The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-15
4 VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
SOME THINGS TO BE SEEN AT
MOUNT VERSON AND CAPITAL.

Tomb and the Church Which He
Attended at Alexandria The
Weather Bureau AMI What Is to
BE Seen There-The National Oh
servatory and the wonders of the
PIace-Other Matters of Special
Ond General Interest.
Mount Vernon-a white sentinel of the
| past-around which are clustered stirring
memories Of our country's successful
! struggles for independence, looks down on
the Pc, omac. AS we wander through its
rooms we see, in its many guest cham
bers, the truth of those much quoted
words, Southern hospitality" The steps
are yet the same that felt the tread Of
| visitors as distinguished as Lafayette. His
| portrait hangs on the wall of the room
he occupied. On the same floor is the
room Mrs. Washington slept in after the
| death of Gen. Washington. Its one dorm
er window overloolzs the Old tomb where
his body first reposed, and she selected it
! for that reason. Custom at that time re
| quired room where a death had occur
red to be shut up for three years. on
| leave her pretty room with its sad memo
| ries
The room in which Washington died is
on the second floor ana contains many
things he actually used. To see the pic
| ture "Washington's Death Bed" in the
| library of Congress, and then visit this
room makes the scene almost real and
-. 70
mind. Stin more sad, if we believe tradi-
| ton, that this great man great though he
| had some faults, died before his time from
neglect on his part, and ignorance on the
| part of those who attended him.
The Georgia room, on the first floor
| formerly the family sitting room, con-
| tains several relics of the past conribut-
| ed by the present generation. Two arti-
! Giles, mirror aud card table, were once
| the property of Washington. All the fur
nishings are in the style of colonial times
| One can almost imagine he sees Washing
| ton In his evening dress Of white silk,
| which is still preserved in the Smithsonian
Institute with buckets and ruf1les, Lafay-
| cite for partner, and other celebrities for
| opponents, supporting their powdered Wigs
| with their beruf1ed hands as they ponder
| ed over the next play.
In the hall of this mansion, which might
stand for liberty but not license, hangs
| the KEY of the Bastile On the door of
the entrance to the hall is the original
brass rapper 1t would be interesting to
! know the names of some OF those whose
| hands have touched it.
Out on the lawn one can rest in the
| shade of trees planted by Washington. In
| the garden are lockwood hedges over 100
years old. The MAY Washington" rose
is interesting, so also is one called 'The
| kr.,a 10
| Nellie Eusts listened to the voice of Gu
| Did and for that reason its magical powers
consist in uniting the hearts of two people,
| who stand in its presence and pluck its
| flowers It's magical properties exist also
| in cuttings. "a word to the wise is suf-
| ficient."
In the kitchen the crane stin hangs in
| the fireplace, which is large enough for
small family to sit in. In this old-fashion
cook room one can get a glass of milk
| from COWS which live on this farm.
In going TO the new tomb you pass the
coach house containing Washington's car
rlage, sin in good condition, considering
| its age. What changes have taken place
in travel since that old coach journeyed
| TO Washington city!
Within the brick vault of the new tomb
| are the two sarcophagi, each hewn out of
| a single block of marble. One contains
| the DOOy OF OreOISe w dSlillB tOl the OtIlSl
that of his wife, Martha.
Typical of our American liberty is a lit
| tie birds nest, built in the corner of the
shield on the wall of the vault, back of the
| sarcophagi
=
In the graveyard attached to Christ
| Church at Alexandria Va, there are
many old iombs. Some are nearly 200
years old Many of those whose dust lies
1 IL co- ct, l.,
| youth or middle age. A few are between
| so and co; none are 10 or more. The in
| scrptious in many instances are quaint,
and the writer of them, to paraphrase a
little, was not a poet and did not know It,
The following lines were copied from a
stone, beneath whose granite so gray"
the dead had lain for a century and half
| He was IS years old.
"Who afliction so long time he bore,
| Till God was pleased
Death should him seize.
| And ease him of his pain"
| Within the church is the old-fashioned
! square pew owned by Washington. II Is
now kept for the use of strangers. Gen
Robert E. Lees pew is opposite Wash
| ington was one of the vestrymen chosen
in 1865 The church is in the style of CO.
lonal days and many of the furnishings
/
Some of Washington's relations are still
| living in Alexandria and are members of
| this church.
One who visits the weather bureau for
the first time should not expect to see
a wooden bureau with four drawers label
| ed, Rainy weather clothing, warm wealth
er clothing, cold weather clothing" AL
though it marks up the weather" 1t does
not keep on hand samples of sky blue,
cloud gray, aurora pink, nor sunset red.
| Neither does it promise to harmonic the
weather with picnics, weddings. etc. No,
| it is a very exclusive place, nothing being
found there except the apparatus for fore
| casting the weather.
One of the first things that attract the
| attention is a large double frame covered
with cloth, the upper and lower half Of
| one side being white and the double half
! black. This is the weather kite which is
| sent up into the air, being anchored to
earth by a fine wire like that use in a
| piano. 1t goes several hundred feet up into
| the air One half of the kite is made black
| that il may be seen against a light cloud