The Dolores star., 1921-02-18

the servant TO remind him that it was time to go
by leading up the horse and handing the bride
reins to him. The members of Washingtons
family. the local historian relates. always came
up in n large coach drawn by four horses II the
roads heavy Not nfrequently neighbors
guests in the coach
Another favorlte rendezvous in Alexandria tor
s!ghseers Is the room occupied by the Masonic
lodge named for Washington. This lodge still
tiourishes There one may look upon the chair
In which Washington sat when he presided over
the lodge of which he was master. also the Ma
sonic apron he wore, his wedding gloves, pair
OF spurs he wore. 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-
dra is the Carlyle house. This structure
there when Washington was young man. In
colonial days 1t was one of the bestknown 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
torans say. present at any unusual event.
General Braddock had his headquarters In the
old hotel when he proceeding against the
French and Indians. Making ones way back to
the capital city tine Alexandria Arlington
road numerous landmarks may be seen. 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 n 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 ud-
vantage-a magnificent reminder of the good
works Of typical American. This monument
Is hitting companion piece for the great me-
mortal to Abraham Lincoln soon to be dedicated.
1t speaks of the founder of the Republic; the
other of the saviour of the Republic.
Ma niapts "A h.fn
ington monument was conceived and work 1t
begun. AT the close of the Revolution the Con
tnental congress recommended the erection Of an
equestrian statue to Washington. Immediately
after his death the congress, sitting In Phadel-
phia voted to erect monument under which
he should be buried. Another project was to make
the Capitol building memorial to him. Tray
elers may to this day have a peep at vaulted
chamber directly under the rotunda Of the Capitol
which was designed as resting place for the
body Of Washington.
The Washington monument is the most con-
splcuous work Of man at the national capital
The dome of the Capitol and dome Of the Con-
gresslonal library and the new Lincoln memorial
stand out with bodness, but the monument over.
tops them. On clear day the monument NAV
be seen from the crest Of the Blue Ridge noun
talns As miles away. The memorial had its In.
ceptOn In the minds OF patriotic people who
formed the Washington Memorial association II
proposed to charge a membership fee of 81
and the money thus contributed 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 as II this project
too would have to be abandoned.
Finally In 1S4S congress voted site. The
spot chosen had been marked by Washington
himself a monument to the Revolution which
he hoped would sometime be built. The work of
erecting the monument proceeded slowly It had
reached a height of 178 feet when the Civil war
came on. 1t was rooted over and stood untouched
until 1915 when congress again took hold and un.
der the spur Of congressional action It was CON.
pleted In 1885
The height Of the monument Is 555 feet and
Inches. From the lookout the top the view Of
the national capital and its envrons fascnates a
million persons a year.
Other unpretentious memorials Of Washington
are to be seen In the national capl:aL