The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-20
Summer Outing Papers.
III.
Mount Vernon Continued-The Tomb of
Washington Impressive Ceremony
The Old Barn at Mount Vernon-The
Kitchen, etc.
MRS. sHERwooD's LETTERS.

WASHINGTON, JULY 1.-ApprOachlDg
Mount Vernon from the river the tomb
of Washington is the first object of in
terest. 1t stands on the brow of the
hill at the head of the deeply shaded
walk which brings one up from the land
ing, simple brick structure with high
iron grille secluding its sarcophagi from
the touch OF vandal hands. which no
doubt would chip that if they could for
relics. AS you look, the white marble
coffin which holds the dust of Washing
ton lies to the right. An American
shield and eagle with spread wings is at
the head. Beside it lies in similar re-
pose the dust of his devoted wife. In
the sealed vault behind lies the remains
of Washington's nearest kith and kin,
many unknown to fame; and outside are
three granite shafts, one to Lawrence
Washington, from whom Washington
inherited Mount Vernon. and other dis
tinguished men of his family. Hence
their virtues are paraded on their tomb
stones that the busy world which passes
by may pause, read and ponder.
Scenes around the Tomb.
Many and various scenes have taken
place around this tomb. The idle, the Gu
rious, the pilgrim and stranger, have come
and looked, each being equally impressed
with that simple dignity of character
and power of personal achievement
which Washington had, which is
grander and more impressive thing than
any title can produce. The leafy woods
rustic close by this revered spot and
gently sigh above it, while thrushes and
tanagers sing all day long-and some
times half the night-in their branches.
The top OF the tomb is grass grown, and
below in the gully in front of it is little
brook which goes singing on forever,
and on it's brink is willow tree, a slip
from one under which Napoleon's body
lay for time at st. Helena. In Aunt
Emily's dooryard waves descendant
from this famous shoot. There are sew
eral walks out through the woods up to
the old mansion from the river and
tomb. But no matter where one goes
and what he sees, he will return to this
spot, away from the crowd, and gaze
inward, thinking those long and unex-
pressible thoughts which enrich ones
life through their memory and influence.
Too many pilgrimages cannot be made
to this tomb Of Washington.
The writer once witnessed an impress
sive ceremony beside the tomb. 1t was
the baptism of Masonic orphan child
by Knight Templars who had adopted
it as their special charge, being the heir
of deceased Knight of their order. 1t
was fearfully hot st. Johns Day, and
the Columbia Commandery No. 2 were
on a pilgrimage first and afterward an
outing for the day. During the great
conclave in the capital city in 1889. there
were daily excursions of Sir Knights to
this Masonic as we'll as patriots shrine'
and prayers were said round the place
and words spoken that will keep the
memory of them as green as the most
eventful days, of which this was the
greatest Of all.
An old barn with steep roof and
little cubby holes under the caves for
swallows to nest in, is most fascinating
place. The old barn at Mount Vernon
is not allowed to grow messy and "color"
to delight the eye of an artist, for the
Regents see that it is kept in good re-
pair as is their duty; but new paint can
not spoil its ancient, native air of quaint
ness Within, the box stalls with I'M
hewn timber posts whitewashed, look
more like Virginia when "shiftless" ways
OF doing things passed muster hundred
years ago, even more than now. There
is also a delightfully."- bewildering mass
of cobwebs hanging from the inverted
comb of the roof and many swallows
nest close by. In another building
across the way, Washington's carriage
house, not much more than shed
enclosed, is the old yellow bodied low
hung family coach in which George and
Martha travelled from Mount Vernon to