Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-03-16

the visitor to washington may take,
but perhaps the most interesting is the
one to Alexandria and Mt Vernon.
Choosing February 22d as the appro-
pirate time to visit these historic
places, in company with w. r. Cope
land, of Audubon county, Congress
man Smiths private secretary, we
left Washington about 8 a. m, pass
ing on the electric car line over the
Patomic on the historic long bridge,
across which the federal armies so
often marched in the CO.'S. Indeed all
the way to Mt. Vernon is over historic
ground.
Alexandria is eight miles down the
Virginia side. 1t now has popula-
ton of $4,000. At one time it was
about the most populous town in the
colonies. On getting off the cars there
we were surrounded by boys who want
ed to show us the sights and explain
the historical associations, all for
quarter. 1t is worth quarter to hear
the boys dispense their knowledge of
history.
We passed down past the Marshall
House, where the dashing Col. Els
worth met his tragic death in 1861.
We then passed around to old Christ's
Church, known as Washington's
Church. George Washington lived
only six miles from here, on down the
river, at Mt. Vernon. Alexandria
was his town. Here he came to mar
ket, to church, to lodge, to public
meetings. This church, Chri It's
church, was completed in 1773. 1t was
considered big church in its day and
really is good sized building. 1t is
occupied yet by large congregation.
The old sexton is there to admit visi-
tors and show them around. The
building has been overhauled little,
but remains almost as built. Wash
ington' spew remains unchanged. We
sat in it, of course, and meditated. The
same old chandelier lighted with twelve
tallow candles, representing the twelve
apostles, hangs from the ceiling. 1t
may have been brilliant for it's day,
but it is as moonlight unto sunlight"
when compared with the brilliant
church Examinations of today. The
chancel rail, communion table, read
ing desk, chairs, etc., are the ones
used in Washington's time. Robert
f. Lee also worshiped here.
Il In another part Of the city is the
Carlysle House, the leading hotel OF
the city in those times of 1850 to 1880.
1t was here Col. Washington was sum-
moned to meet Gen. Braddock. 1t
was here he also later met governors
! from the different colonies. From cell
lar to garrett every room shows the
age of the building. That was before
the day of stoves and much longer be-
fore the day of furnaces, so each room
was provided with little fire place.
We also went over to the old masonic
lodge room where Washington used TO
attend and found it contained many
historic mementos of the great man,
among other things the chair he used
to sit in when he presided.
Mt. Vernon is approached from the
rear. About the mansion are a num-
Der of other buildings that were used
as negro quarters, barns, etc. The
mansion itself faces the Patomic,
which here widens out to q mile or
more wide. From the big front porch
view of grandeur is spread out be-
fore you, sweep of vision, OF pictur-
esque woodland and placid river. The
building itself is of the long time ago
style in every detail. Every room
from the parlor to the library and the
up stairs bed room in which the great
man died, is full of personal associa-
ton with the family. Each contains
articles of the Washington households
old fashioned bed steads with posts
almost reaching the low ceiling, old
rocking chairs, the Generals old sur
veying instruments and saddle bags,
Nellie Custis' musical instruments
and many other things of interest.
But the big kitchen off the south end
of the house shows as much of the
condition of those times as any other
room. The big fire place with andirons,
cranes, tongs, kettles, dutch ovens,
bellows, all the varied utensils neces-
sary for transacting the seething pro-
cess of cooking for big family before
an open fire, are there.
Then we went down towards the river
past the old barn and to the old de-
serted tomb, and on further down to
the present tomb, inside whose iron
gates repose, in stone receptacles, all
that is mortal of Americas most ia
nous man, and of his wife. This
tomb has become sort of mecca for
those of all countries who love free
dom and admire virtue, patriotism
and exalted character. Outside the
tomb stands garrulous negro watch
man who crates almost too much on
Washington's greatness. The Ameri-
can citizen feels as though the great
mans fame was part OF his own in