The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-06-26

tOliiD VI luC dIIlCl VI AIo OoNlAIi y {.
The time was necessarily short and the
party, taking cable car, were landed
at the ferry. where they embarked on
the steamer for Alexandria. From
Alexandria, a trolley line runs to the
gate of Mount Vernon. To wait for
the regular schedule of the car line
would have been to reach Mount Yer
non too late for admission, the gates
being closed to visitors at ) p. m.
Col. Capers however, found the super
intendent Of the road and made him
acquainted with the situation, and
that estimable gentleman at once
placed a special car at the disposal OF
the party He not only did this cheer
fully, but also accompanied the edlto-
rial excursion, and on the return trip
to Alexandria ran the car himself, re-
lieying the motorman, who was sent
to station on the line to telephone
the ferry boat. asking that it be held a
few moments for the excursionists.
For the truth Of history | may men
ton that this gent?emans name is D..
w. lolden, and it viii be seen that
he is Virgin an Of an altogether diff
ferent t.;pe from The Nirginian of
whom | am a5ou! 10 say something.
The trip was a most delightful one
in mauy respects. The road ran along
the banks OF the Potomac, which Col.
Bacon, of the Edgefeld Chronicle, de
scrlbes as very permeating stream OF
water. through shady groves and bos-
Ky dejl$, a distance of eight or ten
:iils. :,:,: the speed attained along
the sr..i.it places on tie track was
u;'Haf,!s; If forty miles an hour.
%s"n Mount Vernon was reached
!. We :'.f~c minutes past ) o'clock
!and tie gates were closed. Two men
we're standing in the office, but they
We're lIis rel V miuions; their duty was
plain. The; could not admit the excur-
sionis:s. Col. Capers had parley
with them. and after awhile Col. Ba-
con, OF Edgefivld tried his persuasive
powers, which, as everybody IN South
Carolina knows. are very fetching.
The lnen, however. were firm; they
refused TO be pursuadcd; unlike the
angel at the beautiful gates, they
refused to let them ajar.
They We're asked to take one OF tie
visitors to the commandant or super
intendent. who was within the enclos-
ure. and allow him to explain the sit
uation and seek admission. They re-
fused to do this, but one Of them final
ly consented to go to the superintend-
ent and ask for further instructions.
In about fifteen minutes he returned,
accompanied by the superintendent,
and the Carolinians. especially the la
dies, INDUCED the hope that they
would not be disappointed after all.
The superintendent, who is a rather
good-looking dude of the elderly va
riety, had evidently left his good man
ners in the kitchen of Mount Vernon,
or what is more probable, had never
had any. Gazing at the Carolinians
very much like the King Of the Can
nibal Isles might be supposed to look
over lot of fresh young missionaries
intended for his table, he remarked:
Its very fortunate thing for you
that | am here. II hadn't been here
YOU would never have got in. I'll let
you in, however, it revolts me, but III
do it this time if you will promise to
behave yourselves and not carry off
any of the portable property with you
when you go. You will understand
that this is great bit of condescension
on my part. l dare say you are lot
of jays, only fit to be kicked and cuff
ed, but III overlook it this time.
Open the gate this to the minions
who had stood qusking in fear and
trembling, while the great Panjan-
drum of Mount Vernon was speaking,
and who looked very much as if their
cue was to shout Salute" like the
town crier in The Chimes of Nor
mandy" when the servants fair is
opened by the bailey The speech
was an ungracious and an ungraceful
one. It struck the visitors like dish
of ice water thrown in their faces, and
quite number CT them turned to go
away. They, however, joined the
others and entered the sacred precincts
of the home of Washington, feeling
very much like dog would feel who
had bone flung at his head.
Then this satrap called to an old ne
gro mana black Firginian Of the
old Virginia type-and told him to
take these people down to the tomb. :"
The old negro who says he has been
the keeper of the tomb for over forty
years, went through his piece" but
did it like a gentleman addressing Ia
dies and gentlemen. Alongside of
Satrap Dodge lie was Chesterfield in
ebony the insoleuce Of office had not
contaminated him: his old Virginia
breeding was as fresh and as hearty as
it was when he vas slave, and If
Satrap Dodge had been there it must
have brought q blush of shame to his
cheek. But the superintendent was
noJ there. He was up at the house
locking up things and nursing his au-
lvctot:c wrath.
The p! srlns did not have time to
iiil-cr:.i &c tomb of the Father Of his
Coi;:t"y. ;.ltaough the kind and cour-
,,u:.s .>,.1IS ot the old Virginia darky
Nyrc wy entertaining. They climbed
ti.e s,eop :l,ii to the pleateau on which
the house stands to find the superln-
tepdent st:1ltting and Tuning on the
vermld,;. Dodge waited until most Of
the pilgrims had arrived and until one
of them had started to look into one
Of the rooms. Then he again poured
out the thpndcr of his insolent wrath.
Come here, said he Don't am
of YOU enter the house until am
ready to go with you. You may sit in
those chairs (on the verandO if you
have mind to, ard with this grs,-
cious instruction he began to say his
piece, the piece for the delivery OF
which it is probable that the goot;
women who made Mount Vernon a
reality pay him handsomely:
The piece was recited with a good
deal of venom in it. The impression it
made on the persons to whom it was
o6 Il recsa1 nrirht he 1il,pnpd 70 that