The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-24
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.
Interesting Sketch of This Historic Old
Town on the Potomac.

Interesting Sketch of This Historic Old
Town on the Potomac.
To the Editor of The Republican.
Some other cities may perchance
have gained higher sounding names
by reason of important events re-
corded in their histories, but there
are very few cities that furnish more
of real interest to the studious tourist
than quaint Alexandria of Old Vir-
GINA. 1t is situated upon a lovely
incline forming the western bank of
the. Potomac river about seven miles
below Washington City. Strangers
who visit Washington nowadays
and fail to see Alexandria may be
classed with those who visit Egypt
and fail to see the Pyramids or the
Sphinx.
In 1908 the surprising beauty of its
long green slope attracted the land
ing of Capt. John Smith, the pioneer
governor of Jamestown, while explor-
ing for a northwest passage to the
Pacific Ocean. He was the first white
man to admire the scene. The other
attractions of the river and it's pail
sades enticed him no further north.
The fertility of its soil attracted the
tobacco planters of st. Mary's at the
mouth of the river when religious dis
sensions destroyed that colony in
1884 and it was then named Bell
Haven. 1t grew in wealth more than
in population. Every dwelling was
indeed castle surrounded by fort
ress-like wall made of imported Eng
fish bricks, which remain strictly in
evidence to this day. 1t was then a
city of luxury and commerce. 1t at
tracted many capitalists and brooked
no rival on the Chesapeake.
Recently while sightseeing we paid
our respects to Alexandria,. We alight-
ed from the car upon our arrival
where once stood the Marshall House.
1t was during the early days of the
civil war that James Jackson, the
proprietor, hoisted Confederate flag
over the hotel. Colonel Ellsworth
proceeded to haul it down, but when
he descended to the foot of the stairs
he was instantly killed by the dis
charge of double barrel shot gun in
the hands of Jackson. In a breath
Jackson was slain by Federal soldiers.
Now Virginia is full of Jacksons who
claim to belong to the F. F. VS. and
point with exultant pride to James
Jackson as their distinguished ances-
tor of noble blood.
Alexandria was one of the seats of
Confederate sympathy. Only one
square from the Mansion House we
saw a monument of Barry granite
crowned with a bronze statue of a
Confederate soldier and dedicated to
the memory of the Confederate dead
May "a, 1889. 1t is inscribed as fol-
lows:
"They died in the consciousness of
duty faithfully performed"
Christ church is relic of sacred in
terest. 1t was built in 1773 of bricks
imported from England. Washing
ton attended this church, was a YES
tryman and paid $3.50 annually for
his pew which is kept cushioned and
carefully preserved. Services are held
in this church every Sunday. On the
left of the altar is marble tablet on
which is inscribed: ITO the memory
of George Washington" and on the
right of the altar is another tablet in
scribed: ITO the memory of Robert
E. Lee" Lee was christened in this
church.
From the church we proceeded to
the Masonic lodge room. Here Wash
ington's Masonic relics are kept. He
was Master of the lodge here when he
officiated at the laying of the corner
stone of the Capitol building at Wash