The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1900-04-07
AZ rME NOM 81 vAsHneEOH
Mount ysrnsn a. II Appears % 9 Visitor
RFpm the West.

AS0AAVAF - AAANtAf N tNANhb W 0AK~tsA
Vernon, the home and tomb Of WASH
ingtOn, IL well worth the trip across the
continent. even admitting one saw only
the sights at Mount Vernon. took
electric cars on PennsylVaRis avenue
and 10 forty minutesreached the noted
place, distance from the city Of fonr-
teen miles. Shortly after crossing the
long bridge on the Potomac river. /
passed through the city Of Alexandria
on the Virginia side OF the Potomac.
There one can see scores of houses still
standing which were erected more than
century since: some In good state Of
preservation, others rotted and fallen
down, while Others would be down were
1t not for the fact that some have houses
built against them for support while
others are propped up or supported with
timbers TO keep them as upright as pos
sible. under existing conditions. Alex.
andria is fair sized city, and while In
area and population il cannot compare
with the Capitol city. it is nevertheless
large and with many fine residences and
business houses, Is the home Of bust
ling. busy community. There are many
fine streets and beautiful parks Of
which the residents and'city authorities
appear TO be proud. judging from their
neat appearance. But in Alexandra, as
In Washington, one sees the colored
race In numbers which ever way one
turns. from the piekaninny to the aged
nanny who tells you she FUSED to nurse
Mr.. Washington when he was a little
boy" swallow" 1t all. In Washing.
ton there is said 70 be population OF
5000 blacks, and there is at least in
their possession. 10000 razOrs. This
seems to be the Mecca Of the colOred
race. II drifts in here from the south
erR states, believing that all that is
necessary TO insure their future welfare
Is 70 reach Washington. Since tie close
Of the civil war the Negroes have moved
into this district, aud have made iiv-
ing and secured employment in many
branches. There are Negro boot-blacks,
old and young; some with but one leg
and some with both legs gone; Negro
news boys, Negro hack. carriage and
omnibus drivers. Negro porters at the
hotels. Negro walters and Negro cham
bermAids-altogetber the city has
dark outlook. Where one sees white
laborer in ditchiBg and excAvating, one
sees eve hundred Of the colored race
This picture is not colored. But !
started to write of Mount Vernon, and
here am depressing at the outset
| A few PAGES from where one aiights
from the train, one has to pass through
gate where an agent asks you for
twenty-five csnts, please" paid 4:
and stepped inside the Enclosure Of
Mount Vernon, held sacred by the
American people, so much so. that the
Mount Vernon Ladies' association have
caused TO be placed in scores OF con.
Spicuous places, notices warning visitors
not 10 break or remove any branches OF
shrubbery. or plant. or soil. under pen
atty Of heavy tine. The plank walks
are kept scrupulonsly clean. The
shrnbbery aud lighthouses are as perfect
as can be kept approached the resi-.
dence from the electric line depot, from
the rear. and ] truly think the view from
the rear is far superior 10 the view from
the front From the front one looks
out on the eKpanse Of the Potomac
river and the Capitol city in the dis.
lance, while from the rear one sees a
vast stretch Of undulating land with
numerous groves OF large and magnifi
cent trees. among which are winding
walks enough TO tire one out The first
room entered WAS on the lett from 9
rear approach, which would throw 1t OF
the right wing Of the residence looking
from the river. II was the sitting room
Of General Washington. To the left Of
the door rs entered hangs a magnifi
ceat oil painting Of Washington at tn,
siege Of Yorktown. To the right as
entered Is the fireplace, surrounding
which is the most handsome piece OI
marble work ever saw, and the man
tlepiece, the finest and most delicate
sculptoring ever saw The inscription
beneath shows 1t was presented tC
Washington Ia l7sS. by - Vaughn, oI
Philadelphia. Over the mantlepiec'
hangs a clock presented to Washington
IN l7S0, the donors name have for
! gotten. In the center OF the room on 1
/. table is solid silver set with the in
, scription, table service used by Wash
E ington on state occasions" In the sam,
/ room was a miniature imitation in mar
: BILE Of the Bastile of France, and in an
!, other room saw key TO Bastile, pre-
D sented by Lafayette. Scores Of ancien
relics, such as laees, brooches, knee
1 buckles. slippers, rings, letters and pict
e ures Of Washingtons most truste'
e friends filled every nook and corner o
e this celebrated and sacred room. From
y room TO room l went, seeing on ever
v hand evidences OF culture and refine
}. menL In one room musical instru
/. ments used in those days-the harp an
e spinnett, The wheeSy, consumptive oil
X melodeOns had not then come into u.s.
d In a glass case, on lower floor say
o three swords, any OF which was heav
a enough to kill an OK, and beneath wa
4 the following: Presented with the IL
r. junction that they be not unsheathe
Ir to shed blood, but in defense of hono