The Holbrook news., 1921-02-18

the servant to remind him that 1t was time to go by leading up the horse and handing the bridle reins to him. The members of Washington family. the local historian relates always came up in large coach drawn by four horses if the roads heavy. Not infrequent1y neighborS were guests in the coach.
 Another favorite rendezvous in Alexandria for sightseers is the room occupied by the Masonic lodge named for Washington. This lodge still hourishes. There one may look upon the chair in which Washington sat when he presided over the lodge of which he master, also the Ma sonic apron he wore, his wedding gloves, pair of spurs he wore a pruning knife he used on the Mount Vernon plantation, and a penknife which his mother gave him when he was boy And there Is to be seen In the old lodge room the last authentic painting of him, pastel from life made by William Williams of Philadelphia.
 Another old Washington landmark In Alexan- dria is the Carlyle house. This structure was there when Washington was young man. In colonial days 1t was one of the best-known hotels in Virginia. The fine folks of the Old Dominion gathered there for balls and dinners and for good times generally, and Washington the local his torians say, present at any unusual event. General Braddock had his headquarters in the old hotel when he was proceeding against the French and Indians. Making ones way back to the capital city over the lAlexandria-A Arlington road numerous landmarks may be This highway leads by Arlington, the resting place of the nations heroes and to Georgetown.
 As this old highway brings the traveller around the brow of hill four miles southwest of the national capital the Washington monument looms up across the low land and the Potomac river. From point in the environs of the national capital does the monument appear to greater ad- vantage-a magnificent reminder of the good works of one typical American. This monument is a fitting companion piece for the great me moriaI to Abraham Lincoln soon to be dedicated It speaks of the founder of the Republic; the other of the saviour of the Republic.
 Many projects were discussed before the Wash ington monument was conceived and work on it begun. At the close of the Revolution the Con- tinental congress recommended the erection of an equestrian statue to Washington. Immediately after his death the congress, sitting in Phiadel- phia, voted to erect a monument under which he should be buried. Another project was to make the Capitol building a memorial to him. Trav- elers may to this day have a peep at vaulted chamber directly under the rotunda of the Capitol which designed as resting place for the body of Washington.
 The Washington monument Is the most con- spicuous work of man at the national capital. The dome of the Capitol and dome of the Con- gressional library and the new Lincoln memorial stand out with boldness, but the monument over tops them. On clear day the monument may be seen from the crest of the Blue Ridge noun tains 45 miles away. The memorial had its in- ception in the minds of patriotic people who formed the Washington Memorial association. It was proposed to charge membership fee of $1 and the money thus contributed was to be used in the erection of suitable monument to the hero of the Revolution. The money came in slowly and 1t looked at times If this project too would have to be abandoned
 Finally in 1S4S congress voted a site. The spot chosen had been marked by Washington himself as a monument to the Revolution which he hoped would sometime be built The work of erecting the monument proceeded slowly. It had reached height of 178 feet when the Civil war came on. It was roofed over and stood untouched until 1R76 when congress again took hold and un- der the spur of congressional action 1t was com pleted in 1885.
 The height of the monument is 555 feet and 5 inches From the lookout the top the view of the national capital and it's environs fascnates a million persons year.
 Other unpretentious memorials of Washington are to be seen in the national capital.