The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-26
The Tomb of Washington
Some Reflections by Charles Brooks Smith Inspired by
Visit to Mount Vernon on Last
Fahr1,ar ~, o0nd
(5H coNpo.1
February 22nd.

WASHINGTON. d: ca Feb. 90
An army of Westinghouse trooped
down to Mount Vernon on Washing
tons birthday and, with hats in hand,
bowed heads and hearts beating with
a high thrill which is felt no where
else than in the presence of the tomb
Of the Father of His Country, looked
reverently through the iron gratings
upon the stone sarcophagi which con.
tain the bodies of George and Martha
Washington. There were beautiful
wreaths of fresh flowers upon each.
With Representative woodward, who
slipped away from the House while
the farewell address was being read
by Representative Nicely, and eulogies
were being delivered by various men,
bers, We joined the steady flowing
stream of patriotic pilgrims to our
country's greatest National Shrine.
Mount Vernon is the greatest sight
that visit to the city Of Washington
has to offer any American citizen. All
others are decidedly secondary in i'm.
portance. AS a great estate it would
attract visitors for its many beautiful
aspects, and its arrangements along
colonial lines. But it's the historic
associations, and the tomb Of Wash
ington, which thrill the heart of every
visitor as no mere beautiful landscape
can charm the eye.
Any one who has visited Mount Yer
non. wandered through the colonial
halls of the great mansion and stood
before Washington's tomb knows that
he has never experienced such feel
ing of exaltation as he did then. 1t is
a thing that had never occurred to him
before, or anywhere else since. 1t can
happen to him there and only there.
have heard 1t discussed many times by
many people. and psychologist lee.
turer, heard recently, talked about 1t
analytically, yet most Interestingly.
From the great number of people
who visit Mount Vernon every year,
one would suppose that nobody in
Washington, or who visits the city,
but has visited these once. There are
lots of people in this city, residents for
years, who have never done so. There
are people who come to Washington
time and again who have never set
foot upon the sacred soil of that shrine.
On the other hand, there are thou
sands Of Washingtonians who make 4
pilgrimage to Mount Vernon not only
once but several times year. It sat
isfies something within them like a
visit to the altar of dim and silent
church feeds the hungering souls of
others. Then, there are thousands of
visitors who come to Washington with
a visit to Mount Vernon as the first
and principal item on their program.
In these war.mad times a visit to
Washington's home and tomb is Of
greatest significance to the pilgrim
than ever. To Washington our threat
ened nation just now is turning for
guidance. The founder Of the Repub-
lie is being quoted by speakers and
writer's everywhere. The reading Of
his Farewell Address in the Senate
and House on Thursday was never
more solemn. Save for the voice of
the reader, there was breathless.
deathlike, almost oppressive quiet as
If the presence of great spirit hover
ing over the assemblage. I'm the
presence of Washington he ever stood
in ave-" said Robert Morris, one OF
the leading patriots OF the Revolutiti I.
DOWu luS ulll anu olOuhN . pSAS
to the east, in clump Of great trees
is the tomb, squatty brick structure
planned by Washington himself and
constructed under his direction. There
have been some changes made since,
but not to change the general plan of
architecture, which is very simple.
Through the iron gates one sees the
sarcophagi containing the coffins OF
George and Martha. Back of that one
is told there is large compartment
in which are the bodies of members of
the Washington family Of direct line
age. Martha is the only one not OF the
Washington blood whose body rests
within the tomb. The or; res Of her
daughter and the latter's husband and
others of the family relationship. but
not of Washington blood, are outside.
There are benches in the space in front