Evening star., 1940-06-16

OF present-day Army truck. NAKED
and starving as they are. we cannot
enough admire the Incompatible
patience and fidelity of the soldiery."
Thus tersely spoke George WASH
ington Of his men, and his words are
incised forever in the granite of
the Memorial Arch, the next point
on your tour of the park.
Washington's Prayer.
The center of the Valley Forge
area now, as in 1778, is George
Washington's headquarters. This
is the stone house beside the valley
stream near where it empties into the
Schuylkill River, a beautiful spot
indeed. The house was donated to
Washington's cause by Isaac Potts,
the owner. 1t was Isaac Potts who
saw Washington on his knees in
the snow praying and who remarked
excitedly to his wife that no cause
with so devout a leader could fail
Out of this story of Washingtons
praying has come the most impress
sive memorial at Valley Forge, the
Washington Memorial and Chapel.
The idea was originated in 1908 by
DR.. Burk, rector of All Saints
Church in Norristown, Pa. In SER
mon he mentioned the praying in
cident and said, Would that we
might erect on those hills a chapel,
fit memorial of the churchs and
the Nations most honored son.
Now the chapel is built-a nations
shrine. Its stained glass windows
tell the story of America.
Peace Chime.
Next to the chapel is the National
Peace Chime, in which each State
is represented by bell. The har-
nonious ringing of 48 bells echoes
the harmonious unity of the 48
States. The Peace Chime, or caril-
Ion, plays every hour on the hour.
At sunset the national anthem is
rendered.
Those of you who like to browse in
museums will find an unusually good
one near Washington's headquar-
tiers. incidentally, there are over
night accommodation in the park.
For recommendations see the A. A. A.
Hotel Directory. INCORPORATING and
canoeing are new entertainment
feature at Valley Forge
Something you probably did not
expect to see at Valley Forge is the
original, one and only bonneville
Trolley, the narrow gauge quarry
to-crusher road that gave Fontaine
Fox the idea for his famous "Toon-
erville Folks" The tracks inter-
sect the highway just across the
creek from Washington's head
quarters. One of the park guides
told me he worked in the making of
the film bonneville Folks years
ago.
l asked this same guide the story
OF Mount Joy and Mount Misery. He
put his tongue in his cheek and said
that. as far as he knew. it was just
one Of those stories that grow up.
William Penn or George Washing
ton" he said, you can take your
pick, was walking over these hills
and got lost. He climbed with great
difficulty the highest hill he could
find, but when he got to the top it
was SO overgrown that he couldn't
see out. He named this Mount Misery.
He rested awhile, then went on to
another high hill. which was bare on
top. He saw the river and got his
bearings and knew where he was.
So he named this hill Mount Joy.
That's the story" the guide went
on, but you can just fill in for
yourself whether it was George
Washington or William Penn who
got lost"
If you visit Valley Forge on Sum-
day. allow longer time for return
ing than it took you to get there, be-
cause of the late afternoon traffic.
For good return route I suggest
following U. S. 202 to Paoli, U. S. 80
to the junction with U. S. 1872, where
left-hand turn takes you onto
U. S. l at Oxford Then follow
Route home, or vary it by taking
U. S. % from Baltimore to Wash
ington.