Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-06-16

By order of the Secretary OF War,
issued June Is, 1864, the Arlington
mansion, and 200 acres of the origi-
nal estate surrounding the mansion,
was set apart for military cemetery
as burial place for all soldiers dying
in hospitals in Washington, and in
battle. in the vicinity. Since then,
however, the cemetery has been en-
larged to 4O0 acres.
The handsome and stately edlhce,
the Arlington mansion, is built of con-
crete, two and one-half stories high, In
white and terra Gotta, and modelled
after the temple of Paestum, near
Naples, Italy. From the massive por-
tico, two stories high, one enters the
main spacious hallway, from which
entrance is gained into the main
rooms Of the house. Near by are the
servants quarters, overgrown with
vines, and the same old well, from
which water is drawn by the same
windlass in use in the time of Lee.
The government had made many IN
provements in the grounds of the es-
tate in the way OF drives and walks,
Temple Of Fame, which stands near
the mansion, and erected Of the col
umns taken from the old war build
ing of Washington, and the corridors
from the old patent Office after its de-
struction by fire in 1877. A large
pavilion, semi-circular in shape, sha-
ded by vines, furnishes a cozy spot for
public memorial services.
By far the most interesting and beau
tiful feature of the estate is the Ma
tional Military Cemetery. The main
walk leading from the central gates at
the end of the electric street car route
from Washington to the mansion leads
directly through the cemetery. On
the right of this winding flag stone
pavement lie 10000 of the nations 5
dead, who died in or near Washing
ton during the Civil War, about four
times as many as lie in Antietam Ma
tional Cemetery. On the left of this
central walk are the tombs of the Of
fcers, many of which are superb. Over
all rests the shade of the original oaks,
and sweeping over the whole, with its
rows upon rows of tOmbs, the eye
catches scene impressive, pathetic
and suggestive. We long to linger on
the portico of old Arlington " with its
suggestions Of culture and genuine
aristocracy Of earlier years, and the
tombs of the heroes Of the civil strife.
Then turning we see the Washington
of today just across the river, which,
though so narrow, divided the great
nation in 1861. Here on the one side
was Arlington, the fitting representa-
tive of Southern culture and home life
of 1860, the cemetery with its memen-
toes also of the past just on the other
side is Washington City with It's mod
ern life, the representative of the CIV
ilization of today, and the scene of the
nation $ triumphs Of the future. Here
the past with its quiet, its peaceful
forest shade, its marble tombs, the
echo of the tread Of feet in empty
halls and spacious rooms of the "old
mansion" and the present and future
with its busy throngs in the city's
streets, the dense black volumes from
the throats of many furnaces, the mar
bic dome of the nations living heart
and the two separated only by the
old Potomac just before you.
So onward moves history. But as
we move on it is well not to forget the
steps of our progress. 1t is fitting
that the crises of our nations history
beappropriately marked, our stepping
stones to better and higher things be
preserved as memorials. Hence let
Arlington ever stand sacred to the
heart of our people, and preserved
and zealously guarded by our Repub-
lie to future generations.
ALEXANDRIA.
But back to Washington. On the
way we were glad to fall in with a vol
unteer soldier from our old State of
Indiana, now camping at Falls Church.
After little rest we boarded the car
for Mount Vernon by way of Alexan-
dria. Just outside of Washington,
eight miles, we entered one Of the old
towns of colonial history. Alexandria
is said to be dead town, with grass
growing i'll the middle of the streets. "
Well, how about the streets of Shep-
herdstown? Alexandra is city Of
q 900 inhabitants. The streets are
paved with cobblestone so ruinous TO