Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-17

by a Virginia chapter Of the United
Daughters Of the confederscy, and the
plan IL TO be discussed at the annual
Of the organization In Ot-
tober. n the project is approved there.
It must then be submitted 70 the Gov
ernment
If the Daughters Of the Confederacy
agree In the desire to restore ArIing-
ton House and take care Of a coIlec-
ton there. there is no reason 10 think
thst Congress would refuse consent.
Arlington is closely associated not
alone with Ice, the southern hero. but
with many famous earlier characters.
such as Lafayett6 and George Wash
ington Parke rustis. Washingtons
adopted son.
Built by Cusiis.
This Custis was the builder Of Ar
linRton House. In 1902, COON after
Mrs. Washington's death, he left
Mount Vernon and superintended the
building Of home for himself on 100
acres Of ground belonging 10 him at
Arlington. Virginia The residence he
planned was similar to Greek temple.
with eight OF the huge pillars so adj
nlired BY the coIonials. used 70 form
porfico.
GUSTS <prlercd The house set on the
brow or hill so that it would over
look the Capital The portico at Ar
iington offers what IL perhaps the
most beautiful outlook on the city Of
Washington Lafayette. visiting Mr..
4..ft.x n
the most beautiful views he had ever
looked upon. And another visitor Of
seventy years ago wrote.
~From the portieo a brilliant pano-
rama Is presented. The Capitol, E.x-
ecutive Mansion, Smithsonian Insti-
tute, the growing magnificent Wash
irgton monument, and almost every
house in the Federal city may be seen
at glance from this point. while be-
tween them and Arlington flows the
bright flood of the .Pbtonlac.
In his new home. George Washing
ton Parke Custis dispensed the same
lavish hospitality that had been tht
rule at Mount Vernon. His house was
furnished with taste and elegance
Many relics and furnishings of Mount
v NEjIiDH were It'll " HittA til1 tAGt4a-
fsrred to Arlington. and these wers
cherished By Custis and his guests a.
things which the first President haC
used.
The war tent which Washington
carried throughout the Revolution
was so greatly treasured that whei
Gusts wished signally to honor an,
visitors he had the war tent pitches
on the lawn and received them in il
This tent is now in a glass case i
the National Museum. The brow
eleth is folded in several bundles. AM
the poles lie on top.
Another Arlington souvenir of equs
historic value was Washington's- bes
The same writer who SO vividiy de
scribed the view from the portieo ha
this TO say:
In one of the chambers at Airing
ton House is the bed and bedstea
upon which Washington slept a
Mount Vernon. and whereon he *
pired. The frame is remarkable fo
its great width. being six feet. 1t wa
made with other furniture in New Yor
in 1883 and was in continual use by tn
Patriot until the day of his death. Tn
bed and bedding remain in preciseI
the same condition as when the goo
man left 1t for his final resting place.
| This bed is now at Mount Vernon.
Other Washington Relics.
Custis had many other belonging
| Of the Washington family such thing
as the harpsicord which the Genera
had given to Nellie Custis at Noun
Vernon; a heavy little aron chest wit
three padlocks and two bolts in whicl
Mrs. Washington Kept money an
yaluables; a silver tea service fron
which the first President was said Z
have served all the great men of To
day: beautiful vases, the gifts OF ad
mirers; and valuable old portraits Q
Washington and his family.
Among these portraits Gusts owne'
and Sharpless profile painting Of Wash
ington regarded by many people as tn
i best likeness ever executed of the Gen
eral. But Gusts was not aitogethe
=; tisfied with the various likeness Q
his adopted father and had the anbitio'
/ 10 paint a fun length view of IN
great man that would settle for pos
terity all questions as 10 his face an
fsgure He did indeed make the paint
ing, showing the General leanin
against his horse at Yorktown
custIs' intentions were good, but hi
lack Of training prevented his attempt
lat historic paintings from having tn
bvalue he felt sure they would have
The amateur painter was not daunte
by technical difficulties. however, bu
proceeded To turn out half doze
| Revolutionary battle scenes wit
Il Washington prominent in the fore
ground. and then to decorate the wall
OF the house with murals. Traces {
one of these wall paintings, a hunt
ing scene. may still be seen in the rea
hall of Arlington House.
The heiflooms of Arlington passei
on to the Lees when Gusts died i
i 1857. Robert E. Lee had marie
i Gusts daughter and at Custis' wis
:. the young couple set up housekeepin