Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-18

| ed on the lawn and received them in it, This
tent is now in a glass case in the National
Museum. The brown cloth is folded in sew
eral bundles and the poles lie on top
Another Arlington souvenir of equal his
tor1c value was Washington's bed. The same
writer who so wildly described the view from
the portico has this to say:
In one of the chambers at Arlington
House is the bed and bedstead upon which
Washington slept at Mount Vernon, and
Whereon he expired. The frame is remark
able for its great width, being six feet 1t was
made with other furniture in New York in
1889 and was in continual use by the Patriot
until the day of his death. The bed and
bedding remain in precisely the same condi-
ton as when the good man left it for his fl
nal resting place."
Ihls bed is now at Mount Vernon.
Other Washington Relics
GUSTS had many other belongings of the
Washington family-such things as the harp
sichord which the General had given to Mel
lie GUSTS at Mount Vernon; heavy little
iron chest with three padlocks and two bolts
in which Mrs Washington kept money and
valuables; silver tea service from which
the first President vas said to have served
all the great men of the day; beautiful vases,
the gifts of admirers, and valuable old por-
traits of Washington and his family.
Among these portraits GUSTS owned the
Sharpless profile painting Of Washington re-
garded by many people as the best likeness
ever executed of the General. But Custis was
not altogether satisfied with the various like
nesses of his adopted father and had the am
bition to paint full length view of the great
man that would settle for posterity all ques-
lions as to his face and figure. He did indeed
make the painting, showing the General lean
ing against his horse at Yorktown.
Custis' intentions were good, but his lack
of training prevented his attempts at his
toric paintings from having the value he felt
/
was not daunted by technical difficulties
however, but proceeded to turn out half a
dozen Revolutionary battle scenes with Wash
ington prominent in the foreground, and
then to decorate the walls of the house with
murals Traces of one of these wall paint
| ings, a hunting scene, may still be seen in
the rear hall of Arlington House.
The heirlooms of Arlington passed on to
the Lees when Custis died in 1857 Robert
E. Lee had married Custis' daughter and at
Custis' wish the young couple set up house
keeping at Arlington rather than at Lees
| own home. Whatever souvenirs Of Lees
stay at Arlington are stiTl in existence there
fore, are largely personal belongings.
If the Daughters of the Confederacy do un-
dertake to establish a museum at Arlington,
members Of the Lee and GUSTS families and
others who have relics from Arlington House
would be the only source from which exhibits
can be obtained. number of the Washing
ton exhibits in the National Museum are la
beled Lent by Miss Mary GUSTS Lee" They
are not, therefore, the permanent property
of the museum.
Although Arlington is across the Potomac
from Washington, it is as much visited as the
sights in the heart of the city. The graves
and monuments of both northern and south
ern forces of the Civil War, those of the
Spanish War, and now the graves of the
European War dead attract many
The Mansion has always been one of the
de- VICE
registers with their names Except for the
table on which the register stands, the rooms
which are open to visitors are bare.
Arlington is far from forgotten, but it is
remembered as desolate, echoing house. 1t
is difficult to believe that GUSTS built din
ing-room and dancing pavilion on the lawn by
his spring and invited picnic crowds to come
and enjoy the wooded grounds of the Airing
ton estate. 1t is hard to imagine the clean
swept halls Of Arlington fitted out with old
mahogany and silver imported china, chintz,
and brocades. Yet, this is Arlington House
as it was-and as it may be if restored.