The times., 1897-06-06
Historic Christ Church and the
Confederate Monument.
A CITY OF MEMORIES
Many Evidences Still of the Events
of The Past Century-The WASH
ington Pew and the Braddock
House-The Miracle of the Brit
isl Iuvusion-Cdd Tombstones.

andria, Va, has always been prominent.
Though destitute now ofany attractionsave
the relics OF century gene, every day
brings 30 il a throng of visitors, who de-
part with hpleasantmemories,a and sometimes
with trophies of their own vandalism.
having been a small village known as
Hunting Greek. The county surveyor laid
out sixty acres in squares of four lots with
one-half acre in each, reserying che square
for the site Of a market-house, town hail
and other public buildings II received
its naRe from the nCted Scotch family
named Alexander, from whom the land was
purchased The streets were laid out ny
legislative enactment in 1855. They are
shaded by many fine old trees, most OF til ,In
being linden and sycamore.
A local historian Uruthfully declares that
s.there were right smart houses in Alex
an(lria in 1893 - The now sleepy city has
many residences which, with roofs gabled,
hipped and gaInbreled, and with fanlighUs
and diamond window panes, bear record
that their foundations Were laid before the
country was born.
The eastern boundary of the city is d
long line of slowly decaying wharves
AleNandriu was a thriving seaport when
Washington was a struggling village, but
Georgetown, with its Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal and Baltimore, with its great west
ward-stretching railway, took from it its
shipping trade. Its warehouses. once filled
with life and business, are now empty, save
for the odds aud ends of its present linn
ited traffic. 1t is, however, regular port
of cali FOR the Mount Vernon steamers, and
a new electric railway, with its northern
terminus in the center Of the city, carries
the pilgrim TO the gates of George Wash
ington' beautiful old garden
The city, with its $4,000 inhabitants,
moves quietly along. to tie slow music OF
PHEASANT memories The visitor receives an
undefinable impression that Washington
has but recently taken his departure, so
much has this ancient town TO keep aliye
his illustriOas memory. Its greatest at
traction is Christ Church, OF which he was
vestryman. II was cumpletedin 17T3, at
cost of S13 200. 1t is of red brick,
with gaubrel roof. and its walls are suf
fcicntiy high-pitched Co admit gallery.
1t is centrally located, and the plot of
ground in which il stands was once COW
cred with mounds The graves are now
level with the sward, and many Of the once
handsome tombstones, having lost their
original location and support, lie prone on
the ground. or lean against the walls Of
the church At all hours OF the day, visitors
from afar may be seen. Notebook and pen
Gil in hand, copying the quaint Inscriptions
-E.a ss In, a~r..
repair. and the parish in nourshing con
dition Washington's square pew is re
garded as sacred place. The visitor may
step inside however. and register his name
in book whiCi, lies on the table for tha;
purpose For this privilege he must pay
not less than 5 cents, and as much more
as he chooses. Near To Washington's pew
Is that OF Gen Robert E Lee, and on the
walls OF the church are marble tablets in
honor of both
Christ Church has been the scene of
some notable events, one of them having
been the celo bration when Alexandria. in
1888, received the news of the departure
Of the British army from our shores. The
patriotic rector. Mr.. Griffith, requested
the ladies 10 decorate the church for a
festal occasion. Laurels, evergreens and
flowers from house plants were used in
profusion. lowering over the pulpit was
the figure or a white dove, bearing in its
mouth an olive branci,-the emblem OF
reconciliation. The rector preached an
appropriate sermon and the choir sang an
original anthem. The decorations were
preserved until the arrival of Gen. and Mrs.
Washington, the victorious commander-in-
chief having resigned his commission into
the hands OF the Continental Congress
This church also claims to have been the
scene OF a miracle, or at least to have
witnessed a miraculous answer to prayer
When the British squadron, commanded i;y
Commodore Gordon, entered the Chcsa-
peake. its only obstruction was Fort Wash
ingtOE, five miles below Alexandria
This fort was weak and poorly garrisoned,
but could have been made strong had the
Secretary OF War been prudent enough to
heed the Solicitations of the people of
Alexandria, who loaned, through three Of
their banks $50, 900 for this purpose
The money was accepted, but the w.,rk
was lot done.
The British squadron appeared before
Fort Washington July 2S, 1914 The COM
Danding officer blew up the fort without
firing gun Thepeople Of Alexandria lad
done what little they could for the pr0tec-
tion of their city, but the able-bod raen
and their weapons had all been called 10
the defense of thecaptal. When the squad
ron arrived the citizens sent depuuation
TO the commodore to learn on what terms
me would consent 10 spare the town He
replied that all the naval stores AMI {. d.
nance; all the shipping and its furniture;
merchandise of every description in the
city OF that had been carried out Of it 60
place OF safety and refreshments of every
Kind mustbe given TO him, and that the YES
sells which had been scuttled, to- save them
from destruction, must be raised and
delivered TO him.
The people were allowed only one hour
for consideration. Being powerless, they
were compelled to submit The sunken
vessels and the merchandise which had
been carried from the town could not be
readily obtained, so the invaders burned
one vessel, loaded several Others with
supplies, weighed anchor and sailed away
The Rev. Oliver Norris, then rector OF
Christ Church. kept the doors of the edifice
open during the entire time that the menace
Of tite plunderers hung over the town.
He invited the people in to unite with him
IL NdiASct ~ hS thulSH WIS Iuls1
with frightened women and children, and
men too ill or too aged TO defend them 1t
is said that 1.-THE pastor soothcd them by
prayer until the enemy. stricken with sud
den fear. sailed away
'-God has answered our prayers today"
wrote the good rector that evening. Il
prayed earnestly that sudden fear might
coine upon the enemy, and it did, With
all due Difference to the faith of the pious