The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

cock hat under his arm. The function
was Mrs. Washingtons, and this he kept
IN mind. Mrs Hamilton was once asked
II she ever saw Gen. Washington dance.
and she replied, Not in the sense OF
tripping the light fantastic toe. but that
he often walked through the figures OF
the minuet. as II suited 10 perfection
his stately habit OF mind and body"
Among the items mentioned in Wash
lngton's VIII was stock in the Dismal
swamp Land Company and IN the Ma
uonal lntellgencer, Of this city. In 1925
the sale OF shares in this land company
was advertised. to be held in Alexandria
oy order Of the executors, Bushrod Wash
ington and Laurence Lewis. Il was fur
ther stated that the dividends paid had
been very considerable" The stock did
not seem 20 find ready sale, for the auc-
uon was postponed several times. One
wonders about this land company where
there was little but water. Probably the
riparian rights and the cypress trees lureG
the investors. or II might have been
plan 10 bull the ouinine market by pro-
noting the spread Of malaria.
Washington owned some land IN this
city. but he bought az the wrong time,
when land was inflated on Capitol Hi,
ana held Il so high that would-be pur-
chasers went westward 10 invest. instead.
II was STATED recently that those two lots
were not now worth what Washington
paid for them, sut realty : sooming all
over the city beautifui. this is no
longer q fact.
Now that there is a plan about to be
consummated 10 readmit Alexandria into
the enjoyment Of the privilege OF belong
Ing 70 the District OF Columbia. the
shades Of the 222 broad-minded citizens
OF the county of Alexandria who IN 1886
waged a losing fight against reuocesslon
must be well pleased. If mundane affairs
interest them. Hardly ever IN it's history
has there been as much feeling as during
the campaign that year on the question.
To be or not to be" divorced from its
distinguished but rather Overshadowing
neighbor. A paper Of the period quantity
remarks: This subject leads 20 admir-
able speaking on the hustings." The mi
nority party had flags displayed wherever
possible. bearing the words. What Wash
ington has done. let no man undo" Ger
tainly the banners We're truthful In call
ing TIE act Of making the District OF
Columbia 70 include Alexandria Washing
tons. for II was he who made proclama-
tion from Philadelphia that, after duly
examining and weighing the several stu
tiOns he had thrown the Federal
territory across the Potomac from Alex
andria.' The FIRST dedlcetory act or
the marking the Federal territory oc-
CURED very near 10 Alexandra, at Jones
Point. where the cornerstone was laid
with great rejoicings and fne Masonic
ceremony. Daniel Carroll and Davis STU
art placed the stone. and because in those
days Of healthy morality II was the fash
ions II nothing more. 10 call for divine
assistance on all public undertakings. a
sermon was preached by the eloquent
James Muir
II seems odd 20 understand why or how
Alexandria can be regarded as inside Of
the original survey, Il seems 50 far away,
10 the average mind. bat as giving a real
idea % the bulk Of a Ten miles square
area If the Washington Monument is,
taken as the hub OF the plain. Il VIII
be easier Of comprehension. 1nis point
was nesr the center. according TO the
original plan, Tor Andrew EllicOtt set up
mound and stone 10 mark the point or
center OF the area This mound remained
until lS1o. when the leyeling Of the city
and filing OF holes began. and Gen. Bah
cock thought the mound and stone a base
90 hold a derrick 20 hoist things 70 the
Washington Monument, and very insight
iy, so he ordered IL carted away.
There was once an Engl!shman named
Charles Janson. bitten in speculation in
American land. for the founding OF the
Federal city had a great influence on the
London money market and much money
changed hands over the affair on the
other side of the Atlantic WeR,- this
gentleman had HIS revenge in writing a
book OF impressions Of America. and he
was as pessimlstic about WASHINGTON city
as was Moore two years carrier and some
ot our other literary visitors OF more
recent times. Mr.. Janson declared LAT
1t will never become a place Of COM
merce or importance while Alexandria lies
on one side and Baltimore on the other.
The gentleman further states that "the
choice Of the site Of the Federal city.
TN my opinion, was made, and the Capitol
built In the center OF the United States"
And this quality Of seeing no further than
the visitors ncse is not yet outgrown!