The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-10-15

speaker, and he was also much ap-
plauded. 1t was then announced that
the speaking was over, as 1t was time
for church. Many people were dlsap-
pointed at the non-appearance OF
Hampton, Bradley, Johnston and Hon.
Conrad, which men had special lnvl-
tations to grace the occasion by being
present.
Our parry enjoyed nice collation.
under the trees, and as our appetite
was .sharpened by our ride, we did
ample justice 70 the repa.t. After
finishing esting We went in the Court
Ueuse to tea rcc>rd Office, where VIC
had the privilege of seeing the orlgl
nal will of Washington. 1t is very
much dilapidated on account of having
been handled a grc.t dea conse-
quently it has been put in a glass case,
aud hough you cannot take the will
in your hands, you can see the writing
very distinctly. OF course it is yellow
with age, but under the circumstances
it is very we'll preserved. We also
saw the will of George Mason, which
at any other time would have inspired
great reverence, but of course we
were more impressed by that of the
ssFathcr of VI Country"
We saw quite curiosity in boook
of court records, the writing Of which
dated as early as 1742. These docu'
ments (as we'll as some others in the
ofice) are very valuable, and a fire
proof building which is now IN course
of erection, will be their repository
some time in the near future. After
our visit to the Court House we went
| to the Jail, ;hen we spent the rest OF
the evening in walking around the
town. About four o'clock we started
for home, and upon reaching it we
were pretty we'll tired out. but we
did not grumble for We felt fully re-
paid for the trip.
Since The reanion we p4id q T'cry
delightful visit to Mt. Vernon, golrg
from Alexandria by the e'ec:ric car.
The ride was charming and we saw
some lovely scenery. On the way We
passed Vel iugton, which was the
home Of Washing: on's private Secfc
t.rv, Tobias Lesrs. Alter ride of
thirty minutes we arrived at the gates
Of Washington's grand old home.
We spent two or three hours there,
during which time we only res:cd a
qlarter of an hour. The deer park
vas Interesting, also the old garden.
.he most remarkable thing in the
garden is the boxwood, which is said
to have been planted one hundred and
& fly years ago. Prominent among tho
trees is a large magnolia which was
planted by the hand of Washington.
The Conservatives are very fine, beirg
filed with exo,ics of every desert? ?tiou.
The grounds are in perfect order, and
everything is beautifully kept, We
visited the tomb of Washington, and
upoe seeing it VIC were filed with
awe, which graduat!y passed away
and gave US good time to take in
everything connected with it, so we
left it with an impression of it on our
mind, so that we can distinctly see it
| inmaeina;ion. After we walked over
the grounds we visited the mansion.
The most Interesting rooms are Wash
ington's, Lafayelte's, tie banquet ball
| and the music room. TIE things in
| Washington's chamber are surely
sufficient to inspire reverence in the
heart of the patriot-the bed on which
he died, the chair on which he sat, a
trunk of his and the old fa>hioncd
bureau are certainly articles Of great
value as we'll as curiosity. Among
the things particularly noticeable in
he music room are harpslchord amp
stool Of Nellie Custis', flute Of Gen.
Washington's and an old table on
which Lafayette played whist. In the
| corner Of this room is case full Of
curiosities, contaiDing poir of glasses
which belonged to the General, and a
silver heel off of a shoe of Martha
Washington, besides many other little
lhin1s, 100 numerous to mention. In
the .lall or entry are several things Of
walt = in the shape Cf dressing case
| mad three swords of Washington. In
glass case hanging against the wall
is the origina! key Of the Basti!c
Prison which was presented by -Lafa-
yette to his best friend after the &C.:
molishment Of that prison. The South
Carolina room is very handsome, and
many boast Of treasure in al old
sideboard and pair of andirons which
bcspeak Of days tl.aG are no more.
Tie carpet and curtains Of this rooIn
are very handsome; as bard:omc as
any in the house. We could speak OF
the library, the banquetlng hal! and
several others but our time no: your
space will not permit this.
We will end by SAYING that We
spent a most delightful time at this
grand old place, aid we were treated
with every Difference By the officials
VITO seemed to take great pleasure in
answering any questions which the
visitors hlppened to ak. We will
leave it to some future visitor Of Mt.
Vernon 10 tell OF the things which we
have neglected to speak Of, and he Or
she will probably do them more justice