Cheyenne record., 1921-02-17

the servant to remind him that it was time to 60
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 a large coach drawn by four horses If the
roads heavy. Not infreQuently neighbors
were guests in the coach.
Another favorite rendezvous in Alexandria for
sghtseers is the room occupied by the Masonic
lodge named for Washington. This lodge still
fourishes. There 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, a pair
of spurs he wore, q pruning knife he used on
the Mount Vernon plantation, and a penknife
which his mother gave him when he was a 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-
dria is the Carlyle house. This structure was
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
torlans say, was present at any unusual event.
General BraGdock had his headquarters in the
old hotel when he proceeding against the
French and Indians Making ones way back to
the capital city the Alexandria Arlington
road numerous landmarks may be 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 or a nil -FOUR miles southwest OF the
national capital the Washington monument looms
up the low land and the Potomac river.
From point In the environs Of the national
capital does the monument appear to greater id
vantage-a magnificent reminder Of the good
works Of one typical American. This monument
Is a fitting companion piece for the great
mortal to Abraham Lincoln soon to be dedicated.
1t speaks Of the founder of the Republic; the
other Of the saviour Of the Republic.
Many projects were discussed before the WASH
ington monument was conceived and work II
begun. At the close Of the Revolution the Con-
tnental congress recommended the erection Of
equestrian statue to Washington Immediately
after his death the congress, sitting in Philadel-
phia voted to erect monument under which
he should be buried. Another project was to make
the Capitol building a memorial to him. Trav-
elers may to this day have peep at vaulted
chamber directly under the rotunda Of the Capitol
which designed a resting place for the
body Of Washington.
The Washington monument Is the most
splcuous work Of man at the national capital
The dome of the Capitol and dome Of the Con-
gresslonal library and the nc Lincoln memorial
stand out with boldness but the monument over
tops them. On clear day the monument may
be from the crest Of the Blue Ridge noun
tains As miles away. The memorial had its in
ception In the minds Of patriotic people who
formed the Washington Memorial association. It
was proposed to charge a membership fee Of 81
and the money thus contributed was to be used
in the erection Of a 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 1s48 congress voted q site. The
spot chosen had been marked By Washington
himself q monument to the Revolution which
he hoped would sometime be built. The work Of
erecting the monument proceeded slowly It had
reached q height Of 17S feet when the Civil war
came on. 1t was rooted over and stood untouched
until 1879 when congress again took hold and un.
der the spur Of congressional action 1t was com
pleted in 1885.
The height Of the monument il 655 feet and 8
inches From the lookout the top the view e
the national capital and Its snvirons fascinatss
million persons Q year.
Other unprstentious memorials Of Warrington
are to b eesn In the national capital