The Republican journal., 1911-06-08
an. Ann PAMELA Cunningham, the Mt.

and succeeded in raising the necessary
sum. The Mt. Vernon estate, formerly
comprising 5000 acres, now contains
only 237 1-2 acres. The Mansion House,
built of wood, cut and painted to re-
semble stone, overlooks the Potomac
river. When the property came into the
possession of the association the man.
sion and other buildings were unfurnish-
ed, but the society's aim to restore the
house furnishings as in Washington
time has met with decided success, and
through purchase, gift or loan many ar
ticles of original furniture and personal
effects have been recovered. In front
of the house are shaded lawns and a deer
park below; in the rear are lawns, gar
dens and orchards, and about the grounds
the out-buildings of Virginia farm, in
Guiding a kitchen, buffers house, smoke
house, laundry and coach house in
which reproduction Of Washington
old coach was seen. According to his
diary many of the old trees on the drive
way were planted by Washington or his
guests, and large magnolia tree near
the buffers house was planted by Wash
ington the year in which he died. In the
central hall of the mansion we saw the
key of the old French Bastille, presented
by Lafayette to Washington, and also
three swords bequeathed by Washington
to each of his nephews, with the injunc-
ton: "Not to unsheathe them for the
purpose of shedding blood, except it be in
self-defence or in the defence of their
country and its rights, and in the latter
case to keep them unsheathed and pre-
fer falling with them in their hands to
the accomplishments thereof In Mel
lie Gusts room was seen the harpsichord
which General Washington presented to
her as wedding gift, imported from
London at cost of 81 200. The room in
which Washington died deservedly at
tracted special notice and here was seen
the very bed on which the great general
died, his mothers large covered arm
chair his military trunk and other per-
sonal effects belonging to him. Follow
ing a custom at that time observed,
Washington bedroom was closed after
his death and his widow selected an at
tic room because from its window she
could look out upon her husbands tomb.
The tomb of Washington is made of
brick without ornament. Above the
arched gateway is inscribed in marble,
''Within this inclosure rest the remains
of General George Washington. With
in the iron portals are seen the two
marble sarcophagi Of George Washing
ton and his wife, Martha Washington.
An old colored man employed on the
grounds informed us that after the bodies
had been deposited in the vault the key
of the vault was cast into the Potomac.
On our return to Washington, on leaving
the car we listened to concert by the
marine band known as the president S
Own on Potomac Drive.
were glad to return to the hotel for
dinner but about seven in the evening we
again struck out, this time for the Con-
gressional Library, and were more than
repaid for our trouble. The library was
recently completed after ten years of
labor at cost of over So, 900, 900 and is
considered the largest, costliest and finest
library building in the world. The build
ing itself occupies ga acres and is built
of white granite from New Hampshire.
In the. windows of the corner pavilion and
of the west facade are carved heads
representing the thirty three types Of
man. The entrance hall to this superb
building has been styled ga vision in pol
ished stone" The architects, painters
and sculptors are all Americans, which
gives an American feeling of patriotic
pride. The Representative and Senate
reading rooms were visited, also the gen
eral reading room in the rotunda. In the
southwest gallery overlooking the read
ing room were seen sculptured figures of
world amous men.
Sunday morning we visited the Cor
coran gallery Of Art, building of white
marble, founded and endowed by the late
William W. Corcoran. Here were seen
casts of ancient sculptures, amagnificent
collection of bronzes and valuable collect
ions of paintings, including the portraits
of Presidents.
Sunday afternoon we rode out to the
Geological Gardens, maintained by the
Smithsonian Institution for the purpose
Of collecting and preserving our national
fauna. In an immense cage we saw birds
of every cline. Here were storks and a
blue heron who gave US "waltz." Pea
cocks roamed around unrestrained and
spread their beautiful plumage for our
admiration. In the buildings we saw
monkeys, lions and many strange animals
which we never knew existed. Two of
our party got so intensely interested in
the bears that they were left behind.
Greatly impressed by the grandeur Of
the library some of our party again visit
ed it Sunday evening and in the news
paper room read the Belfast news in the
MI, Of fho