The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-10-22
[BY MRS. NJ. ID. FRITZ

reads: Beneath this stone repose
the bones OF two thousand one hun
dred and eleven unknown soldiers
gathered after the war from the fields
OF Bull Run and the route to the Rap
pahannock. Their remains could not
be identified, but their names and
deaths are recorded in the archives
OF their country, and its grateful clti-
Gems honor them as OF their noble
army OF martyrs. May they rest I'm
peace"
Near this stands the monument
erected to the memory or Colonel
John Tourtellotte of the Fourth Min
nesota, and well remembered by our
old settlers. Il would take too much
space to attempt to tell OF this in
teresting place sacred to the heart Of
every loyal patriotic citizen. The
| cemetery Is composed OF $50 acres
and was purchased at a cost OF $685.
900. There are 1,275 graves OF our
| boys in one group and 500 In another
OF colored soldiers who lost their
lives In the war with Spain In 1898.
The hull OF the Maine" rests over the
| bodies of 26S more American boys.
At present the government Is erect
ing an Amphitheatre for the use of
| the Grand Army on Memorial day
and other military gatherings. at u
cost of one million dollars.
The newest made graves were
those OF the four submarine victims
OF the IA, which went down off the
coast of Honolulu. They were buried
with military honors the day we ar
rived in Washington, the funeral cor
tage passing up Pennsylvania avenue
with each casket on q seperate flu
neral car, laden with flowers.
The next day we went to beauu-
full Mount Vernon, q spot which
should be visited by every American.
II gives one a different vision OF our
country's history and reminds us that
we are not Goddess or ungrateful ma
ton. but on the contrary our govern
ment has and Is now spending mil
lions OF dollars to perpetuate the
memory OF her citizens who are
worthy of such honor.
The old mansion OF George and
Martha Washington has been re-
stored to its original condition by the
ID. A. r. and much credit is due
them for the stupendous task they
have performed and the splendid
work they are still doing at Mount
Vernon. There are eighteen rooms
of which twelve are bed rooms. The
beds are nearly all of mahogany and
have canopy tops. General Iafay-
cites room is of special interest and
all women love to visit, the room once
occupied by pretty Nellie Custis.
daughteroof Martha Whshingtonl who
was adopted by her illustrous step
father Her piano and much of her
wearing apparel have been so we'll
cared for fthatift does not seem pos!
sible that over "a century had passed
since she wore them. i"tHt+ 'oE .b!"
The Washington tomb back Of the
mansion and on the bank OF the iPo-
tonac Is the mecca for all who make
the pilgrimage to this ancient and
historical spot. The only inscription
reads: within this enclosure rest
the remains of General George Wash
ington." The casket of Martha Wash
ington stands beside that OF her hus-
band. The remains OF thirty Of uen-
eral Washington's blood relations are
in a rear vault and cannot be seen.
Nellie Gusts Lee and her daughter
are buried Just outside of the tomb,
and their graves properly marked.
An old colored man whose grand
parents were servants of General
Washington, was on guard at the
tomb when we were there. He was
very intelligent and told us many in
teresting traditional stories connect
ed with the life OF our first presi-
dent.
The brick barn which was built in
1882 is in a good state of preserva-
ton, the mortar having been mixed
with ground oyster shells.
One of the most beautiful and
striking features about the premises
is the English lockwood hedge which
was planted one hundred and fifty
years ago, and the oak-lea Hyda-
rangeas planted by Lafayette In
1924. when he made his headquarters
| there.
The toothless old guard who ad-
mitted us to the grounds said he had
lived under those trees since 1886
and certainly looked Il.
On our return to Washington. ID.
c., we stopped in the historical old
city OF Alexandria, Va, and visited
the Masonic lodge room where Gen.
eral Washington presided as wor-
shipful master. The walls of the
lodge and ante-rooms are covered
with glass cases filled with historical
relics of both Washington and La
fayette. Theodore Havermeyer. the
sugar king has recently offered this
lodge one hundred thousand dollars
for a portrait OF Washington which
hangs on the wall and was painted
from life by a French artist who was
initiated into this lodge. This pic
ture shows a wart under one ear and
a scar on the other side OF his face
and Is not nearly as handsome and
dapper looking as the pictures we are
accustomed to see of him. will not
attempt to tell here OF the many in
teresting relics I'm this ancient Ma
sonic temple. We were cordially in
vited to remain that evening and at
tend meeting of the Eastern Star.
but lack Of time prevented. and we
reluctantly declined
We visited many of the govern
ment buildings and found them full
of interest and left Washington for
New York, feeling that we had seen