The morning news., 1899-12-03

passing the barn that Washington built.
1t is a Sincere barn, of which Eastlake
would have approved. This giant magno-
liza, Washington planted with his own
hand; that well yonder he dug-probably
not with his own two hands Entering the
mansion, you go into the old square libra
ry, and learn that every door opens a
closet, (Were there ever skeletons in those
closetsD and that all the panels slide.
Into the Rhode Island room, where the
furniture is of the quaintest, including
two queer-looking wooden cases that ap-
peal to the popular imagination as cigar
cases. but are said TO have been used for
storing knives, forks and spoons. Most
OF the rooms are pent-up Uticas in size
except the state-dining- ROOM which is
about one-quarter the capacity of the
W hite House kitchen. Projected by a
great wire screen is the marble mante
that was stolen by pirates on che high
seas, on its way from italy and given up
by them when they learned that 1t be-
longed to Col. Washington" There are
old mirrors-what faces have they reflect
ed?-and a harpsichord-what gentle
hands have played it!-and a plano upon
which the Custis and Washington and
Corbin and Bushrod and Lewis ladies'
performed" so many years ago There
are portraits galore of Washington, the
most attractive of which were made when
he was young Virginia colonel and were
his own hair which give the beholder a
very different impression of the man from
t., amiable vacancy of the face to which
we are accustomed. ftf
You go upstairs, to the Lafayette room
and see the bed in which the gallant
Frenchman slept, and the little glass be-
fore which he shaved himself. But you
cannot go in. Like the peri who stood
disconsolate at Eden's gate, you must
stand outside a wooden wicket and slake
your curiosity at long range. Little Del
aware" has a tiny room with single bed
and one breadth of rag carpet. Other
states have their rooms, which each has
piously tried to restore" and would. if
they could buy back the original furniture
but in most cases that Is impossible, and
the whole house now reminds one irresistl-
ably of what is known In rural parts as
"crazy" patchwork quilt
Last of all, you follow the superintend-
ent into a larger room than most of the
others, which contains little but an an
cient secretary, spindle-legged table,
splintLbotiomed chair and perfect bo-
nanza of an antique. high-post bedstead
Then suddenly everybody grows quiet. the
American girl says "Oh. myr' and all the
brides snuggle- closer TO their new hus-
bands, as the guide says. This Is Gen
Washington's room that Is the window
from which he selected the site Of his
tomb; and that is the bed on which he
died. Afterwards, the room in which ne
breathed his last was closed for two years.
according to the old Virginia custom Now
ladies and gentlemen, We win go upstairs
to the little third-foor attic-room, to which
the Widow Washington beiook herself, be-
cause it was the only room in The house
from which she could see her husbands
grave. There, she spent the eighteen
months of her widowhood including one
long cold winter, in which she had no fire
Ohere being no chimney to the ROOM and
not leaving the room until she was carried
out to her grave. The hole you see in the
lower part of the door was cut to allow
her favorite cat 10 pass in and out
would like 10 show you the cat. ladies', or
one of her descendants but nothing is
vouched for in this room but the cathode
and the wash-stand behind the door. :"
Then the crowd surges to gaze at the
wasnstand.
You go into more rooms, large and small
up stairs and down. You see the big black
key of the Bastile hanging IN a glass case,
on the wall, just where Washington him
self placed u wheh Lafayette gave It TO
him You inspect a lot Of Washlngton's
old clothes. down IN the relic room, even
to a well-darned pair OF stockings, bear
ing his honored name In croas-stitch and
numbered 297 Either the immortal
George was very extravagant IA hosiery