The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-12-10
MOUNT vERSON

MOUNT vernon nave Deen much the
same as a great many other people,
and though | have been there time and
again, an invisible something bids me
to return-it is a magnet: | merely a
needle. The sweet abiding peace OF
Mount Vernon is a fitting reminder
that though the master of the place
has been dead for more than a cen
fury, his achievements are ~unequalea
in the history of the world. A nation
that always will endearingly call him
the Father of His Country" now
sends its pilgrims to Mount Vernon,
and they travel along the paths that
Washington planned, or about the
grounds he loved, and they will toll
you that they experience an unusual
contentment and freedom from the
practical and troublesome problems of
life. Familiarity with these scenes
appears to intensity the romance and
sanctity that hover about the house Of
Washington.
| believe in the advice: See every
thing once-and | have put it into
practice. Many good things worth see
ing cnce are worth seeing twice, and
occasionally things worth seeing twice
will stand still another inspection. But
go as many times as you wish, and
you will always feel an unexplainablc
serenity and peace when you pass
within the gates of Mount Vernon.
II is a steep climb up from the docks
TO the buildings. Besides the old col
onial mansion there is the spinning
house. where much material was pre-
pared for clothing the servants, ard
where rage carpets and other fabrics
were rover for the use of the family.
Flax. cotton, wool and silk were out
through the various processes. There
are also the coach house, office, stable,
smoke house. laundry. butchers house,
carpenter shop, ice house, seed house,
gardeners lodge. and the servants
quarters. all painted spotlessly white.
Nature has done a great deal for the
scene, and from the Virginia hill the
outlook up the Potomac, and across
the broad river on the Maryland shore,
was located and is still pre-
served the country place of John Mar
shall, the first Chief Justice of the
United States, is all in harmony with
the simple grandeur that surrounds
the spot where lived George and
Martha Washington. But withal, the
associations are what lend the in
tense interest and affection that at
to the place, for had Mount
Vernon been anything else but the
home of Washington It would pass
simply as a mice old country place"
a recall a thousand big sights
and experiences of first magnitude,
and in our W domain they include
the Maine woods, the roaring Niagara,
the Great Lakes, the Rocky Noun
tains; dips in the Atlantic, the Pa
cifc. Lake Superior and the Gulf of
Mexico, a train ride through the Guile
bra Cut and a walk across the locks
at Gatun: stalking deer in the forests,
whipping the trout streams in the mid
die west, and hauling In the lines
while fishing off Cape Cod, or pulling
salmon from Lake Sebago. And then
there has been the laughter and gaiety
OF the Great White. Way" and long
years of life In the cities since l for
sock my country newspaper and the
charms of life among the best friends
! will ever know. Lastly, there is
Washington, my home--a great kale-
discopeic affair, a perpetual show and
museum, always filled with life and
things. In my own way l
ian harmonic all these, and they are
integral parts Of what might be term
ed the scheme of things" But Mount
furnishes a singular contras.
to all else, for its individual and pecul-
lar way of sending thrills through
ones system--it bids you pause in con
and perhaps you murmur
! silent prayer as. hat in hand, you
lean forward. proud of the
patriotic sensations you feel. and in
he knowledge that you are an Amer.
can, and are standing before your
,ountry's greatest shrine, your own
Eyes beholding the caskets within the
'omb that contain all that is mortal Of
George and Martha Washington.
At the well where Washington
Iuenched his thirst from a gourd, you
produce your modern sanitary cup,
ind drink the nectar supplied from
earth. In the mansion itself !
'ou marvel before the relics and me-
nentoes Of the Washington family.
md almost unconsciously exclaim:
There IL one of the ave
swords. with the injunc-
~ VUnah}nCfon that thov vorstl