.
The coach was sent at the close of scrv-
leo to bring the parson to dine with tho
family Of Washington. Riding alone
and loving to talk, he fell to catechising
John on the coach-box.
care they religious people at Mount
Vermont" he asked.
"Oh very, very, nassau was the re-
ply.
"Well, what denomination are they
at Mount Vermont"
ooh, every denomination, every de-
nomination at Mount Vernon"
"Ah! and what may you be, John?"
me! o massa, hain't any religion
atalll rs an EpiscopaliaD."
Perhaps no story was dearer to his loyal
heart than that of the superb mantel in
tho banqueting-room, carved in Italy of