Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-16
Rv Frederic /. Haskin.


Washington. d. =, Aug. ls.-Is Ar.
lington Mansion. oare and gloomy
since Lee rode away, again to be
turned into the sernulance of a beauti-
full colonial home, with its relics OF
Washington, Custis, and Lee re-
stored?
Arlington was stripped of its souven-
irs of George Washington, its works
OF art, and its furniture in the eX
citing Civil War days. Priceless rel
les, left unguarded, were somehow
stolen by vandal amp followers. >Sol-
1 diers quartered about the grounds had
opportunity to buy tor a song, or even
to take without price, souvenirs TO
send back home. What was left of the
Washington things was finally car
whence the exhibits later found their
way into the National Museum and to
Mount Vernon.
General MeiGs, once Robert P. Lees
intimate friend, was so embittered by
Lees allegiance 20 his state that he
mansion be used as the Lee home
stead To insure this, he ordered
graves dug on the grounds for the
Union dead and Arlington became a
deserted. save Tor certain rooms set
aside for the use of the superintend-
ent of the cemetery.
Meigs' vow will always hold. The
mansion can never again he the real
colonial home eft hy Lees family
Thousands of stones dot the lawns Of
the Arlington estate. even close TO the
homestead But Arlington Mansion
can be made into museum. like
Mount Vernon. II great historic value
and sentimental interest The idea OF
attempting this has been proposed by
4 Virginia chapter Of the United
Daughters Of the Confederacy, and
the plan is TO be discussed at the an
nusl convention n the organization In
October, II the project is approved
there, it must then be submitted 10
the government
II the Daughters Of the Confeder-
acy agree IN the desire to restore Ar
linston House and take care Of a coll
think that congress would refuse con-
sent. Arlington is closely associated
not alone with Les. the southern hero.
but with many famous earlier char
acters. such as Lafayette and George
Washington Parke Gusts Washing
toms adopted son.
Built ny cu,t-
This CustIs was the builder of Ar
lington House. In l5f-, soon after Mrs
WashinEton's death, he left Mount
Vernon and superintended the build
ing OF a home fo- himself on 100
acres OF ground belonging 10 him at
Arlington, Virginia. The residence he
planned was similar TO a Greek temple
with eight or the huge pillars SO ad-
mired by the Colouiais, used TO form
a porticn,
Gustis ordered the house set on the
brow Of n hill so that II would over
look the capital The portico at Ad-
most beautiful outlook on the City
Of Washington. Lafayette. visiting Mr.
Custis al Arlington. declared IL one
Of the most beautiful views he had
ever looked upon. And another visitor
OF seventy years ago wrote
From the porticps brilliant pano-
rama is presented. The Capitol. ENecu-
tive Mansion. Smithsonian Institute.
the growing magnificent Washington
Monument. and almost every house in
the federal city may he seen NJ
glance from this point while between
them and Arlington Hovs the bright
food of the Potomac"
In his new home. George Washing
ton Parke Custis dispensed the same
lavish hospitality shat had been the
rule AZ Mount Vernon. His house was
furnished with taste and elegance
Many relics and furnishings of Mount
Vernon were left 10 him and trans
ferred 70 Arlington. and these we're
cherished by Custis and his guests as
things which the FIRST president had
used
Tho war tent which Washington car
/ ried thruout the Revolution was 50
greatly treasured that when Gusts
wished sirnally 10 honor any visitors
| he had tho war tent pitched on the
lawn and received them n it This
/ tent ls now IN a glass case in the Ma
| tional Museum The brown cloth i7
| folded IN several bundles and the poles
/ lie on top
Another Arlington souvenir ~ equal
/ historic value was WaEhinEton'F bed
/ The same writer .gho 90 ~ividlv de
| -crihod the view from the porticn has
/ this 70 say
| In ono OF the chambers at Airing
ton House IL tho Ssd and bodatead up-
lon which Washington slept A.
/ Mount Vernon. laf whercon he OK
plred The frame is remarkable for its
F'eot width. being siy feet. r was
made with other furniture In New
/ York IN fTsa and was IN continual use
| hy tho Patriot until the day or his
death. Tho bod and bedding remain IN
| precisely tho same condition as when
/ the good man left Il for his hnhl rcst-
This he'd is NOW IT Mount Vernon.
o,hrr Washington neiics
custis had many other belongings n
/ the Washington family-Euch fhlnFF
had given 10 Sol'ie Cus'is AZ Mount
Vernon. a heavy nuie Iron Ghost with
three padiocEE and two bolts tn which
NrF. Washington sapt money and val
ushles. silver tea service from which
tho first president was raid 20 have
served all fhe EroIt men ~ the dsv.
beautiful vases. tho sits m admirers.
and valuable old rortralta Of Washing
ton and his family
Among these portraits GUSTS owned
tho ShnrrierH profile painting %
SCIENCE CAN