Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-03-29
QUIET MOUNT VERNON.
Humorous Anecdotes Told by
Colonel Hollingsford.
Incidents Connected with the Modest
Litt:e Mansion on tire Banks of the
Potomac-The One Neutral Spot
During tho Civil War.

Persons familiar with Mount Vernon
during the time of Colonel Hollingsford
miss the stories Of the humorous super
intendent in revisiting its different L.
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 the spot like
whispering ghosts.
Who that approaches the house and
pauses at Washington's favorite resting
places can forget the reverential pride
with which the worthy Colonel repeated
the fact recorded to the glory of the
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
we're forgotten?
Upon reaching the tomb, as if to apol-
ogize for its simplicity, the 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 great
thrill that the only Dissertation 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 cato and carried away one claw
of the eagle"
mot in malice" he would add, "for
he boosted of it on his return to Vir-
GINA. He took it simply as relic
hunter"
Then the Colonel's mirthful humor
would hrhh1a ho of
the scene, and he would say with an
unforgettable twinkle: 81 say distinct
ly, relic-hunter! 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 the lady weep
ing there in passionate sensibility, mis-
taking it for the tomb; and the spot
where Washington threw the silver dol
lar across the Potomac clear to the other
side, linking with it the story of Mr..
Evarts, who, when asked if he believed
it, 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 ninaty 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, "the temperance ladies
planted this and it lives and f1ourishes,
and, every day, we give it little drop.
They wish me to say, however, that the
bottle of Washington's which General
- saw taken out of the wall probably
contained-vinegar!'
There were all sorts of things taken
out of the wall after the falling of the
ceiling in the banqueting-r in 1888
or 1854, slippers, snow-shoes, belts,
skeleton of a mouse in a 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 whore Washing
ton was born and where the veritable
Ratchet was plowed up from the soil.
His version of it was very different from
the traditional cherry-tree story. Wash
ington, SO he said, had a 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 Ratchet"
In the Colonels story-bag there were
many pleasant anecdotes of Parson
Weems, whose Life of Washington
was the delight of early days, and
xxyh io1, 1,1
told with infinite zest when he would
find himself among party of church
men.
The good parson preached on one occa-
sion at little neighboring chuSch about
five miles distant from Mount Vernon.
The coach was sent ct 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 coach-box.
"Are they religious people at Mount
Vermont" he asked.
"Oh very, very, NASAL" was the re-
ply.
"Well, what denomination are they
at Mount Vermont"
''Oh, every denomination, every de-
nomination at Mount Vernon"
"Ah! and what may you be, John?"
"Mel o massa, hain't any religion
at all! rs an Episcopalian."
Perhaps no story was dearer to his loyal
heart than that of the superb mantel in
the banqueting-room. carved in Italy OF
the finest Carrara marble. On its long
voyage from the Mediterranean shore it
met with many perils, and was captured
by pirates who then roamed the high
seas in search of plumber.
The old adage says: ''There is honor
even among thieves" and it is not
probable there beats human heart
that has not some good in it, if rightly
touched. So when these wild pirates saw
the honored name of Washington
upon the box, reverence and love over
powered greed, and they shipped it at
once to Washington's address.
A Woman Physician in China.
NFV-