The morning news., 1899-12-03
A VISIT TO MOUNT VERNON.
AN INTERESTING TRIP DOWN THE
POTOMAC RIVER.

CeII-Her Cats and KNITTING Work.
Tale That Hangs Upon IA Toe.
Some Comments on Relic Hunters.
Washington. Dee. 2-Oue of the imperi-
tive duties of life in Washington is to go
to Mount Vernon. The stranger within
the gates goes from curiosity and because
it seems the thing to do, and for fear he
might be sorry afterwards if he left
Washington without going there. while
the loyal citizen of d. c. goes from force
Of habit, because having gone once he
finds it pleasant to renew the pilgimage
at least once a year. A chemical analy-
sis of the mixed motives that take peo-
pie 10 the home and tomb of the Father
of His Country reveals, only a slighe sedi-
ment of patriotism. Though the trip has
been so often made and described like
the old, old story of love, or the Gospel,
there is something ever fresh and new
about it-not only in the haunis of the
distinguished American who could not tell
whopper, but in the study of human ma
ture developed en- route,
You begin to go to Mt Vernon about
10 a. m. on one of the river boats that
fairly creep down stream, and you. reach
the ultima thule, sixteen miles below he
capital somewhere about noon. That
gives you ample time to observe the num-
erous bridal-pafties-ever pair of them
striving to appear like brot hers and sis
ters, or 'old married people," and making
signal failure of il; and also to noice
the various points of interest First the
navy yard, and then the arsanal-once
the site of an Indian council house
stretching its Velvety green swad, down
TO the waters edge. Looking up the pla-
cid Potomac is Arlington, distinct in It's
setting of green and you think OF the
thousands of new tenants il has lately
acquired through our war with Spain
The Washington monument stands out
snow-white against the sky, a mighty
| finger pointing heavenward. The great
dome of the capitol, with the Goddess of
Liberty atop; the golden roof of the
Congressional Library glitterng in the
sun; the splendid new p1stoffice: the
gloomy towers of St Elizabeth's Insane
Asylum; and other conspicuous landmarks,
pass in review and fade into the distance.
Farther down rises the spires of historic
Fairfax; and here and there are ruins of
hastily constructed earthworks. recalling
the defenses of Washington during the un-
civil war. There is the old pier at Gies-
boro where in 80 a great many cavalry
| horses were kept; and one night they
stampeded and upwards of a thousand
were drowned in the Potomac There is
Fort Foote, and Fort Washington, both
on the Maryland side of the river, the
latter the most picturesque object in this
part of the country, with its gray walls,
easements and barbette. 1t occupies the
site of old Fort Warburden which was
abandoned without firing a gun by the
young officer IN command when the Brit
| ish swooped down upon our capital in
1914
Ry this time the wandering MINISTRIES
who infest the river boats with harps and
viollns, have got in their work in earnest.
and diligently pass the hat in brief inter
vals of Annie Rooney" After the Bar"
and Nearer, My God to Thee :" Family
groups get out their lunch-baskets, chill
dren strew the decks with peanut shells.
and the ships white-aproned darkey wait
ers are kept busy filling orders. The late-
ly-wedded lovers, full of faith in each 9th
er, and the existence of a lunch-rOom at
Mt. Vernon, look with disgust on those
commonplace mortals. longer in Hymen's
tolls, who MUNICH sandwiches and drink
warm beer and thin lemonade. The intel
lectual young woman, late from college
devotes herself to the guide-book In vain
the sunny slopes of Virginia invite atten-
ton, and the low, green shores of Mary
land laugh at her; she reads on, obliVlous
of the beautiful living realty-prefeuing
her fruit from the tree of knowledge can
ned, so to speak, or at the best "cut-and-
dried. She goes down into the cabin and
buys views" without a glance at those
spread out by Dame Nature before her
But we are proud. of the American Girl
all the same, in her gray jacket and
Rough Rider hat, with an aggressive quill
in 1t that threa tens to poke her escort in
the eye if he does not look sharp every
minute. Her walking dress, without a
pleat or pucker il it, clears her pretty
shoe-tops and looks as If It were a mold
into which she had been poured. She has
a touch of cardinal red at her throat and
belt, and she tells her escort that she
doesn't care a fig for all the relies at
Mount Vernon, but she goes down occa-
sionqlly for the sake of the good time she
will have. And so do we all
Presently the ships bell tolls and the
bands wall out some mournful music,
which indicates that we are approa ching
the last resting place of him who is now
first in the hearts of his couutrymen. A
few men solemnly doff their hats regard
less OF catarrhal autumn breeZes and SEN
timental females furtively wipe their eye
When the landing-place is reached, eve, "
body rushes ashore, as II a train were
waiting and not a minute to spare and
the crowd goes up the hill in solid body
Is 1t to the tomb or the mansion house
you are coming TO first? You want to
know, so that you may arrange your pre-
Vailing expression. If il is the mansion
subdued curiosity must be your cue; If the
tomb, unmitigated grief. 1t is the tomb
All the passionate pilgrims are pressing
up to the iron grating, where the superin-
tendent stands explaining that in the iron
vault, of which only the locked door is
visible, are laid away some thirty Of the
sisters and cousins and aunts Of the WASH
ington family. That door was locked in
1887 and the key thrown into the river and
the vault is never to be opened" says he
You think of the great day of GabriePs
summons and wish that key had not been
so recklessly squandered; but then maybe
it Won't make any difference The mira
Gle of their resurrection will not be him
dered by the loss Of a key. The superln-
tendent goes on telling you pleasantly and
concisely great many things that you
have forgotten, or never knew Ladies
and gentlemen, l should like to call your
attention to the third toe on the right
claw of the eagle" (Sensation.) You crowd
the mourners to get to the front. He con-
tinues, amid the breathless silence of his
audience. you will notice that the third