The Colorado statesman., 1921-02-19
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the servant remind him that 1t was time to go
by leading up the horse and handing the bride
reins him. The members of Washingtohs 4
family, the local historian relates. always came
up in a large coach drawn by four horses If the
roads were heavy. Not infrequently neighDors
guests in the coach.
Another favorite rendezvous in Alexandria for
sightseers is the room occupied by the Masonic
lodge named for Washington. This lodge sun
fourishes 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, a pair
of spurs he wore, pruning knife he USED on
the Mount Vernon plantation, and 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 LIE
made by william Williams of Philadelphia
Another old Washington landmark In Alexan-
dria is the Carlyle house. This structure was
there when Washington was a young man. In
colonial days 1t was one of the best-known 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, 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 over the 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
y
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 ad-
vantage-a magnificent reminder of The good
works Of typical American. This monument
is u fitting 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
Many projects were discussed before the Wash
begun. At the close of the Revolution the Con-
tlnental congress recommended the erection of an
equestrian statue to Washington. Immediately
after his death the congress, sitting In Philade-
pha, voted to erect monument under which
he should be buried. Another project was to make
the Capitol building memorial to him. Trav-
elers may to this day have a peep at vaulted
chamber directly under the rotunda Of the Capitol
which was designed resting place for the
body of Washington.
The Washington monument is the most con-
spicuous work of man at the national capital
The dome of the Capitol and dome of the Con-
gressional library and the new Lincoln memorial
stand out with boldness, but the monument over
tops them. On a clear day the monument may
be seen 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. 1t
was proposed to charge a membership fee of 81
and the money thus contributed to be used
In the erection of a suitable monument to the
hero of the Revolution. The money came in
slowly and it looked at times If this project
too would have to be abandoned.
Finally in 1S4S congress voted Site The
SPOT chosen had been marked by Washington
himself as monument to the Revolution which
he hoped would sometime be built. The work of
erecting the monument proceeded slowly. 1t had
reached a height of 17S feet when the Civil
came ON. 1t was rooted and stood untouched
until 1879 when congress again took hold and
der the spur Of congressional action II was COM
pleted in 1885
The height of the monument is 555 feet and
inches From the lookout on the top the view of
the national capital and its environs fascinates
million persons a year.
Other unpretentious memorials of Washington
are to be seen in the national capital.