Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-15

A RLINGTON, the nations ceme-
u terry, near Washington, is one of
\ the meccas for thousands of
sightseers every year, yet few of the
hordes who seek its cool and shady
depths visit it with a foreknowledge
which enables them to master its many
interesting details. They gaze at it's
show places, study the accepted and
familiar tombs and go away satisfied.
It's beauties and it's oddities pass un-
observed, though it has a plethora of
be h.
Arlington is a most historic spot
George Washington, the Custis family,
and later the Lees, their descendants
including the beloved general, Robert
z. Lee, all owned and lived on the
on account of these associations is lost
on the casual visitor.
For instance, Arlington National
cemetery has three gareways of rare
architectural beauty which strangers
seldom see and which really serve no
purpose. The reason is that the course
of events has turned Arlington around.
It caces east but nearly everybody
enters from the west, or through what
is the back door.
The great "Gates of Arlington" are
on the eastern front of the estate.
The mansion house faces east, but the
first view that persons get of it a they
enter Arlington through the usual way
is the back view.
In Other Days
The ancient Alexandria Georgetown
pike skirts the east face of Arlington.
In other days this was a great thor
oughfare, but it is not much travelled
now. In the olden days, that is up
to the time of the Civil War, everybody
entering Arlington did so from this
road.
When the federal authorities took
possession Of the property in the spring
Of 1861, a few days after the departure
of the Lees for Richmond, the east en-
trance was the main way. Then the
government established great military
camps and hospitals on the plateau
back of Arlington. 1t built Fort Whip
pie, one of the chain of fortifcations
for the defense Of Washington, at the
rear of Arlington. The earthworks have
been leveled and on and around the
site has grown up the important cav
airy post of Fort Myer. A number Of
villages have sprung up west of
Arlington, and between these, Fort
Myer and Washington, have been built
new and fine roads and electric car
lines.
In this way travel has been DETECTED
to the west of Arlington, and this is
why persons going to the national
cemetery enter by what was in the
Custis, George Washington Parke Gus
tic and Robert r. Lee the back way.
The Custis Graves
The graves of George Washington
Parke Custis and his wife. born Mary
Lee Fitzhugh lie in a densely shaded
spot by the edge of a shadowy ravine
in the midst of the 'privates' section"
and southwest of the Tomb of the
Unknown. Few persons ever stray
that way. The graves are marked by
two white marble monuments The
taller is inscribed:
George Washington Parke Curtis,
Born April 30, 1891,
Died October 10. 1857
Blessed Are the MerCiful For They
Shall Obtain Mercy.
The shorter monument is Inscribed:
Mary l.. Curtis,
Born April %, 1888,
Died April %. 1853.
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
For They Shall See God.
AT the base of the tombs grow lilies
and myrtle culled from the gardens of
old Arlington, and no doubt planted at
these graves by Mary Ann Randolph
Custis, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Gus
tbs. the wife of Gen. Robert f. Lee.
The man whose bones rest under the
taller monument was the builder of
Arlington mansion. His father was
John Parke Custis, son of Daniel Parke
Custis of White House, Va, and his
mother was Eleanor Calvert of Mount
Airy Prince Georges county, Mary
land. His paternal grandmother was
Mrs. George Washington of Mount
Vernon and he was the adopted son of
George Washington.
Soon after the marriage of John
Parke Custis and Eleanor Calvert Mr..
Custis bought from Gerald Alexander a
tract Of land opposite Georgetown. then
IN Maryland but now part of Wash
lngton city. The only house on the
property was that of the Alexanders.