The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-03
WESTINGHOUSE CABIN.
THE mouse mr. OCCUPIED UHEN a
sURyhTOR Is STILL STANDING
Used n Spring House Now, But IL In n
Good State OF Preseryation-Where
Greatness Humbly Toiled.

FRONT ROYAL, VA, Oct 2-special.-
In these days of fakes" II is difficult TO
know when you are really seeing a gem
uine historic relic. AS was said a day or so
ago by a gentleman in the New York
Sun. there Is a man In Washington who
has 'bUilt a block Of houses with money
made by selling pistols and pixies taken
from John Brown" But now and then
We do find the genuine article. and few
days ago had the pleasure OF seeing one.
Ii at first seems strange that here in Nir-
ginia We have been able TO preserve many
OF our most precious relics, and historic
places intact. We are close TO the great
centres OF population and yet many his
toric land marks are rarely visited ana
almost lost sight of. This at least has
saved much from the modern vandal
whose bump OF destructiveness is equalled
only by his ignorance and lack OF appre-
citation OF venerable things.
SOLDIERS REST.
About three-fourths Of a mile from
Berryville. Clarke county, Virginia, Is the
old home Of General Morgan. OF Revolu-
tionary fame. now owned by an estimable
gentleman. Mr. edward Barnett, who
takes pleasure in telling his friends about
Soldiers Rest" the name Of this historic
house. A portion OF the house, built by
General Morgan before the Revolution,
is still standing and in good state or
repair. But interesting as is this old home
stead It Is not as much so as small log
cabin about two hundred yards distant
from the house. This cabin looks like.
and. indeed, is. now used as a spring
house." This Is the cabin i'm which George
f..h hlr
an office and headquarters when he sur
veyed for Lord Fairfax between the
years l7lS and H52 Just the year or date
that he was here IS unknown, but that
he occupied this place Is well attested.
WASHINGTON'S CABIN.
The house or cabin is about l0xl2. ana
is made OF hard oak hewn logs, dove
tailed at the corners. and forming a very
durable structure. Right by it there
gushes from beneath the roots OF n gigan-
tic ash tree. which must have been CEN
turtles old when the youthful Washington
gazed upon it. perennial fountain Of
crystal limestone water. Around TINS
spring are great boulders OF limestone
rocks. and as you look at the hard wood
of the cabin and the great tree and the
massive rocks you are reminded or the
durability OF each and think how hitting
emblems they are OF the immortal man
who deigned TO rough IT. on the from
tier where white men had never trod.
The exact date at which he occupied this
humble home is not known. He began
surveying for Lord Fairfax when he was
sixteen years old and was i'm his employ
till he was twenty-one at which time ne
was sent by the Governor of Virginia on
the p .ilous mission to the French COM
mander west OF the Alleghanies.
HIS MANY TRIPS.
Doubtless from this point he had made
many trips. learning to know the country
studying the red man and drinking from
natures pure fountains In more ways
than one. The knowledge thus acquired
stood him in great good later. when ne
with Braddock. fought the Indians lie
had evidently been as far west as the
Alleghanies ami as far south as the Mas
senutten for II was in the latter noun
tains that he said he could take his army
I'm time OF the Revolution. in case OF last
necessity. and subsist in the natural fort
PowelIs Fort Valley FOR an indefinite
time.
CENTURY AND A HALF AGO.
As | stood at this historic spot | could
but think Of what must have transpred
here n century and a half ago Here
greatness humbly toiled. Here the I'M
mortal Washington. the highest type OF
civilized man, met the children Of the
forest and doubtless learned much from
them that was useful TO him. As | stood
there with an interesting and sympathetic
companion / thought how fortunate We
were 20 have there tangible evidence or
the labor Of our good and great Washing
ton. and how fortunate that. unguarded
by policemen. or sign to keep OF the
grass" this humble monument. wash
ington's own monument, had stood for
centuries. more beloved than the towering
granite shaft that pierces the clouds on
the banks Of the Potomac.
This historic house is on the property
of A. Moore. Esq. a cultured gentleman,
who can be trusted 10 preserve IT, or |
would suggest that Il be cared for by the
Legislature or some historic society.
d. G. O'FLAHERTY.