The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-10

On Dec. IA at Mount Vernon and
throughout the country the centennial of
the death of George Washington will be
observed A hundred years have passed
since Death, entering the upper chamber
at Mount Vernon, laid his hand upon the
heart of Washington, and st'lIed its
throbbings; but that the love and ven-
Grafton with which he inspired his coun-
trymen has known no diminution, the
approaching centennial celebration is only
another proof
Perhaps even more conclusive ev dence
is to be found In the hundreds who daily
visit the historic spot and in the absence
of merrymaking which marks these
throngs. They come as pilgrims to a
shrine, speaking in subdued voices as thI y
pass from room to room, or standing in
awed silence before the tomb which holds
all that is mortal of him who in SO dis
tinctive a sense Is immortal.
Mount Vernon, es is generally known,
was purchased In 1858 by an association
of ladies which now has representatives
from thirty-seven states. Through these
representatives each state assumes the
care Of a room, and the resp0nsib lily Of
fitting 1t up with the furniture of which
1t was despoiled at the sale of the late
owner: or, failing in this, of substituting
articles possessing historic interest and
belonging to the period.
One of the most successful of these at
tempts is to be found in the Minnesota,
or spinning room, vocal In the days of
yore with the music of wheel and loom
and the measured stroke of the fax
brake, while above the rythmical whirr
might have been heard the mistress
voice, giving directions to the swarthy
artisans, VINO spun and wove most of the
clothing worn by the 800 slaves belonging
to the estate. The articles in this room
which were collected by Perley Poore and
treasured by him at his home, Indian
Farm, forty miles from Boston, were
purchased by the association from his
w30w with money earned by the pupils
of the st. Paul schools. Trey have since
been put in working order and continue
to turn cut beautiful fabrics
In the dwelling house the apartment
coming first in order is the BANQUET hail.
in charge of the vice regent from New
York. The deliberately carved marble
mantel In this room exhibits interesting
proof of the power Of ali awakened con-
science. A dogs head, broken off by
some ruthless relic hunter, was after
since-with the aid of cement-b:en re-
stored to its original posi- ion. Over this
mantel a French clock, which regula ted
the life at Mount Vern On, still ticks, tell
ing the hour as vcracicusly now as then;
while on the wall to the right of it hang
the portrait of Washington which REM
brandt Peale painted with such feverish
energy, and which was donated to the
association by his heirs.
A chair brought over In the Mayfiower
stands beneath the picture, and near It is
the stool on which Washington kne.t at
Christ church. Alexandria. and another
used by Nellie Gusts.
Other objects to which the attention
is directed are model of the Bastile
mace of the stone of which the prison
was composed and presented by La
fayette, and a British flag captured by
Washington, and donated by Gen. Grant,
with many relics of equal interest.
The end of the building opposite the
banquet hall is occupied by the library,
with its valuable collection of books and
souvenirs. 1t is in the rooms " hich these
apartments flank, however, ranged on
either side of a broad hall, that one Is