Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-02-20

Ing In great luck ~ you young fellows
say now.
at was In such an ouiiit-far boys
arrived at the dignity VI blurcsted
apparel Mt u much younger ags In
those days than they do now-thst
early Ia March, 1907, inst remember
visiting Mount Vernon, being then u
yOungster Ui four years. II wss on the
occasion Of Washington's return 10
home and domestic life at tut leImins.
ton Of his second presidential tenn.
Among the vast cOncOurse Of neigh
bOrs ald friends assembled 10 welcome
him was my father who had taken me
with him. The occasion was made
one OF general rejoicing. People cam.
docking m from all parts Of the vast
estate.
"rhose who are familiar with the
Mount Vernon OF today with It's 200
acres, eau scarcely realize that In
WashingtOn's time Il numbered several
thousand. II was originally known ~
tue Hunting Creek estate, but when
Lawrence Washington, GrOrge's halt
bIotheT, inherited II from their
father, he techTistenId II Mount
Vernon Ia honor Of the British
admiral under whom he had
served In the disastrous campsigne
against Carthageua IN South America.
At his death II descended to his
daughter Jennie, and when shc died,
soon aiterward, II became the property
Of George Washington. Ii was n great
domain extending for miles down the
Potomac below Alexandra.
"Whcu the beautiful young rellct Of
Col. Daniel psrke Curtis--a colonial
belle ut fifteen, a bride at seventeen
and widow with two children at
twenty.f became Mrs. Washing
ton, the brought her new lord a dover
OF fifteen thousand acres OF land, 800
negroes aud $4,000 invested IN the
best securities Of those days. The
large domain thus added To Mount
Vernon maize Washington one OF the
largest and wealthiest landowners OF
his day.
have looked upon many mighty men
! have seen tho great Napoleon In the
full flush Of his pride anu triumph. |
nave seen George IN--the ilrst gentle.
man OF Europe. | have personally
known Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott,
Dauiel o. Connell, Daniel Webster aud
ia affairs OF government, arms, littrR.
ture, statesmauship Aud OratOry, but
never have seen any other man who
impressed me, child though 1 was, as
possessing such massive grandeur and
dignity ot presence ~ did General
George Washington when he stood
upon the yerandab at Mount Vernon
aud In u few simple, well chosen words
thanked US for our demonstration vi
welcome. Tbs impression then made
by him upon my chlld-mind can never
be efiaCed, nnu " all the great men
whom | have seen none has been able
10 depogs tire Father Ol his country
from the pedestal u superiority over
other men upon which placed him
that day.
Down In the negro quarters numer.
Gus pot pies We're cooking In ten gallon
kettles ami many JUICY possums were
roasting before brightly Burning wood
fires. We had no coal la those days
and the winter wood pile OF u prosper
Gus planter at that time would make u
householder of the present day thiuk
that there had been n freshet IN the
nelghbOrhood.
"Then In the grand old banquet
hall ut Mount Vernon, Washington
aud his country neighhors sat down 10
one Of the old fashioned rural Virginia
suppers Of that period. When this
feast had been despatched the tables
were quickly cleared away anu all the