The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-10-07
WESTINGHOUSE GRANDNIECE
A West virginian Visits the
Worlds Fair-An Interesting
Talk.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.

One of the most interested and in
teresting visitors TO the Worlds Fair
during the past week who signed their
names in the Virginia building is Mrs.
John Wheeler Smith, widow of the
late Major Smith, U. S. A,
Mrs. Smith is the Oldest living rela-
tive Of George Washington. She is a
daughter Of the late John Thornton
Washington, of Cedar Lawn, jefferson
county, West Virginia. Her father
was a great-grandson of Colonel Sam
uel Washington, Oldest brother of the
father Of his country. Mrs. Smith,
whose maiden name was Georgia Anna
Washington, was born at Cedar Lawn
March, 1921, and is the Oldest of three
surviving members of family of ten
children. In 1871 she married Major
John Wheeler Smith, paymaster in
the United States army, who, after
going through the war, resigned and
settled at Little Rock, soon after the
war was over, and there Mrs. Smith
has since made her home.
Speaking of her impressions of Chi
cago and the fair she said: at seems
so new and strange and wonderful
that sometimes it seems almost like
a dream tonne. Aside from the many
wonderful things / have seen at Chi
cago and at the fair ground, that of
course which had the greatest interest
for me was the meeting with my chill
dren and grandchildren and my visits
to the old Mount Vernon home, which
is reproduced after fashion on the
grounds. This visit however, was not
altogether untinged with sad refec-
tions. There was just enough reality
about it to suggest the many great
changes which have taken place in my
native State and in our own family
The house did not seem anything like
the spacious old frame mansion at
Mount Vernon had seemed to me in
my younger days. Some of the furni-
ture looked natural, and l could not
resist the temptation to sit down in
the old arm chair which had been used
by my illustrious relative. But this
act came near costing me very dearly.
| did not for the moment realize that
l was doing something against the
rules, and something which was likely
to prove very serious as well. Almost
in moment found myself the OBJ
ject of curiosity seekers who pressed
around to find out what it was all
about. | found myself in position
which was very disagreeable and en-
barrassing. i very soon realized that
I was not at Mount Vernon in reality
and l suppose if l had not beaten
hasty retreat / would have been di-
vested of everything which would
have furnished a souvenir for curios-
ity seeker, even to the extent of losing
my white hair, as l understand these
vandals spare nothing in their eager
desire to gather mementoes."
Mrs. Smith has not visited Virginia
since she left there just before the be-
ginning of the war. II do not care
to go back" she said. 81 am not
much given to sentimentalism, but l
prefer to think of Virginia and the
old home places of our family as l
knew them when l was girl. From
what my friends whom / have seen tell
me | think it would only make me
inexpressibly sad to see the changes
which have taken place.-So many of
my relatives and schoolmates have
passed away-Our old home even is in
a State which has been cut off the
old State of which / feel so proud
that altogether prefer to think of
Virginia as / knew it years ago."