The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-11-20
IFOch AT Tomb
OF Washington
(By J. +. Rankin, NJ. ca.


! ed on this continent, when Marshal
Foch, the veteraned leader Of the al
/. lied armies in the World War, paid
, his respects to the memory Of the
"Father of His Country" Without
military pomp or affected ostentationi
: this celebrated hero who, less than
three years ago, commanded the
greatest army the world has ever
seen, visited the tomb Of Washington
and placed floral wreath above the
remains of Americas most distingu-
ished patriot.
Congress was not in session, the
House having adjourned on Friday
over till Monday, and Mrs. Rankin
and had gone out to Mount Vernon
with a party of friends who wished to
see the Washington home. The old
darkey, who watches the vault in
which rests the remains of General
and Mrs Washington, informed US in
q spirit of confidence that Marshal
Foch would more than likely come out
some time during the day to visit the
home and pay his respects to Wash
4 ington's memory. AS we turned to
leave he called our attention to a
couple Of photographers who had ar
rived and were adjusting their instru-
ments, and alluded to the fact, as al
most positive evidence that the dis
tinguished Frenchman was on his
way.
We then decided to wait and get a
glimpse Of the MAN of the Hour" in
the worlds greatest tragedy. While
we were waiting the old darkey en-
lightened us with a lecture on the
various and sundry objects of import
ance connected with Mt. Vernon, in
Guiding himself. He said his ancestors
belonged to General Washington, but
that he himself was reared in an adj
joining county, which he described as
the garden" spot of the world; that
he had been on the estate for great
many years and was familiar with
every foot of its ground and every in
cident of its history. While engaged
in this monologue, he glanced around
at several young men who had APP
preached the double iron gates of the
vault and were looking in at the tomb
Of Washington, upon which rested o
beautiful floral tribute recently plac-
ed there by General Diaz, of Italy,
and seeing that the boys wore their
hats, the humble old servant said in
a quiet, courteous tOne Gentlemen,
please remove your hats in the pre-
ssnce of the Father Of His Country"
He then continued his discourse as
if nothing unusual had happened,
pointing out and naming the different
trees nearby that had been planted
by distinguished hands. An acacia
bush that had been planted near the
tomb by some noted visitor, he said,
had come from the Holy Land; a
European fir tree, just to the right of
the walk that led down to the boat
landing, was planted by the Prince of
Wales; beautiful maple with
spreading boughs and brilliant foliage
was placed there by Ii Hung Chang,
the noted Chinese statesman. Another
one was planted by Grover Cleveland,
another by Theodore Roosevelt and
Others by various and sundry persons
of distinction from all parts of the
earth.
While he was thus entertaining us,
some one announced that General
Foeh had arrived and was going
through the mansion, and in a very
few minutes we saw the famous visit
or and his small party coming brisk
~ down the walk. He was dressed
in grey uniform that gave him some
what the appearance of Confederate
soldier, with laced boots and a brilli-I
ant red cap. His strong face wore a
sublime expression of profound solem-
nifty as he passed through the open
gate and quietly laid wreath Of
flowers upon the marble casket. |
leaned forward and peered into the
somber silence of that vault, and as i
did, looked upon one of the most
screnely inspiring pictures that had
ever met the gaze Of mortal man.
There in the twilight of the tomb
the greatest soldier Of the twentieth
century stood with bowed, uncover
ed head above the remains OF the
greatest figure of the new world ms
lips moving in silent supplicatlon'
Words cannot describe that scene
The camera could not penetrate the
shodows of the dusky precinct and
unfortunately. there was no painter
present who possessed the genius to
reproduce it on his canvas. give II
to the world and transmit It to the
yet to come.
He turned and left the vault, hast- |
ly inspected the surroundings and DC
gan TO retrace his steps to where ms
car was waiting to carry him back to
With boyish interest and
enthusiasm, he seemed to observe /
everything in sight. As he passed the
old carriage house. he turned aside
and placed his hands up to his face
to shade them from the light while
he looked in on the eumbrous vehicle
driven By Washington a century and
a quarter ago. He went from there
Ia tbe ola titrban and as he wound