The Monticellonian., 1895-02-01
WASHINGT0N'S BODY GUARD.
A Colored Man Who Has Been for
 Fifty Three Years and s Still.
From the Washington Post.

the tomb of Washington will re- member the gray headed colored man who watches in front of the iron grating behind which repose the remains of the first president of the country, together with those of his wife. The name of the col ored man is Edmond Parker. He was born slave of John Angus tus Washington, and for fifty-three years he has been one of the fix lures of the Washington home stead. Except for about two years sci vice in the Union army this man, since ls4l, has been a constant and faithful servant about the spot winch is dear to the heart of every American.
 After the Mount Vernon estate passed into the hands of the pres ent owners. Parker was desIg- mated to watch the tom b, and dur ing all these years he has kept this vigil as faithfully as the vir- gins guarded the sacred fires on the altar of Vesta. He has watch ed the coming and going of the thousands of visitors to this patri- otie shrine, and he remembers with distinctness many notable in- cidents which have there occurred, :, including visits of noted person. ages, native and foreign, among them the Emperor of Brazil, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Louise, the grand duke Alexis of Russia, Charles Stewart Parnell, the Princess Eulalie of Spain and also the varius representatives of foreign countries who have from tlIHc tO time Deeu StallOHcu at Washington. With much loquaci. l ty in native "Vlrginia darkey" di- alect he tells of these events, and delights to tell how he dug the hole where the Emperor of Brazil planted tree near the tomb.
 Recently. while at Mt. Vernon, the writer asked Parker if he re- membered the visits of any of the presidents since the war, and he said he did not remem Der to have ever seen Gen. Grant there, but he did remember that Mrs. Grant and her daughter had been there on more than one occasion, and each time took much interest in the surroundings, always hay ing pleasant word for him. Pres idont Hayes and wife were there several times, and once, about the time of the annual meeting of the Ladies Association, they remain ed all night. He remembered to have seen MT. Arthur there once, at least, and agrees with every one who speaks concerning him that no more elegant gentleman ev- CT paid a visit there. Speaking of Mir. Cleveland, he says hse visited there twice dnring his first term, and each time stood with uncover ed head in the presence of the ex- posed marble sarcophagus. Sher- man. Sheridan, Logan, Butler, Banks and Burnside, of the Union army, and Generals Lee, Joe John ston, Gordon, and Bnckner, of the Contedera cause, he recalls as visitors.
 It is interesting to listen to this old man recite his experience dur ing his years of service. He has witnessed the conduct of all class es of people when in the presence of the dust of the Father of his Country.
 Speaking of the number of vis- itors now as compared with former years, Parker says they have in- creased wonderfully since the completion of the electric rail- road. It is now often the case that visitors remain about the grounds till closing time, o'clock, while formerly all were compelled to leave by the boat, which rarely made but one trip per day. Many changes are no- ticeable, but the same old build ings still stand as sentinals over looking the broad river; the same old trees are there and tbe same winding paths lead about the grounds, and the same old Virgin ia darkey still keeps watch over