The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1893-10-13
Mount Vernon

nn the western bank of the Potomac,
rs situated Mount Vernon, the home
of George Washington. 1t is Access
sible by land or water. The man.
sion is three stories high. contains
eighteen rooms and 10 erected upon a
beautiful elevation 200 feet above
the water. 1t is a wooden structure,
the main part of which was built in
1743 by Lawrence Washington, from
whom the president inherited it.
Facing the river, on theeastern front
is large piazza the entire length of
the house. The rooms are small, the
ceilings low and the fun niture quaint
and curious. though no doubt hand
some and costly in its day. Each
room is entrusted to the care of some
state in the Union, whose name APP
pears over the door. Tennessee has
no room. One of the most interest
ing apartments is the room asst gned
to Virginia. In this room Washing
ton died, and the Identical bed-stsad
upon which he breathed his last is
remarkably well preserved.
There are thousands of valuable and
historical relics all over the house, a
few of which | will mention: Key to
the French Bastile, presented by
Lafayette; swords of Washington;
camp fork and needle case used by
Washington at Valley Forge; powder
horn and British baYonet used at
the battle of Concord; Masonic apron
worn by Lafayette; cane head made
of wood from the elm tree under
which the treaty with the Indians
was signed by VIM. Penn; suit of
clothes, the last worn by Washing
ton before his death.
The yard in the rear of the man~
SION is dotted all over with out houses.
The "ofice,' milk. house. meat house,
ice~house, spinning and weaving
houses, etc.
The next object of interest about
the old place, and the one that at
tracts more attention than all others,
is the tomb of w ashington, a plain
brick structure. In front is wide
arching gateway of iron, above
which is the following inscription
upon O marble slab: "Withln this
Enclosure rest the remains of Gen.
George Washington" The ante~
room to the vault 10 about twelve
feet square, and here are seen the sar-
cophagi. The one on the right con.
tains the remains of Washington, and
that on the left the remains OF Martina.
his wife. In the rear of the vault
about thirty members of the family
are buried. The original tomb of
Washington 10 oil the right of the
path to the house. Immediately upon
the bank of the Potomac. On ac-
count of feeling OF insecurity, the
body was removed to its present rest
ing place in 1887, the doors of the
inner vault locked. and the key
thrown into the river.
Out of respect to the memory of the
"Father of Nations boats when pas
sing Mount Vernon always toll their
bells. This is a very beautiful GUS
tom, which has been observed for
nearly century.
The Ladies Mount Vernon Asso-
citation of the Union" has charge of
Washington's old home and tomb
The formation of this association,
composed of ladies from all over the
Uuion, who hold annual meetings
upon the premises. was fret suggested
by Miss Cunningham, of Georgia.
An entrance fee OF twenty-five cents is
charged, which furnishes a source OF
revenue. Photographic views, plants,
flowers. canes, diminutive wooden
hatchets, etc., are also sold, which
adds to the annual income. All
this IS expended in keeping up the
premises. w.