Evening star., 1902-02-28
AT MOUNT VERNON
THE PRINCE VISITS WASHING
TOMS TOMB.
Places Wreathes on the Sarcophagus
and Plants a Linden
Tree.


Indeed impressive was the visit Of his
royal highness, Prince Henry OF Prussia, to
the tomb Of Washington late yesterday
afternoon. The brother, the special am
bassador of the Emperor of Germany, made
his pilgrimage to historic Mt. Vernon ac-
companied by his royal suite and dstin-
guished Americans. With bowed head he
stood where the beloved Lafayette once
shed tears; where the present King Of
Great Britain in young manhood paid hon.
age to the father of the greatest country in
the whole world.
Prince Henry approac ched the tomb of the
first President with barred head, and that
there might be nothing irreverent in the
ceremony, asked the holders of dozen or
more cameras who stood around to refrain
from photographng him. Passing through
a crowd of men and women who flanked
either side of the sepulcher he came to a
halt directly in front of the iron doors.
Superintendent Harrison II. Dodge opened
the bars and he stepped inside.
Wreaths on the Sarcophagus.
The prince remained within only a few
minutes. He received from Mr.. Dodge the
magnificent floral wreaths, one bestowed
upon the historic spot in his own name and
the other in the name of the imperial navy
of Germany. With his own hands he set
them up beside the sarcophagus. His own,
which was fully three feet in diameter, con-
sisted of roses, lilies of the valley and
orchids. 1t rested upon wire easel, COW
cred with green. This he reverently placed
al the foot of the casket, with its face out
ward. He next received from Soperintend-
ent Dodge the wreath from the imperial
navy, little smaller than his own, and
composed of roses, lilies of the valley and
ported by an easel was set at the right of
the casket, facing outward
The prince remained within for some mo-
ments He stood beside the casket with
hands folded and head bowed The crowd,
realizing the solemnity of the occasion
maintained silence, and 1t was not until the
impressive scene was ended that the spec
tators repla ced their hats and moved away.
Planted a Tree.
Fifty feet down the sward that falls
away from the tomb Prince Henry planted
a linden tree. The tree had been set in
place prior to his arrival, and taking
spade, the prince filled the earth in around
its roots. The prince was taken to the old
Washington house by Superintendent H. H.
Dodge, and there met delegation of the
Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, headed
by Mrs Justine Van Rensselaer, Townsend
of New York. He spent few minutes in
looking at the Washington relics and then
dGDart6d
The prince and his party We're taken to
Mount Vernon by special train over the
Washington, Arlington and Mount Vernon
electric railway. Two large observation
cars were provided and from them the
prince saw the Long bridge and the head
lands of northern Virginia, historic to
Americans since colonial days. 1t was $50
o'clock when the special departed and the
minutes Prince Henry walked to the
Washington home and was driven from
there down over the slope of the hill to the
tomb.
An Amusing Incident.
Large crowds watched his arrival and de-
parture and his course through historic old
Alexandria was lined with people, who
cheered him cordially. Many of the people
of Alexandria mistook Lieutenant Comman-
der Schmidt Won Schwind for the prince
and their error led to an amusing incident.
There is some general resemblance between
the two and when the crowd singled out
the young naval officer and cheered him the
prince was delighted. He called Chief Will
kie of the secret service and laughlnSly
gave him this order:
Mr.. Wilkie, please tell Mr.. Schmidt Won
Schwind to be very careful what he does
now for he must remember that l have
reputation to sustain.
The lieutenant comma nder was embar-
rassed by the enthusiastic attention of the
crowd and did not thoroughly appreciate
the humor of the prince He tried to be un-
concerned over the clamOr of the crowd
and would not either bow or salute in an
swer to the cheers. 1t was go o'clock
when Washington was reached on the re-
turn trip and the prince was driven a. once
to the German embassy.
Tonight's Serenade.
Prince Henry will tonight be serenaded
by members of the different German sing
ing societies of the national capital. The
details for the parade were completed this
afternoon.
The persons to participate in the exercises
will assemble at the Rathskeller, corner of
Sth and E streets northwest, this evening
at 80 o'clock. The singers will receive
tickets or badges that will admit them to
the terrace The procession will probably
move about o o'clock. A division of torch
bearers, preceded by Donchs band and a
platoon of mounted police, will come first.
Following the first division will come the
singers, eighty in number accompanied by
f1ambeau bearers to give them light. An
other division Of tOrch-bearerS will close the
line.
Chief Marshal Voelckner will lead his
command through f street to 10TH thence
to Massa chusetts avenue and to Thomas
circle Here the torch bearers will halt and
the singers only, with the band and the
officers of the executive committee, will
pass up the drive leading to the terrace
After the three songs on the program have
present to the prince and to DR.. Won Holle-
ben. the ambassador, handsome souvenirs
OF the event, and the ambassador will prob
ably make a short address, thanking the
singers and their companions in the name
of the prince.
The serenaders will then leave the ter
race by the west entrance and will march
back to 14th street, where they will be
joined by the torch bearers, then proceed
ing over the same route to the Rathskeller,
where "commers'' will be held. 1t is ex-
pected that several speeches will be made
during the course of the evening by promi-
nent German-Americans at the Rathskeller,
where entire floor has been given up
by Mr. Chris. Heurich to the organiza-
tionS represented.
A Degree From Harvard.
A dispatch from New York says that
Prince Henry will receive an honorary de-
gree from Harvard on March 6. 1t is also
understood on good authority that the
names of the German emperor and Of
Prince Henry would be added to the list Of
honorary members Of the New York Yacht
Club This list already includes the names
of their royal uncle, King Edward VII, and
the Grand Duke Alexis.
PRINCES NARROW ESCAPE