Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-06
ToMss OF PRESIDENTS.
United States Has Done Little
Honor Their Resting Places.


Presidents cannot be Kept very long
after they are dead-"we are but NOR
tails, after ALL Even their initials are
often forgotten, The chances are that
six and a quarter men out of every
ten if they were asked suddenly what
were the initials of President Harrison
would answer, Benjamin H. just as
thousands, even now while he Tags
superfiuous on the stage" think that
the only living eX-President Is T. r.
Roosevelt. Mr.. Watterson himself is
often written Henry w. Watterson,
and George Brinton Mcclellan Harvey
Is simply known as George, says j. c.
II. in the Arkansas Gazette.
Mrs. Martin Littleton's active cam
paign for the recovery of Monticello
does not touch directly the question,
what shall we do with our Presi-
deutsY' but Il suggests inquiry into
what we have done with them after
they have 'shuffled off this mortal
COLI" and it must be said that the
nation has done very little in their
honor-in most cases it has not pro-
vided for their sepulchre of any ade-
auate monuments to their memory.
The former Presidents are buried in
all sorts of odd places-in country
churchyards. in city cemeteries, in
vaults of massive masonry, in .leaden
Baskets and in plain collins. after the
manner of the plain people from whom
they sprang-these imperious Caesars.
so to say. dead and turned to clay"
who might stop hole to keep the
wind away'-this phantom caravan"
that has reach'd the nothing it set
out from
Why not dig up the bones of Thomas
Jefferson-which have been resting in
the grave chosen by himself at Mon
ticeilo, his home in Virginia, for SO
years-and re-inter them in the Ma
tional Cemetery at Arlington? That
would dispose finally and in the most
effective way of the question of seettr-
ing BY gift or purchase the home of
Jefferson for a national shrine With
out his. dust his former place of resi-
dence would lose its chief interest to
the American people who would do
him honor. Buried again at Arlington.
still iii the soil of the commonwealth
which he served so steadfastly, his
resting place would be a national
charge, a sentimental spot within easy
reach of the National Capital. to which
all pilgrims to the heart of the coun
try could readily resort and pay their
vows TO the Father of American De-
mocraey.
Washington is buried at Mount Yer
non, his estate situated on the south
ern bank of The Potomac river, and 10
miles distant from the National Capt.
tai. His monument is not one of the
most imposing of the memorials to the
Presidents, but it is the most impress
sive because of its simple dignity. The
tomb is a brick structure. Il feet high,
entrance to which is provided through
an iron gateway. fianked by pilasters.
and on the arch surrounding the gate
way there is this inscription. WITHIN
the enclosure rest the remains of Gen.
Washington. In plain marble sar-
ssarcophagus placed in the ante-eham
Der OF the tomb rests the remains of
Washington. This sarcophagus was
fashioned by John Struthers of Phila-
delphia, from u design made by Will
liam Strickland Another severely
plain sarcophagus Of the same work
manship and design and containing
the remains of Martha Washington
stands in the tomb hard bv that of
her iffustricus husband. These sarco
phagi were presented to Mr. strick-
land 10 the relatives of Washington.
The grave of Washington and his
home at Mount Vernon are under the
protection of the Mount Vernon Asso-
citation, composed of women from all
the original Is states, and are we'll
cared for as patriotic duty by these
women as a shrine to which lovers of
the country Journey, every year to pay
their vows and catch fresh inspira
ton meditating upon the virtues of the
Father of His Country.