Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-26
Mt. VERNON IN 1901
Description of a Visit to
LADY" Washington
AT THE GENERALS TOMB
How the Grounds Looked Over Gen.
fury Ago.
FIRST HORSE RACE IN THIS CITY
Vast Sums Wagered on the Re-
Representatives of Both
Houses of Congress Present.
AT THE GENERALS TOMB
FIRST HORSE RACE IN THIS CITY
~ WILLIAM l.. RMS

BI WILLIAM T.. CURTIS.
Written for Tie Star and the Chicago Record
Herald
In his diary. kept with great diligence
while lie was member of Congress. from
1901 10 1905. Manasseh Cutler of Massa-
cEusetts gives MS a graphic description OF
a visit Of respect paid by him and sew
eral Of his colleagues to Lady" Wash
ington at Mount Vernon two years after
Gen Wash!nGton's death. Mr.. Cutler
was Il federaliSt ardent admirer OF
NaShnGt on. and diStruSted Jefferson. who
was then President. He treated Jefferson
with great respect. however, fulfilled all
his obligations. social and otherwise,
toward him and his office, and frequently
called al the Presidents house TO pay
his respects He is very careful In his
criticisms of the President and frequently
exI resses regret at the criticisms of 9TH
ers Mr. Cutler as / have told you be-
fore WAS the real author Of the "ordi-
nance OF 50" which prohibited slavery
in the mort Invest territories, and loDbied
il through Congress. He one of
the founders of Ohio and the leader of the
movement of revolutionary soldiers who
first settled at Marietta in that state.
Mr. Charles Gates Dawes of Chicago.
who is his descendant. has loaned me
MS diary. from WHICH L copy TIE lollON-
Ing interesting account of the pilgrimage
To Mount Vernon:
The Ride to Mount Vernon.
I'VE left this city about 1, it being a
perfect calm. but did not arrive at Alex
andra until some time after the evening.
We went in the ferry boat and lodged at
Gadsbys Hotel. This is said y be the
first public house in America and equal to
most in Europe. We supped on canvas
back ducks.
Two coaches were ordered to be ready
at q in the morning. with a view of ar
irving at Mt. Vernon at s. sufficiently
early to breakfast with Madame Wash
ingtun. We rose at and were dressed
for our visit before the daylight APP
peared. but by an unfortunate bunder
Of the servants the coaches were not at
the door until almost Z. The distance is
only nine miles, which might then have
been Travelled in season had not the road
proved amazingly bad, and our horses
still worse. We did not arrive until after
10 After leaving Alexandria about three
miles we entered woodland, which con-
tlnued with the exception of a few OPEN
ings of cultivated fields, until we came
within about a quarter of mile of the
mansion house of Mt. Vernon.
When our coaches entered the yard a
number of servants Immediately attended,
and when We had all stepped out of our
carriages servant conducted us to Mad
ame WashingtOnS room, where we were
introduced by Mr.. Hillhouse and received
In a very cordial and obliging manner.
Mrs. Washington was sitting in rather a
small room, with three ladies grand
daughters), one of whom is married to
Mr.. Lewis and has two fine children; the
other two are single
Breakfast at Mount Vernon.
Mrs. Washington appears much older
than when l saw her last at Philadelphia
but her countenance is very little wrink-
led and remarkably fair for a person Of
her years. She conversed with great
ease and familiarity. and appeared as
much rejOiced at receiving our visit as if
we had been her nearest connections She
regretted that we had not arrived sooner
for she always breakfasted at Z. but
our breakfast would be ready in few
minutes. In short time she rose and
desired us to walk into another room,
where table was elegantly spread with
ham. cold corn-beef cold fowl. red her
ring and cold mutton. the dishes orna-
mented with sprigs of parsley and other
vegetables from the garden. Al the head
OF the table was the tea and coffee equi-
page where she seated herself. and sent
the tea and coffee to the company.
We We're all federalists. which evident
~ gave her particular pleasure. Her re-
marks were frequently pointed and some
times very sarcastic on the new order of
things and the present administration.
She spoke of the election of Mr.. Jeffer-
son. whom she considered as one of the
most detestable of mankind. as the great
est misfortune our country has ever ex-
Terienced. Her unfriendly feelings to-
ward him were naturally to he expected
from the abuse he offered to Gen. Wash
inston while living. and to his memory
since his decease. She frequently spoke
Of the general with great affection. view
ing herself as left alcne. and her life pro-
tracted, until she had become a stranger
In the world. She repeatedly remarked
the distinguished mercies heaven still be-
slowed upon her. for which she had daily
cause for gratitude. but she longed for the
time 10 follow her departed friend
After breakfast We rambled about the
mouse and gardens. which were not in
50 high a style l expected to have
found them. The house stands on an ele-
waited level. is two stories high. with a
piazza IN front supported by row OF
pillars on the side toward the river, and
Is about five or six rods from steep bank
descending to the edge of the water. The
river is wide and affords a most delight
ful prospect far distant up and down the
stream. we'll as beyond the opposite
shore. But the whole country appears tC
he an extended woods. with very few
houses or cultivated fields in any direc-
ticn. In front of the house is a grass
plot with trees on each side. and incloseG
orchard. consisting principally of large
peach and cherry trees. AT the bottom OF
this orchard and. nearly opposite the east
ern end of the house. is the venerable
tomb which contains the remains of the
great Washington.
At Washington s Tomb.
This precious monument was the frs,
object OF our attention Twill not attemp,
To describe our feelings or the solemn
gloom on every countenance as we ap
preached the revered mound of earth 1t is
the sepucher of the Washington family
wher many of the ancestors of the gen
eral are deposited. Situated at the ex-
tre'nNy OF the grass plot and the
edge "f the bank. il is not seen until yor
approach near to IL. The mound OF
earth is not much elevated and is covered
with a growth of cypress trees. a few
jumpers. and near il the evergreen hoil,
tree. which conceals ii from view unit
You come almost To il. The side of tho
steep bank To- the river is covered will
I'll