The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-20

Pohic church. where they had pew, as
it was close by. Or, on fine days they
drove to Alexandria. where they had
another pew in Christ Church. Those
buildings are of brick brought from
England, and all the brick used at
Mount Vernon is said to have travelled
as far. Indeed, Washington's journals
show him to have been good patron OF
the mother country before Revolutionary
times, and even after for that matter. He
records orders for "best pairs of shorts
and snuff -colored coats from London
or Paris. When ruff1ed shirts and silk
and satin waistcoats coming to mans
middle we're the fashion for men, to say
nothing of the satin shorts with ruffles
at the knees, man Of station had to
dress up to his dignities. and he was
obliged to patronize his mother country,
or some other, even though there was
lingering air of unpleasantness between
them.
We have sometimes thought part of
the placid good nature of France was
owing to Americans being such good
customers of her "haberdashery" and
other finery. Such sordid ideas will get
mixed up with patriotism. At any rate
if Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Ad
ans could not give a practical turn to
their long years Of diplomacy in behalf
Of their native land, their characters as
practical men belle them. 1t is not
belittling them to say they evidently
saw both sides of the benefits to be
derived from a close alliance between
France and America, beside merely
whipping England into respect for our
nationality.
The old kitchen in the rear of the
mansion has great cavern of fire.
place where Aunt Lucinda, the cook,
used to sit in one corner and smoke her
cob pipe after the days work was done
There was room enough left for her "old
man" to smoke his pipe in the other, if
he CHANGED to drop in for little gossip
at the cool of the day. In those days
all household tasks possible were per-
formed away from the main building
and curved covered way led from this
kitchen to the family dining room, and
across the lawn another like unto it led
from the buffers house to the State
dining room. launches of venison, wild
turkey, canvas back ducks, and feasts Of
giant bass fish no doubt graced the
tables at either end OF the house on
occasions Of greater or less state.
We once had the privilege on cold
day some years ago, of toasting our
feet before wood fire in the family
dining room, while Captain Holdings
worth, long since dead, roasted some
autumn apples from Mount Vernon
trees, before its CHEEKY blaze. These
were afterward eaten with a relish of
something no apple before or since ever
had. That was enjoying what the paint
ers would call private view of Mount
Vernon. To take part in life there has
always seemed charmingly seductive
to sleep under that roof is an unfulfilled
desire.
Having come into these revered
grounds landward we depart by the
water way at the latest possible hour, 80
as to get little moonlight on the water
as we are waited homeward. There is a
glorious sunset, one in which italian
skies would get worsted in match
for splendor or coloring. The moon
comes up, golden disk, and puts out
the few stars that dared to peep, and
then soon the dome Of the Capitol CON es
into view on one hand, and Washing
tons monument, the greatest shaft ever
reared to mortal man-and none too
high to celebrate all his virtues and
here we are-home again. There is no
telling where you will next hear from
EMILY L. SHERWOOD.