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| VIRGINIA'S BUILDING - The reader sees before
him on this page a picture of the reproduction of Mount Vernon, the
home of George Washington, Father of his Country, and one of the most
fortunate of the historic dead, for the great men of a whole country,
all now themselves dead, have vied with each other in praising the
deeds and extolling the virtues of this lover of freedom and founder
of a mighty State. Even the mere erection of this structure made a
deep impression at Jackson Park. A station on the Intramural
Railroad at this point was called Mount Vernon, and the announcement
of the name often sufficed to empty the train, so lively was the
popular curiousity, and so profound the remaining sentiments of
reverence and affection for George Washington. The house, as may be
seen, was a very plain one, though extensive, and a semi-circular
projection with two "dependencies" in the rear considerably enlarged
its ample apartments. But large as it was, there was never time for
leisurely sight-seeing. The little rooms, filled with old pictures,
garments, harpsichords, tools, arms and implements, were constantly
packed with slow-moving lines of men, women and children, to whom the
guards spoke their monotonous commands: "Move on; to the right,
please." There was a beautiful marble statue of Mary Washington,
with George Washington, the infant, in her arms. The building was
furnished entirely with ancient belongings and heirlooms. Its
dimensions were one hundred and seventy-five by one hundred and
eighty-five feet, and its cost $18,000. |
