Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-10-29
THE HOME OF WASHINGTON
AND THE CAPITOL OF THE CONfEDERACY
The Editor Briefly Concludes the Descrip.
tiOn of His Trip to the East and South.
Mt. Vernon, Arlington Rich.
mOnd, and Baltimore.

great men whose lives were devoted
to it's foundation and advancement, a
visit to Mt Vernon, where the home
life of her first soldier, president and
statesman was spent, and where his
mortal remains shall forever rest,
seems like standing on holy ground,
sacred to the memory of one whom
all delight to honor and revere. Mt.
Vernon, the home of George and Mar
tina Washington, is indeed an ideal
spot, from whence one might expect
so great character to rise. Situated
on commanding eminence overlook
ing the placid waters of the Potomac,
surrounded by shaded lawns, groves,
gardens and orchards, remote from the
noise and hustle of the city, it is a
home such as might be selected from
among all others for the developement
of the moral qualities and marked
personalities of men like Washington.
The property was purchased by
funds raised by the Mt. Vernon Ladies'
Association, and is under their con-
troll, twelve states being represented
by as many lady regents. The house
is of wood, oblong in shape, cut and
painted to resemble stone. The build
ing has two stories, and is surmounted
with cupola. In front is large
piazza with square pillars, with a
floor tiled with flags from the Isle of
Wight. Two kitchens are connected
with the main building by colonnades,
and about the house are the servants
quarters, the barn built in 1888 from
bricks exported from England, besides
shaded lawns, gardens, orchards,
groves, a deer park, etc. The interior
of the house is preserved intact as it
was when used by the family. The
different rooms are furnished with the
antique furniture used by Washing
ton, and everything about the place
kept as it was when he lived there.
The house is filled with relics of
articles belonging to Washington and
pertaining to his life, so many that a
description of them could scarcely be
attempted. Within the house the
most important rooms are the banquet
room, music room, west parlor, family
dining room, sitting room, library,
kitchen, and rooms in which Washin-
ton and Mrs. Washington died. The
relics of greatest interest are the Key
of the Bastille, sent by Lafayette to
Washington after the storming Of the
Bastille by the Paris mob in 1889
Lafayette's agreement TO serve in
American Army; three of Washing
tons swords bequeathed to his nep-
hews a harpsicord, cost $1,000, present
ed by Washington to Nellie Custis as
bridal present; Washington's flute
dishes used by the family; carpet
made by order of Louis XVI of France,
with American eagle surmounted by
stars In the center; Washington IS fare
we'll address; the mantelpiece of Car.
rara and Siena marble, carved in Italy
and presented to Washington by Sam.
uel Vaughan, of London, which was
captured by French pirates on its way
to America, but sent to its destination
uninjured when they learned it was
for Washington; Washington's bed
room, with the furniture used by him
and the bed in which he died; Mrs.
Washington room with the same
and Lafayette's room, occupied by him
when guest here.
No one sees Mt. Vernon without a
visit to the tomb of Washington. In
grove ON side hill short dis
tance from the house rest his mortal
remains, beside those of Martins
Washington, his wife. The tomb is q
plain structure of brick, with an arch
ed gateway in front. In the anti
chamber are seen the two marble sar'
cophagi. The new tomb was built in
1887, and the key TO the vault cast into
the Potomac after entrusting the re-
mains to their final keeping. Within
the vault rest forty members of the
Washington. Custis and related fami
lies. Near by the tomb are an elm
planted in 1875 by Dom Pedro, Emper
or of Brazil; a maple planted in lSSI
by the Temperance Ladies of America
and British oak planted by reques
of the Prince of Wales (now King Ed
ward) in 1889, to replace a horse-chest
nut planted by him in 1860. Th'
tomb is covered with ivy planted b.
the Sigma Chi college fraternity. TIL,
trip back to Washington was mad
aboard steamer up the beautiful Pc
tomac river.
The next morning was agreeabl.
spent in viewing the Naval Parade