Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-10

| with its valuable collection Of books and
| souvenirs. 1t is In the rooms which these
| apartments flank, however, ranged on
either side Of broad hall, that one is
| brought most closely In touch with the
| family life at Mount Vernon.
Nellie Custs' MUSHROOM. in which the
| Generals flute lies upon the harpsichord
which he presented her on the occasion
| Of her marriage recalls one of the most
| delightful relations Of his life-his CON
| nection with his beautiful adopted
daughter. Here she begulled him with
| the songs which he loved or played the
accomplishments TO his music on the
flute.
THE DINING ROOM.
In the dining-room, where the family
party was so often reinforced with guests
az TO cause the proprietor to lken Mount
Vernon to "a well-resorted-to inn" is an
original piece-an old Chippendale SIDE
board-which descended TO Mrs. Robert
| r.. Lee and was afterward restored to It's
accustomed position by her, while in Mrs.
Washington's sitting-roOm may be seen
the same card table around which the
household gathered for the evening rub
Der.
The most noteworthy object In the
west parlor is the carpet, made for wash
ngton by order of Louis XVI, and still
IN perfect state of preservation, though
more than a hundred years old. 1t Is
Of velvet the cicular center Of pale ecru,
Upon which is stamped an American ca
gle. with the motto "E PluribuS Unum
beneath. being surrounded with a ricn
green background. plentifuliy sprinkled
with yellow stars. While on It's way to
this country washington was made Pres
ident; and being unable in that capacity
TO accept the gift, il became the property
OF the United States Government. Ii
was afterwards purchased by Judge Yates
of Lancaster Pa, and within the last two
years has been presented 10 the associa-
ton by his granddaughter, Mis-. Town
send Whelan Of Philadelphia.
In the hall the visitor is shown the key
Of the Bastile and ascending the stair
way at the foot of which 1t hangs, is con-
fronted by a cabinet filled with the most
interesting curios. Imprisoned behind It's
glass doors is the compass used by Wash
ington i'm surveying Lord Fairfax's land,
with many other objects closely associa-
ted with him; momento OF Mrs. wash
ington existing in a quilt made by her
self of bits of her gowns and donated by
Mrs. Jefferson Davis.
NELLIE GUSTS MIRROR.
On this floor, in the chamber occupied
by Nellie GUSTS, is the mirror which so
often reflected her beauty. and the steps
by which she elm = 10 her high-testered
bed
Here. too. in the Lafayette room. is the
four-poster in which the Marquis slept
on the occasion of his visits TO Mount
Vernon and the dressing table before
which he adjusted the unbecoming red
wig.
other apartments. called by the names
of the States which care for them, are
grouped about these. Each has an inter-
est peculiar to itself; but above and be-
yond them all In sacred associations ana
hallowed memories is re room in when
Washington breathed his last. The bed
upon which 100 years ago he lay dying
stands I'm the same spot to-day. Near II
Is a light table stained with the marks
of his medicine glasses. and at its foot
the chair in which the faithful wife sat
watching through all the weary hours,
and upon which, when all was over, lay
her open Bible. One who would have
watched with her was absent from the
room.
Sweet Nellie Gusts. given IN marriage
by Washington 10 his nephew, Lawrence
Lewis, on the evening Of the 22d Of Feb
ruary 1888 the last birthday vouchsafed
to the great man. lay in her chamber only
a few steps OFF, With a newborn baby be
One must climb another flight OF stairs
to reach the room occupied by Mrs.
Washington after this-a low, narrow
roof room, very cold i'm winter. for there
was no way Of heating 1t, and hot when
the summer sun beat upon n.
Through It's single dormer window,
however. she could look upon her hus-
bands tomb. and there she remained UNI
til the silver cord which bou-.. her TO
life was loosed and she went TO join him
In his long sleep by the river
a negro sentinel guards the graves.
who tells you. in the vernacular Of the
race, how the KEY which locks the vault
behind them, and in which 40 Of their kim |
dred are buried, has been sunk In the
Potomac.
Not" he adds. where II can be
dragged for but deep, where II will never |
more be found"