The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-13

miles OF water way. The beautiful city
gradually fades from sight and Arlington
lies hidden from view.
Later the tolling bell tells us that we are
passing the tomb of Washington. This
mark of reverence was instituted 80 years
ago, by Commodore Gordon, the commander
of the English fleet, who, when passing
Mount Vernon, Aug. u, 1911, ordered the
bell of his flagship, Sea Horse, to be
toiled.
Slowly sailing slowly sailing, flushed the
muse, mute the nirth,
Men and maidens standing reveTent on
some broad altar hearth.
SILENTLY before Mount Vernon, silently our
boat moves on,
flushed the iron hearts deep painting past
the ton b of Washington;
Truest Worthiest act of worship that de-
generate earth now knows,
Utmost soul here recognizing ali the mighty
debt she owes.
Oh, my country art thou paling-losing
all the young days glow?
Cans't thou lose thy first loves glory, and
thy hero's worth still know?
Patriot hearts, no doubt, still haunt you,
threatening thoughts come crowding
Sail with me down broad Potomac, past the
tomb OF Washington;
Feel the impress of his greatness stamped
upon the Nations heart,
See each manly brow uncovered, lovely
lips in awe apart;
Fear not while this reverence fingers with
its clear, warm, hallowing light;
This must fade from brow and bosom, ere
can come our countrys night.
Mrs. II. Cary Long.
At this point of landing the river is two
miles wide. GlimpseS of the mansion can
ta tbrn,trta b.a IN he
bank a couple of hundred feet above the
water. Passing up the easy ascending
road that winds over the brow of the hill
you reach the tomb, which through numcr-
Gus reproductions has become familiar Il
every child IN the land.
Therein lie the mortal remains of George
and Martha Washington. TO this vault
the body of Washington was removed April
IS, 1881, for the reason that Vandals had
broken into the old tomb and removed
what they supposed 10 be the skull Of Wash
ingtOn but which proved To be that OF one
Of the blackburn family.
in the Winter OF 1882, Congress for the
second time made an effort To have the
body OF Washington TenIol ed TO the crypt
Of the Capitol originally designed for It's
sepulchre. Adams, Clay, Webster and
many others were anxious for its removal
on the centennial anniversary of his birth
February % 1892
of Gen. Washington, those in National au
thority begged hls remains for public in
terment at-the seat Of the National Capt.
,al. They were granted by Mrs. Washing
ton on condition that her own remains
should he inferred by the side Of her hus
band IN the National tomb. This memor-
able compact remains i'm force and i'm one
sense binding on the Nation, as no living
authority has power TO annul it.
On the strength Of this contract, Presi
dent Monroe ordered two cryptsto be bull
in the basement Of the center of the Capi
lol for the reception of the remains o
General and Mrs. Washington. There was
al this time appointed Waterman wht
was called the keeper OF the crypt " whose
duty it was TO sit by the small opening il
the marble 1locr under the old dome ant
keep watch lest some evil might befall IN,
sacred remains. Faithfully he did his sit
ting, and faithfully he drew his 81 JOt
salary through the years, until Abraham
LincolnS Administration abolished tn,
sinecure office.
The desire to have the remains of thi.
Nlustrious citizen removed failed, and nov
that Mount Vernon, through the work @
patriotic women. has become the proDert,
of The Nation, every American should re
iolce that they rest beneath the fores
trees and on the grassy slopes Of their owl
loved Mount Vernon.
Previous TO the Revolutionary War tin
establishment at Mount Vernon was upoI