The mirror., 1923-02-22
Saltwater, Minnesota, Thursday, February p,
WASHINGTON IN WASHINGTON
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Today, it has ever been it not so much the things
with the Washington stamp them those in the
by districts that interest the tourists Mt Vernon of
is the Washington shrine and it will continue to
be that long the republic endures 1t was the Vr-
ginia home the Potomac to which Washington took
his bride; there he made plans for his life work. plans
that udey shattered by the of later years.
1t from that refuge that he forth to command
the armies of the Revolution and was from the seclu
sion of that attractive place that he answered the call to
be President He returned to the old home on retiring
from office, and there he died. and there his bones e
When the national capital city was laid out and for
many decades aferward Mt Vernon was looked upon as
"ong ways off" from the capital 1t is only seventeen
miles away. Today there three ways of reaching Mt
Nernon-by boat by electricity, by automobile 1t is an
easy hours travel from the business of Washing
ton. With these facilities the number of visitors has
greatly increased 1t is believed the time is not far dis
when million and half of tourists will annually
visit Mt Vernon.
If you should happen to be in Mt Vernon the 22nd
of February you would, in Imagination see Washington
he about his country place his birthday "The
very atmosphere speaks to you of him." said distin-
gushed Frenchman. Visitors marvel the faithfuness
with which the buildings and their contents and the
grounds have been preserved There have been of ne
cesslty replacemeh but speaking broad way
things they when Washington last looked
upon them One almost the house coming out
of the hole under the door that led the occupied
by Mrs. Washington. And what of comfort one
gets he sits in easy chair the veranda and looks
the Potomac and the river the hills of
Maryland, just Washington did! "No wonder Wash
ngton did not wish leave the place be Pres
dent of his country says himself
for the Mt Vernon home and lands. The country
debt of gratitude this society for preserving
the property Years ago when it about fall into
the hands of private spectators this society formed
and it has done its work well. Many persons believe,
however, that congress should buy the in the
of the government and throw open the public AL
ways under the management of the Aid society nominal
charge for admittance has been made.
Many of the visitors linger in the country about the
old Washington home. Of who knew the
Washington family is living, but there plenty of
descendants of the old families in the neghborhood who
delight talk of the old days. Many houses built while
Washington alive still stand. Three miles south of
Mt Vernon the old Pohick EpiscopaD church in which
Washington frequently worshiped is still occupied by the
Episcopal congregation Within the last five years the
interior of the old building has been restored and today
visitors may look the decorations precisely they
when Washington attended.
Passing time has served take away any of the
Washington atmosphere about the old city of Alexandria,
miles south of the national capital and the road
Mt Vernon The first thing the writer is told is that
Washington "dd lot for U.S." "He established pub
lie school SYSTEM" says the local guide "and he gave
first fire department. He always doing something
for u.s. Foremost of the Washington showpaces in Alex
andra is old Christ church, of which Washington
member for forty years. The church building of
brick has been unchanged The pew that Wash
ingon occupied is reserved every Sunday for strangers
who may happen along the service hour The old
will be certain relate stories of the
first President He WILL first of all, tell you how Wash