Evening star., 1932-05-15

of departed greatness. fervently pressed his lips
to the door Of the vault, while tears filled the
burrows In the veterans cheeks. The key was
now applied to the lock-the door few open
and discovered the collins strewed with flowers
and evergreens- The general descended the
steps and kissed the leaden cells which con-
tanned the ashes Of the great chief and his ven-
erable consort and then retired in an excess Of
feeling which language Is too poor to describe"
After partaking of refreshments at the
house and making q slight tour Of the grounds
the general returned to the shore and "the
pilgrim who now repairs to the tomb Of the
Father Of His Country will find its laurels
moistened by the tears of Lafayette"
This old vault, as stated had even fallen
into decay. even before the death Of Washington
and the distinguished owner of Mount Vernon
had even surveyed and marked out the present
site for q new family tomb before he passed
away.
= EoRGE WASHINGTON PARKE CUsTIS,
~ grandson of Mrs. Washington and adopted
son Of the first President-who spent much Of
his early life at Mount Vernon. and who later
built and occupied Arlington House-in refer
ring to this new vault. before his death IN 1887.
said:
"The executors conceiving themselves bound
by the provisions Of the will to erect burial
vault on the spot marked out, proceeded to do
80 to the best advantage; but al their endeav-
ors, together with the labors Of skillful mechan-
les. have resulted IN the tomb of Washington
being universally condemned unit for and
unworthy Of the purpose for which 1t was
Intended while 1t serves q matter Of reproach
to the crowds of pilgrims who resort thither
to pay homage to the fame and memory Of the
Father Of His Country.
"It Is certain that Washington never gave
even . hint Of his views or wishes In regard
to the disposition Of his remains. He no doubt
believed that his ashes would be claimed ~
national property, and be entombed with
national honors; hence. his silence on = subject
that has agitated the American public for more
than half century. On the decease Of the
Chief the high authorities of the Nation begged
his remains for public hterment at the seat
Of the National Government They were
granted by the venerable relict conditioned
that her own remains should be inferred by
the side Of her husband in the national tomb.
This memorable compact, so solemn In itself,
Is still in full force and binding on the Nation
inasmuch rs no subsequent authority could
alter annul 1t.
ION the faith of this compact Col Monroe
when President of the United States, ordered
two crypts or vaults TO be formed in the base
ment story Of the center of the Capitol for the
reception Of the remains Of the Chief and his
consort agreeably to the arrangement of 1799
which vaults are untenanted to this day
Surely it cannot be denied that Mrs WASH
ington had the right the only right, to the
disposal of the remains of the Chief, and by
virtue Of this right she granted them to the
prayer Of the Nation as expressed by its highest
authority.
On her death-bed, the venerable Lady called
the author Of the "Recollections," her grandson
and executor, to her side, and said: Remember,
Washington to have my remains placed in a
leaden coffin, that they may be removed with
those of the general at the command of the
Government ~
And yet we hear of the right Of a State!
No one State can appropriate to itself that
which belongs to the whole. OF the glorious
Old Thirteen little Delaware has as much right
to the remains of the beloved Washington as
either Of her larger sisters; for, though small
in size, she was great In value In the times
that tried mems souls and in proportion TO
her resources, furnished Is much courage