Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1906-08-10
NOTES BY THE WAY
Mrs. Kozer Makes Pilgrimage to Mt
Vernon and Tomb of WASH
ingtOn.
Continued from Last Week

Continued from Last Week.
After leaving Arlington, our trip to
Mt. Vernon by the all-rail route of the
electric trains along the beautiful
Virginia shores Of the Potomac River
was a most enjoyable and interesting
manner Of making this patriotic
pilgrimage, for the associations of
Washington with the place during
his lifetime and the presence of his
tomb here has made Mt. Vernon a
shrine Of patriotism. The Mansion
House Of Mt. Vernon occupies a
beautiful site overlooking the river.
It is of wood, cut and painted to
resemble stone. The building is SO by
80 feet, two stories high, and has an
attic with dormer windows. The roof
is surmounted by cupola, with an
antique weather vane. In front ex
tends a piazza Is feet deep and 25 feet
high, with square pillars and floor
tiled with hag-stones from the Isle Of
Wight.
lawns, and deer park below; in the
rear are lawns, gardens, and orchards,
and, disposed about the grounds, are
the outbuildings of Virginia farm.
The house was built in 1743 by a half
brother, Lawrence, and was named in
honor of Admiral Vernon, under
whom Lawrence had served against
Spain. On the death of Lawrence,
Washin gton inherited the estate, and
here he lived, after his retirement, as
a private citizen until his death in
1893.
His nephew, John A. Washington
succeeded him in possession of the
estate, and, being without means to
maintain the estate, offered it for sale.
A patriotic daughter Of South Carolina
resolved to save the Washington home
and with high courage devoted her
self to the task Of raising the sum of
100000 required for the purpose.
Contributions we're solicited and
popular support was enlisted. Edward
Everett gave the proceeds of his lecture
on Washington and of certain
writings, and put into the Association
treasury the handsome sum Of
500 900 as his personal contribution.
Washington Irving contributed $780,
Thousands upon thousands of school
children gave five cents each. The
full amount was in hand in 1860, and
Mt. Vernon became the property of
the Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association,
and so, Of the Nation.
Portions of the original estate which
had been sold have been acquired
again; buildings which had fallen in
to ruins have been restored the Man
sion has been repaired, and many
articles of furniture, and adornment
have been restored to the rooms to
which they formerly belonged, So
the privilege of visiting Mt. Vernon,
and the satisfaction Of knowing that it
is a possession to be cherished for all
time, we owe to this Ladies Associ-
alton. The home and tomb of Wash
ington have for us added interest, as
we recognize in them monument to
the patriotic impulse, courage and
achievement Of the women of America.
| wish | had the time, and you the
patience, to note the objects Of interest
and detail of the different rooms, but
will try to briefly review them from
my notes. The several rooms have
been assigned to the particular care
of the different members of the Asso-
ciation: Virginia-room in which
Washington died; Wisconsin-room
in which Mrs. Washington died New
York-banquet hall; District of
Columbia, Maine, Connecticut and
Delaware-guest chambers; Alabama
main hall; South Carolina-family
dining room; Maryland-Miss Cusus'
room; Massachusetts-lib library; Geor-
gia-Mrs. Washington's sitting room,
etc The arms of the States are dis
played in the respective rooms.
In the main hall is the Key of the
Bastlle (sent by Lafayette to Wash
ington after the capture ofthe prison..
1t is of wrought iron, seven inches in