The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-06
WASHINGTON RELIC
Remnant Of a Triumphal
Arch to Be Placed in
the Battle Monu-
ment.
-
NOW IN pHILADELpHIE'S MUSEUM
COMMUNICATED the Generals jour-
ney in 1889 from Trenton to
New York.

PaSS1u a. AEentoH, on MS way 70 New
York City, to be inaugurated as Presi-
dent of the United States, and which has
been deposited among the other rare rel
les of the country's early history in the
museum at Independence Hall, will be
returned in a few lays to its owners In
Trenton Quite recently Chief Eisenhow-
er of the bureau of city property OF Phil
adelphist received a Communication from
General w. 8. Stryker of Trenton. who
is the representative OF the heirs Of the
Misses Susan and Mary M. Armstrong,
asking tor the return of the valued relic,
1t being the intention to deposit 1t in a
room in the Trenton Battle Monument.
1t was ais stated that inasmuch as
the original receipt for the arch, given by
Trenton when the relic was secured by a
Icommittee of ladies in centennial year,
had been lost by the owners Chief Eisen-
hover referred h request for its return
to City Solicitor Kinsey, who has just
given a decision that the proper course
to pursue would be to return the arch.
In a few days, therefore,, Philadelphia
VIII lose a relic which, during its stay
in The museum OF Independence Hall att
tracted wide interest from visitors to the
shrine of liberty.
II the rough-looking old boards Of
which the arch was constructed were
gifted with speech, they could tell a pref
ty tale of the doings which they wit
messed more than a century ago. 1t was
a rare scene that unfolded beneath the
evergreen festooned arch. one in which
the living actors were gaily dressed CO.
lonial slres, DANES bedecked with flow
ers, nd maidens attired In immaculate
white. IT was, moreover, a scene whose
meaning seemed to penetrate into the
very deepest affection of Washington. for
he returned thank for it in a letter ex-
pressing the most profound gratitude.
He anudes to. the maidens who stood be-
meath IT, scattering flowers under his
horses feet, and singing as they did SO,
as sthe whfte-robed choir remembrance
Of whom time could never efface from
his mind.
The relic soon to arrive in Trenton was
part of the trfumphal arch which the
citizens OF Trenton Village" had erect
ed over the stone bridge crossing the
Assunpilak creek on April q, 1883. Even
at that time the spot was historic
ground, for but a few years before Wash,
ington and his ragged troops fired with
a determination that the march of the
invader. the redcoats of England, who
were then o~verrunning Jersey. must be
checked at all hazards, had retreated
over the Assunpink bridge to fall on
the British forces at Princeton. The fete
about the arch was one of the prettisst
incidents of Washington's journey from
Mount Vernon to New York. rivaling
even the gorgeous scenes Incidental to
his reception by the foremost men of
Phila delphia at Gray's Ferry.
Washington had left his home on
April IS. Just prior to his departure he
had visited his mother at Frederfcks-
began the journey at whose goal he was
to be elevated to the first Office in the
and. about 10 O'clock l babe adieu,"
reads an entry in his journal, TO
mestic felicity, and with a mind oppres-
sed with n anxious and painful SEN
Stations than / have no words to ex-
press SCI out Ut Ior New for n n ro fom1
Humphreys with the best disposition to
render service to my country m obe-
dience to its call, but with less hope
of answering its expectations.
Demonstrations in his honor were held
all along the route which he ook-at
Georgetown, Baltimore, Wilmington,
Chester and Philadelphia, a delegation Of
met him at Gray's Ferry, where a tri-
umphal arch was erected, where
doomed and eloquent addresses Were
made. while the Schuylkil1 was gay with
myriads of boats festooned with flags OF
the Revolution. Twenty thousand people
were present, and as Washington rode
beneath the arch beautiful Angelica
Peale, youngest Slaughter or the artist,
hidden amidst the mass of green's over
head, lowered down a crown of laurels
on his head.
Washington set out for Trenton on the
anxious to accompany him. but as the
day was rainy Washington declined its
services, stating that he could not allow
from M rain in his carriage. Toward
the afternoon, when he had arrived at
the outskirts of Trenton, however, the
derfuliy pleasant. A troop Of horse, a
distinguished party of citizens a COM
pany Of infantry and q delegation Of la
white horse was provided for him, and,
surrounded by thousands of spectators,
%hurrahing and singing. he approached the
bridge was erected the arch Of which the
ragged old boards now ia Independence
Hall were part. The ARCH was 20 feet
columns entwined with eyergreens. The
following inscription, in large gilt letters.
shone out over the arch:-.The Defender
paughters Above this again, on a
SQUARE ornamented with evergreens and
flowers, were the historic dates, de
cember 26, 1776, and January 2, lit" The
very top consisted Of large sunfiowers,
intended to express the motto, ITO you
alone, The DANES of Trenton stood
beneath the arch, and their daughters,
all goWned in white, but adorned with
chaplets of lowers, stood in front Of
theIa. AS Washington approached all
Joined In singing an ode:-
eve come mighty chief. once more.
Welcome to this grateful shore;
Now no nercenary foe
Aims again the fatal blow,
Aims at thee the fatal blow.
virgins fair and matrons rave
Those. thy conquering arms did ave-
Build for thee triumphaI bower;
SIrew, ye fair, his way with flowers,
Strew YOU hero's way with lowers
As the last lines were sung, six of the
young women, carrying baskets of How
Washington. His emotions overcame him.
He stopped hts horse n tried to express
his gratitude. Many were moved to
Before leaving Trenton he sent the fol-
lowing letter to the committee of the
ladies who had arranged the reception
General Washington cannot leave the
place without expressing his acknowI-
edgements to- the matrons and young
ladies'. who received hin in so noyel and
grateful b manner at the triurnpha1 arch
he Experienced in that affecting moment.
The asfanfshinT contrast between his FIR