The Washington herald., 1907-05-28

President Roosevelt made a pilgrimage
10 Mount Vernon. the home and tomb Of
George Washington, yesterday.
Il was not an ordinary sort of pilgrim
age. Part of it was made by trolley car.
and the rest on horseback, and the jour
ney was attended by circumstances of
weather that made it particularly inter
esting
A couple OF severe thunderstorms caught
the President and those who went with
him, but Mr.. Roosevelt did not mind such
trifles.
The Presidents companions on his
Mount Vernon pilgrimage were Mrs.
Roosevelt. their daughter. Miss Ethel.
Postmaster General George Won L. Meyer.
and Capt. Fitzhugh Lee, of the Seventh
Cavalry. one Of the White House aids.
The trip had been contemplated for some
time, and il was arranged last week that
they should take the jauut yesterday.
In preparation for the riding part Of
the outing. four horses from the White
House stables were sent 70 Alexandria.
Va. and 1t was there that the really in
teresting portion OF the days d0ings be-
gan.
Start in Carriage.
Leaving the White House in a carriage
at II o'clock in the morning. the Presi-
dent, Mrs. Roosevelt, Miss Ethel. Mr..
Meyer, and Capt. Lee. aIl in riding cos
tune. went TO the Washington terminus
Of the Alexandria trolley line. opposite
the Post-ofice Department. Here the pri-
vate car Mount Vernon" which had
been specially engaged. was waiting. and
as soon as the party was on board the
car started. II took forty minutes 10
make the trip % Alexandra, seven miles
distant from Washington, and just half
way to the estate Of the Father of his
Country.
The car stopped I'm the extreme south
eastern section Of the historic old town.
where there were few people TO observe
the distinguished visitors. Here the horses
were waiting. and without delay the
President and his companions mounted
and started toward Mount Vernon.
The President rode Roswell. his favorite
hunter n hig, rangy fellow, capable Of
making good time and able to do hard
work. Mrs. Roosevelt was up on Audrey
a beautiful mare.
Their course was southwark. following
generally the line Of the Potomac River.
The roads We're somewhat muddy. but not
IN very bad shape. 'Ominous clouds were
overhead, however They had been gath
ering for an hour or more. in fact were
massed and banked IN threa tening array
when the Presidential party left Wash
inEtDn. But the signs that fOrebOded a
downpour with thunder and lightning did
not deter the pilgrims. who had made up
their minds to set to Mount Vernon with
out regard to discouraEiug conditions.
On Historic Road.
The route TO the home OF the first Presi-
dent was over a road which Washington
had often Travelled in his trips 20 and from
Alexandria. It led through the Pohick
neighborhood. where Parson Weems
preached before he set ont through the
country pe5dIing his life Of Washing
ton IN which he told many anecdotes Of
the great general. including that interest
ing incident Of the hatchet and the cherry
tree.
Hardly a mile Of the way was without
some landmark associated with the man
who lived at Mount Vernon.
The clouds grew blacker and bIacker.
They We're low hanging clouds that shut
out the sun and brought about the dim
ness Of late twilight. In Washington and
Alexandria it was necessary 10 turn on
gas and electricity 20 obtain light enough
10 see plainly. Thunder rumbled IN the
distance. and there were occasional
flashes Of lightning as the President and
his companions Cantered along. Mount
Vernon was far away when the rain be-
gan.
At first It was a gentle sprinkle. Then
the wind came. and as the low clouds
raced by they turned loose their moisture
on the head Of the nation and those with
him There was no protection from the
downpOur.
No Shelter Anywhere.
No house was in sight, and the country
had been denuded Of its forests. Racing
their horses, the members Of the little
party went along as bravely as they
could. Lightning flashed an around them.
and the thunder claps seemed continuous
i was one Of the severest storms ever
known I'm this vicinity
Through all this terrific weather horses
and people pushed their way. It was an
experience long TO be remembered. Occa-
sional groves of trees promised shelter.
but the danger from lightning was 'rnmi-
nont and the travellers were soaked TO
tho skin and could have found no COM
fort under spreading branches. Hail fell
part of the time. The road was a ri -ulet
and the sticky red mud Of that rJrtion
of Virginia made it hard work Ior the
horses.
The storm subsided as the Presidential
cavalcade reached the Mount Vernon
estate. Drenched, spattered with mud
and chilled, they we're cheerful neverthe-
less, and made the best OF sorry condi-
tions when the solicit0us officials and en-
pi0yCs of the Mount Vernon propeTtv
sought to bring them comfort. There was
little that could be done. however, EXCEPT
dry some of the soaked garments. When
the drying process had gone on for a
while, luncheon was announced, and the
President and his four companions sat
down at the table with good appetites
and in good spirits
A Washington caterer had been sent
TO Mount Vernon 10 prepare the luncheon.
which was served in the big dining-room
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