The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-11-05

when the street cars stopped In 1ront OF
Riggs house, which Was the Wisconsin
Press Association headquarters during
the stay in Washington.
AS our readers may easily imagine
Washington was taken in from end TO
end Dy the visitors but the description
of the various points of interest would
make the tale too lengthy and will be
given as opportunity presents itself. But
one thing which we must not forget
was the reception 10y the president OF the
delegation. The reception was set for
12 o'clock Wednesday, long before that
time the ladies' were arranged in their
best bib and tucker and had struggled
into pair Of new gloves which have
since been carefully put away to pass to
their children and children's children
while the gentlemen had completed their
toile: by an extra twist to the mustach'
At promptly 11:45 the delegation filed
under the leadership Of Hod Taylor to
the White House and after having been
carefully scrutinized by the secret service
men were admitted to the presence of
the head of the nation, and many were
surprised to find not god nor monster
but just a simple man. The president
shook hands with all and said a few
words to each and then the force OF Wis
consin gathered and gave the Wisconsin
University yell. This was evidently to
the presidents delight he saying that re-
| minded him of when he saw Wisconsin
rowing on the Hudson. The force then
| went through the White House and back
| to the hotel.
Tuesday was devoted to trip to Ar
lington, the National Cemetery, where
| 900 soldiers lie buried This was
originally the old Lee homestead and
many famous men and women came
from it. After the war it was purchased
| by the government and while the houses
and gardens are kept up as in the old
plantation time. the thousands OF acres
have been dedicated rs a rCsting place 10
our soldiers and Uncle Sam offers every
soldier six feet of ground and will bear
the expense of laying him to rest amongst
his companions of the war. Many OF
the heroes of the war like Stanton and
Sheridaa are also sleeping here waiting
for the Judgment bugle. The place con-
tains 5595 acres and is most beautifully
situated, forming one large park. One
hour was spent here and then the party
went to Mount Vernon, Washington's
homestead Washington was born about
80 miles from this place it being the
property of his half-brother and Wash
ington came into possession on the death
of the former The estate originally
contained 5000 acres and of this 227 acres
with all the buildings and spots OF in
terest were bought by an association OF
ladies from q of the different states aud
everything restored as it was in the days
! when Washington resided there. The
rooms are furnished as Of old, largely
| with the original furniture and d great
many relics are kept there all in the po-
sition that they occupied when Washing
ton lived there. The room in which
! Washington died as we'll as Mrs. Wash
ington's room are perfectly preserved.
| The whole house and estate is kept up
and has the appearance rs though the
inhabitants had just stepped out The
old cottages where the negroes lived,
the stables, spinning house and gardens
may all be seen. The gardens in the
same outline rs originally laid out by
the father of this country with hia own
hands, and the old box wood hedge
which he planted is still there fresh and
green ana vigorous although over l5O
years old. Several trees Of interest were
shown the visitors, some planted by
Washington himself and one that was
sent by Lafayette and then planted by
Washington From the house path
| WluuS III anu OUT duOuS tHc oicto hCui
the shore of the beautiful Potomac until
it comes to the family tomb whe e
Washington also had been laid to rest
until removed to the new tomb shoit
distance from there when the old
one became unfit for use. The surround
ings of the whole estate are of such
a nature that "a erson must be dull in
deed who would not become inspired
after living in their midst. The ladies
society charge an admission fee 25c and
this has made the estate self supporting
and has accumulated fund of severa
thousand dollars, the ladies intending
eventually to open the gates to all.
From here we returned to Alexandra
the town that was laid out according tt
Washington's surveyings when but {
lad Of Is. Here is the masonic hall o
which he was member and grea
many of Washington's relics amonl
I ~