The National tribune., 1900-06-14

We realize that without preconception this
estate has reached its highest destiny.
On the cid road from Georgetown 10 Al
andria. which was originally the road Of
! entrance TO the grounds. are the beautiful
| Memorial gates, fIanked by columns and
ornamcnted by arches.
The first "a these gates IS the Ord and
/ Weitzcl gate. On either side is tall col
umn, surmounted by a funeral urn, and
on the columns are inscribed the names
Of Gems. Ord and Wctzel. a little farther
/ down the road you come to the Sheridan
gate. This has four columns, supporting
a moulded cross piece Of stone. 1t rises,
! dignified in its pure whiteness, and the
name Of Sheridan stands out in relief.
On each Of the four columns are names
Of men that will go down in history-I.in-
coin. Grant Scott and Stanton. The third
| is the Mcclellan gate, which is of red
sandstone, artistic and beautiful in design.
, Over the gate is the name Of the hero Of
Antietam, and beneath an appropriate in
scrption.
| Winding roads through the grand old
! oaks and elms lead TO the mansion. Di-
rectly south Of the house is a large garden.
nv 'At@iaNs' Va " anu
, Garfield and others appear in floral letters.
In the center of this plat stands the
! Temple Of Fame. 1t is 4 circular structure,
composed Of eight columns. surmountcd
by dome, wnich rests on an octagonal
cornicc Of stone work. Set in this cornice
are the names OF Washington. Lincoln,
| Grant and Faragut, and other names Of
! iliustrious men are on each Of the pillars.
Immediately west Of the Temple Of Fame
| Is the sarcophagus which contains tic re
mains Of 2,11I unknown dead" This is
one Of the most touching sights that meets
! the eye in the National Cemetery The
bodies We're picked up here and there OF
the batt!efields. Every one was some
mothers boy. Their yaiorous deeds, their
suiTerings and death. the honor which
was theirs by Eight, have record only in
| the Book Of Life, but when that book is
| opened there will be no unknown
| The ampif..heat@r and rostrum arai nter-
esting features. Here the exercises are
| held on Memorial Day The r6strun is
u raised platform Of stone. classical and
/ picturesque in design. Stone columns sup,
port a level roof Of lattice work, which is
thickly covered with creeping vines. The
@i44 ~ III tEi4di tllDIkiiiHlt OIL
earth, which incloscs space large enough
to contain 1 500 people.
| Decoration Day was a natural outcome
Of Nations sorrow and gratitude. When,
in the soft air of bright May mornings,
soldiers orphans lay their flowers on
10000 soldiers graves. it not only tells
how dear to the Nation is the dust of these
brave men, but shows a deeper reverence
for the sacrifice made that the Nation
might live, and added testimony that
| Washington did not live in vain
A striking incident that occurred when
the flag was run up on the staff that was
erected near the Temple of Fame was re-
lated to me by an officer present. When
these everlasting hills, these groves of
oaks and Gins. that will stand for centu-
ries, when Natures Memorial Cathedral
was consecrated TO the immortal dead,
; and the flag Washington loved fioated in
the breeze, an American Eagle sailed out
OF the blue ether, three times encircled the
iiagpole, and sailed away toward the Po-
tomac. The spirit Of silent reverence de-
seended upon the place, and everybody felt
that the eye Of the great Washington was
resting upon Arlington. and every head
stone was telling him that, in the hour of
danger, Americans will venerate and main
, tain the laws and give their lives for the
Union Of the country
The brave men who wer9 the victims of
the tragedy Of the Maine and the IoyaI
hearts that gave their lives at San Juan
5 Hill and Santiago have been brought
home and given Christian burial in soil
consecrated by the dust of patriots.
This iS the o,7lv Natiop in ,uas,1 1
that has so tenderly cared for the brave
men who gave their lives to their country,
and brought back under the folds Of the
flag they served their mortal remains, to
be cared for and watched over SO long as
: the Nation lives.