Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1900-02-23

the services the plain mahogany casket
stood in the center of the long veranda
just opposite the hospitable doorway to
which the great soldier-statesman had
welcomed the greatest men Of the CEN
tury. Then the remains were placed in
the family vault at Mt. Vernon, which
has since been the Mecca of Americans
and in the presence of which people of
all other lands bow in respect and ven
Grafton. During the past few years a
number Of changes have been made in the
vault and its surroundings. The entrance
to the tomb is now guarded by two iron
gates, the bars of which are so close that
when the place is strewn with flowers
they are passed through. the bars by
means Of long poles. Under the strict
est orders of the Mt. Vernon Association
these gates are never to be opened. When
they were placed in position the outer
one was locked and the key was thrown
into the channel of the Potomac. Pill
grims to this shrine must content them
selves with looking through the bars up
on the sarcophagus which holds the re-
mains Of the great chieftain.
The centennial anniversary of the death
Of the hero of America was fittingly OBJ
served. The principal ceremonies were
at Mt. Vernon and were in charge of the
Masonic organization Of which Washing
ton was a member. President Mckinley
delivered an address at the old homestead
and Masonic exercises were held at the
tomb. In the evening anniversary exer-
cises were held in Washington, at which
President Mckinley and his entire cab
met were present. The occasion was OBJ
served in all parts of the republic, and
In all parts of the world where there
were Americans the name and fame of
Washington was remembered and prais-
ed.
Through the efforts and the care of the
Mount Vernon Association the home in
which Washington lived and died and
Its furnishings and surroundings are al
most the same as they were 100 years
ago. The furnishings and the appoint
ments of tine room in which he died are
the same and the sensations which the
visitor experiences seem to indicate that
the spirit of the commander-in-chief still
pervades the historic scenes. The church
which he attended at Alexandria is also
well preserved, and the pew which he oc-
cupied still bears the name of the first
President of the United States.
Washington seems to have been en-
dowed with prophetic sight. Since his
death there have been wonderful changes
principles of government and civil rule
which he advocated and set forth in his
official acts as legislator and President
and in his farewell message. Could he
have dreamed of the railroad, telegraph,
telephone. steamship, the vast popula-
tion, the broad domain upon which the
sun never sets when he formulated and
gave to the world these principles? If
not, the Unknown Power that protected
and guided him through the dangers Of
battle must have given touch of Di-
vine inspiration to his mind and his pen
An Historical Picture.
So well acquainted are we with the
events connected with the life of Wash
ington and the times in which he lived
that we cannot consider them in the light
of history. We seem to live in the times
when he lived, and as we mourn at the
scene of death we think of his many no.
BILE and self-sacri6cing deeds, his devo-
tion to duty, his simplicity, his purity of
life, and his wisdom in directing the af-
fairs of his country. Then with the Wis
ion of memory we view the imaginative
pictures of historical facts. We see him
drilling his schoolmates as soldiers and
actions of his daily life. We shiver as
we see him emerge from the freezing
waters of the Monongahela after battling
with the plunging ice tnat he may safely
deliver a dispatch entrusted to his care.
In the awful shower of bullets and ar
rows at Fort Duquesne we see him move
calm and dignifed and are thankful to
see him escape uninjured. Now we
scarcely breathe lest we disturb him as
he kneels in silent and earnest prayer
beneath the shade of the forest trees at
Valley Forge. He is praying for his SOL
diers and his country. Only one other
scene is comparable to this. 1t is that of
Christ praying in the garden of Geth-
semane. Stern he is in the performance
of his duty when he approves the death
sentence of Andre, and magnanimous as
n conqueror in his treatment of Cornwall
lis and his surrendered army. His dig
nifty. wisdom and craftsmanship are
shown in his administrations as Presi-
dent of the Republic which his skill as
warrior made possible. and his simplicity
and democracy are prominently displayed