The Yale expositor., 1896-07-24
YALE. ST. Clair County, Mich. FRIDAY. JULY a. 1896.

|
there with his songs of inspiration;
Bilhorn, the sweet singer, was there,
charming the multitude with his solos;
besides host of other musical Gel
ebrities who led in songs of praise and
gladness; there were speakers of na-
tional fame, ID. Ds., members of Con.
gress, and the Presidents Cabinet.
They all had the same story to tell in
different garbs, as each individuality
asserted itself. But it was all uplifting
and inspiring. There were strong
words of encouragement for the fu-
ture, words of adyice, and words of
thankfulness and praise for the sue
cess of the past.
a grand feature of the convention
was the singing. There was on the
platform usually u choir of | 800, and
when led by Bilhorn or Sankey, with IL
chorus of 10000 voices, it made music
that reminded one of what is recorded
by the apostle John on the lonely isle
of Patmos, ''it was like the noise of
many waters"
1t was reported officially that there
were now over 10000 Societies G.. E.,
and over 2,750, 900 members, II wonder
ful growth in fifteen years.
Like all true patriots. we paid our
respects to Mt. Vernon, the home and
tomb of the Father of Our Country.
| 1t is situated on the west bank of the
| Potomac, IL miles south of the capitol,
and can be reached by land or water.
| We took the land route, which took
us through Alexandria, one Of the old
est ports of the colonies Here Wash
ington had his chief social, religious
and Masonic relations. 1t is very
quaint old town with many historical
associations of Il very rich character.
Here is located the old church in
which Washington was vestryman.
| The church was built of brick brought
from England, and visitors are shown
the large square pew which he Occu-
pied. The mansion house, as it is
called, is wooden structure 93 80
feet, with u piazza fifteen feet wide
and twenty feet high extending the
whole length of the building. The
main part of the building was built
by Lawrence Washington in 1743, and
was added to by George Washington in
17S4-5. 1t would be impossible in the
limits of II letter to describe all the
relics to be seen in the ancient build
ing. A few only will be noticed. The
first object of interest is the "key of
the Bastle," which hangs in glass
case on the wall. 1t was presented to
Washington by Lafayette after tho
destruction of the Bastile in 1889.
Here also is fac-simile of an agree
ment of Lafayette to serve i'll the con-
tnental army. Here also, is the
sword worn by Washington at Brad
docks defeat. The east parlor or
music room contains some interesting
relics. Here is his silver mounted
flute, also the harpsicord and music
stool, Washington's bridal present to
Eleanor Park Curtis, his adopted
daughter. Here also is the card table
on which Washington and Lafayette
played whist. In the library can be
seen some of the rarest relics of colon
ial struggles. Swords, pistols, guns,
compasses, Eyeglasses, sashes, saddle
housings and many other articles of
personal property associated with diff
ferent campaigns. His iron chest
stands in one corner, and contains the
gold and silver badges of the the Order
Os Cincinatti, presented by the French
officers, also the gold medal ordered
by Continental Congress upon the
evacuation of the city OF Boston by
the British Army in l776. Lafayette
ROOM river room, guests chamber,
Miss Curtis room and Green room
were all visited in turn, and their
relics eagerly and reverently inspected
The bed room in which Washington
died was shown us. Every article of
furniture in this room was used by
i Washington. The bed is the one on
4 which lac died. 1t is n plain high post
ed bedstead, with drawn curtains. The
I.old armchair, the favOrite seat of Mrs.
| w. is in the middle of the roop1. The
old hair trunk used as coach trunk
stood beside the chair. 1t is studded
with brass nails and marked LAG, and
On a brass plate is engraved the let
| t6rs G. w.
We also xisited the room in which
Martha Washington died. Only one
piece of furniture used by Mrs. Wash
| ingtOn remains in this room, Il small
old,fashioned toilet stand. The rest
has been reproduced in mahogany,
and as near az possible similar to the
origiral. Thas is the room Martha
| Washington spent most of her time
during the Is months she survived her
husband. 1t Ia said she sat for hours
daily looking out of the west window
of this room from where she could get
view of her husbands resting place.
poet has beautifully and tenderly
described the situations:
a'Gazing Though the morning light,
At nOontidec looking fOndly down.
Peering forth in sOmbre night
Or when the leaves are green or brown:
Or when the snow soft shrOuds the mound
Where lies the sleeper under ground
''LoOking and longing over there with faith
That In some golden hour. his spirit, rObed
In drapery OF Hght and winged with love,
Should come to her with blessings I'm his eyes.
And sweety feed. with old time raptures smiles,
Her famished soul. D, wOndrOus, wOndrOus love-
Which dieth not with death, nor yet nath life
Save with the living Thou Mystery OF Universe"
We next came to the tomb of "IIim
who was first in war, first in peace and
first in the hearts of his countrymen."
The tomb is very plain brick build
ing, and very unpretending, has on
the front, double iron gates with a
plain inscription on a marble slab,
"Within lies the remains of General
George Washington" The ante room
to the vault is about IL feet square
and here are seen the sarcophagi, two
large marble caskets, the one on the
right contains the remains of General
Washington, the. other of Martha, his
wife. Washington's body was asremoyed