Evening star., 1932-02-21
In Ahxandria
Continued from Fifteenth Page

his lands beyond the Alleghenies with DR..
Craik, investigating the interlocking Of Po-
tomac and Ohio branch headwaters with q
view to the establishment Of an extensive
navigation system. The opening Of the P0-
tomac was q project very near WashingtonS
heart, and as president of the Potomac Co. he
sat with the commissioners from Maryland
and Virginia who met at Alexandria in March.
1785, entertaining them over the week end at
Mount Vernon. According to unpublished
records of the "Potowmack Co." this con-
ference was held in the old Assembly Hail."
which stood at the northeast corner OF Market
square on the site Of the present clerks Office.
marked by tablet to this effect. Some claim
that to old Carlyle House also belongs this
honor. but however that may be, we can safely
say that Alexandria, Washingtons home town,
rightly claims to be the cradle of the Con-
stitution.'
IT was during this period Gin 1855 that
Washington, ever interested in education for
the young, founded the first free school in
Virginia as an adjunct to the Alexandria
Academy, and on washington street at Wolfe,
the old building Is not only standing but
still In use.
Alexandrias souvenirs of George Washing
ton, President are. first the original boundary
stone marking the southern corner Of the Dis
trict of Columbia at jones Point, near the
present lighthouse, which was laid with ap-
propriate ceremonies by the Alexandria Masons
on April Is, 1871; second, the little silver
trowel with ivory handle used by President
Washington In laying the corner stone Of
the United States Capitol September 10, 1893,
on exhibition in the Masonic Museum along
with the original plumb, square and level used
at these ceremonies.
On March Is, 1897 after eight years Of de-
od tn as Wa
find Ibis excellency, accompanied by his lady
and Miss Gusts, and by the son of the un.
fortunate Lafayette with his preceptor," re-
turning once more to Alexandria, to be met
at the ferry by number Of people from the
town and vicinity who deemed it a precious
privilege and honor to escort the general to
Mount Vernon.
belong to no one particular period Of his ca
reer but extend over the greater part Of his
life No visit to Alexandria would be complete
without an unhurried stop at the Masonic
Museum on Cameron street between Royal and
Fairfax. Here Is that remarkable unidealized
water-color portrait Of the general by Williams
which the records show washington approved
as q good likeness. The old chair in which
Washington sat when worshipfu master Of the
lodge, brought by him from Mount Vernon, ts
here and such personal relics as his wedding
gloves, spurs, penknife, compass. etc. The
great new George Washington Masonic Me-
mortal on Shutters Hill IS being completed a.
o fitting monument.
And now, before leaving this quaint old city,
with all its hallowed memories of the Father
Of His Country, let us step quietly into Old
Christ Church on Columbus street at Cameron
There is that great square pew he was won't
to worship, the gentle dignity Of his noble
Christian character so In harmony with the
simple dignity Of this lovely little church o.
Christ. In the hush Of our spirits we seem
to hear the bell tolling sadly as it did on that
December day in 1893, the intonation Of the
minister pronouncing the final benediction.
blessed are they who die in the Lord" and .
voice Is Of the ages echoing that beautiful
eulogy by Tennyson for another warrior.