Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-18

w 1ngton Mansion, bare and gloomy
since Lee rode away, again to be
turned into the semblance of a beautiful CO.
lonial home, with it's relics of Washington
GUSTS, and Lee restored?
Arlington was stripped of it's souvenirs of
George Washington, it's works of art, and it's
furniture in the exciting Civil War days
Priceless relics, left unguarded, were some
how stolen by vandal camp followers. SOL
diers quartered about the grounds had OPP
portunity to buy for song, or even to take
without price, souvenirs to send back home.
What was left of the Washington things was
finally carried to a museum in the Patent
Office, whence the exhibits later found their
way into the National Museum Ind to Mount
Vernon.
General Meigs, once Robert E. Lees init
mate friend, was SO embittered by Lees allie
glance to his state that he vowed that never
again should the mansion be used as the Lee
homestead. To insure this, he ordered graves
dug on the grounds for the Union dead, and
Arlington became a national cemetery, with
the mansion deserted, save for certain rooms
set aside for the use of the superintendent
| of the cemetery.
| Meigs' VOW will always hold. The man
sion can never again be the real colonial
home left by 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, of great historic value and
sentimental interest. The idea of attempt
| ing this has been proposed by a Virginia
chapter of the United Daughters of the Con-
| federacy, and the plan is to be discussed at
the annual convention of the organization iE
October. If the project is approved there, it
must then be submitted to the Government,
| IF thp DauphtprS of the COnfoderacV agree
| in the desire to restore Arlington House and
| take care of a collection there, there is no
reason to think that Congress would refuse
consent. Arlington is closely associated not
alone with Lee, the southern hero, but with
many famous earlier characters, such as La
fayette and George Washington Parke GUSTS,
Washington's adopted son.
| Built by GUSTS
This GUSTS was the builder of Arlington
House In 1902, soon after Mrs. Washing
! tons death, he left Mount Vernon and SUI
perintended the building of home for him
self on LOO acres Of ground belonging to
him at Arlington, Virginia. The residence
he planned was similar to a Greek temple,
with eight of the huge pillars so admired by
the Colonials, used to form a portico.
GUSTS ordered the house set on the brow
Of hill so that it would overlook the Capital
| The portico at Arlington offers what is per-
haps the most beautiful outlook on the City
| of Washington Lafayette, visiting Mr.. Gus
tbs at Arlington, declared it one of the most
beautiful views he had ever looked upon.
And another visitor of seventy years ago
! wrote:
| From the portico brilliant panorama is
presented. The Capitol Executive Mansion,
Smithsonian Institute, the growing magnitl-
cent Washington Monument, and almost
| every house in the federal city may be seen
| at glance from this point, while between
| them and Arlington flows the bright flood
| Of the Potomac"
| In his new home, George Washington
Parke GUSTS dispensed the same lavish hos
pitalty that had been the rule at Mount Yer
non. His house was furnished with taste
and elegance Many relics and furnishings
of Mount Vernon were left to him and trans
| ferred to Arlington and these were cherished
! nv GUSTS and his guests as things which the
| first President had used.
The tent which Washington carried
| throughout the Revolution was so greatly
| treasured that when GUSTS wished signally to
| honor any visitors he had the war tent pitch