The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-08-29

are shown. The wallpaper is a recen
reprint of the original.
The beds in all the rooms are larg
four-posters with high canopies. Tn
rooms all give every evidence of rea
comfort and considerable degree 0
| luxury.
The only room on the third floor d
historic interest is the one in which
/ Mrs. Washington died. After Washing,
! tons death his bedroom was closed
as was the custom in those days. II j.
/ said Mrs Washington then chose The
/ attic bedroom as it was the only on,
! from which she could see the toni
where her husband lay.
From one corner of the house {
roofed-over walk leads by a few steps
to small building, the kitchen There
one finds a huge fireplace, a ponderous
crane from which swings kettles ano
other cooking utensils, and to one side
OF the fireplace a little bricked-ir
bake-oven. The utensils of this room
are very rough and crude, yet by then
use the negro cooks of those days pre-
pared sumptuous meals when occasion
demanded. But all Of the food had t6
be carried from the kitchen over The
open walk into the main building to be
served
Separated short distance from the
dining room is the buffers house Still
further away are the dairy and the
smoke house, all small one story build
( L. -
house and coach house. Down beyond
these the farm stables. From this sec
ton one follows a walk down over a
lawn to a summer house sitting at the
edge Of the bluff rising from the river
bank, and from which one has a beauti-
full view of the river
On the side Of the mansion opposite
to the kitchen, another roofed-over
walk leads to small building, The
plantation office, now the office of the
superintendent Back of this are the
gardeners house, store house and a
spinning house, all small one-story
structures. Beyond these are an ice
house and relic house, museum
building erected in 1928, containing
many relics Of Washington's time. A
long, low building is greenhouse and
servants quarters, placed along one
side Of the flower garden. Further
away are the north quarters, a service
building erected in 1929.
The flower garden is large and
beautiful, covering much ground, 1t
consists of numerous flower beds,
many of them bordered by beautiful
box hedges. Many of the box hedges
were set out by Washington. AT the end
of the Bowling Green is circular en-
closure containing a sun dial.
We have not spoken of that part Of
the mansion facing the Potomac That
is the side one always sees in the
pictures of Mount Vernon; the state
ly old house with the long portico, with
high white pillars extending across he
full length of the portico.
Slanting gently down from the
portico there is smooth and soft green
lawn, extending almost to the waters
edge 1t is supported at its lower end
by a low brick wall Just below this
is the beautiful river The site from
Mount Vernon is glorious, as ones
eyes travel up and down the broad
river and over the green, wood clad
hills. No wonder Washington loved
this place and no wonder he longed to
spend his last days here at this beauti-
full home in peace and quiet
In my hating description of this
shrine that is so dear to the hearts Of
Americans, have left to the last one
of its most important and impressive
features.
A long brick walk leads past the
kitchen and the stables. 1t leads
through green lawns and past lovely
hedge. Following this for some dis
lance southwark from the house, the
walk turns at right angles away from
the river. A few more steps lead
through an avenue of lovely trees to
the heart of Mount Vernon, to the
grave Of the Father of His Country
There within vine clad brick vault
and behind doubly-ironed portals may
be seen two marble sarcophagi; the
one at the right contains all that is
mortal Of the beloved Washington; the
one at the left the body of his wife
ht Lne rear OF lnlS open vault ID dill
inner vault containing the remains Of
the Washington family. Two marble
shafts stand in front of the tomb
erected to the memory of Bushrod
Washington and Jehn Augustine
Washington, successors of the general
To the east are the graves of Nelly
Gusts and her daughter.
1t is said Washington selected this
site for the vault only few months
before he died He gave explicit direc-
tons as to its construction, which were
faithfully carried out Because of his
distaste for display of any kind, The
tomb is very simple and still remain.
SO. Above the ironed portals there i
this simple inscription Within thil
enclosure rest the remains of Genera
George Washington" To this halloweS
spot come pilgrims from every land
And they come by the thousand
Scores Of them were there the day W
visited this American shrlnes
Aud hare ~ ~ 9i.ttrry fgilutq ufi-l