The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-08
A HISTORIC PLOT.


rious to gather all the important
points in the life of Washinton. The
many headquarters and resting places
of the patriot are all within reach by
steam car, trolley or boat but one of
the most interesting places in Virginia
is far enough from the beaten path to
make it rather difficult to access.
The place to which 1 refer is Po-
hick Church, or Falls Church, as it is
now called. Within a radius of ten
miles of this old landmark are the
former homes of the Washingtons,
the Masons, and of others, made
famous in the annals of the State and
Nation.
In this old brick church they wor-
shipped, and with them such visitors
as Jefferson and Lafayette. In those
days the estates were vast, including
thousands of broad acres along the
Potomac and extending far back into
the hills.
This section of Fairfax county dur
ing the Cival War saw nothing of its
horrors, although within sound of the
guns at Manassas. Only an occasion
al visit from foraging or scouting
party reminded these peaceful dwell
ers among the hills that a terrible
war ragged. Some of these farmers
still live; they and their SONS, during
the summer of 1898, carried supplies
to the troops encamped at Falls
Church or Camp Alger, the exact
spot on which the Federal troops
were encamped more than thirty years
ago.
This place can be reached by slow
steamer, but the tourist is content to
stop at Mount Vernon and go no
further. At famous Marshall Hall,
the sacrilegious hand of the improver
| CD has been at work. Here are
dancing pavilions, Ferris wheel, to-
boggan slides, &c., for the people of
Washington who are obliged to re-
main in the city during the summer.
This resort is the Coney Island of the
Potomac, but its success is not assur-
ed, as no boats are allowed to pass
Fort Washington after sunset, visi-
tors being compelled to return during
the heat of the day. Some twelve
miles back from the river is railroad,
but it is of little service, as it is hard
to reach, owing to the hilly roads. In
their numbering carriages the Wash
0+,1 Moe0%,e St,,,Ioxye
the eight or ten miles to Pohick
Church oftener than to Alexandria,
where Washington was vestryman
i'll Christ Church.
The site of this old place of wor-
ship is interesting, because it is said
that here Washington, when a boy,
began his career as a surveyor. He
planned the church and imported the
brick. The structure is large and !;
square, with hip roof, devoid of orna-
ment except the curved stone about
the two colonial entrance doors.
A company of cavalry occupied it
during the Civil War, and even sta
bled their horses inside. 1t was much
damaged, of course, but it has been
renovated completely, except the
windows, from which the stone caps
and sills were taken, these being re-
placed by brick ones.
Inside is large square room, the
vestry room being but corner shut
off by curtains ; large platform is
rallied apart there is no altar and no
lectern the pipe organ, resting on
the floor, though highly decorated, is
purely ornamental, the real work be-
ing done by an humble parlor organ
the choir consists of about a dozen
persons the windows back of the
platform are shaded with red curtains,
the other windows being shadeless
and stainless.
The church is heated by drum
stove, ,anda six-inch stovepipe extends
across the wide room at a height of
eight feet, and is supported by wood
en- rods. The seats are of plain
boards; this is an innovation, the
former seats being high and box-like,
with doors at the end one is still
called Washington pew, but it is
only a seat where his pew used to be.
The walls are whitewashed,
The people drive as far as twelve
miles (for it is the only Episcopal
church this side of Alexandria,, and
tie their horses to trees in the grove;
the congregation numbers about I25,
and they all come in small carriages or
on horseback their clothes are old
style, but we'll preserved they are
gentle, amiable, courteous lot of peo-
pie, but thin delicate and fat t-chested,
it being noticeable fact that only
the rector and one vestryman are
stout.
A short walk along a shady path
brings you to the gate of the ceme-
terry, where
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleeps"
AS you enter the sleeping city, you
are struck by the great contrast be-
tween the elaborate marble monu-
rhents and granite slabs over the
graves of those who have recently
been buried and the weather stained,
crumbling headstones which mark
the last resting places of others, who,
long ago, laid down 1ife's burdens.
We visited this spot in the late
afternoon, and as we leave the sun
has dropped behind the southern
hills; the air is filled with perfume of
new-mown hay; the breeze is gentle
signing in the tall old hem1ocks and
pines the robyins are singing their
vespers e'er they settle for the night
the long grass is waving and rustling
over the quiet sleepers.
REST comes at length. though life be long and
dreary.
The day must dawn. and darksome night be
past,
Faiths Journeys end in welcome to the weary.
And Heaven, the hearts true home, will come
at last"
The younger members of the fami-