wheat, and compelled the weights and measures of the tradespeople to be compared with standards brought from England, and still used as the market standards of the town.

Washington was a vestryman of Christ Church and a regular attendant while at home. He was also greatly interested in the schools and contributed annually £50 to their support. At his death he left the sum of $4000 toward the support of a free school.

He had been elected an honorary member of the Friendship Fire Company, and while at Philadelphia as delegate to the Continental Congress of 1775 he purchased a small engine for £80 and sent it to

the company. He always assisted, in his younger days, in extinguishing fires, and in the last year of his life showed his continued interest in the subject. While riding through the town, he saw the Friendship engine proceeding to a fire, but going very slowly from its being insufficiently manned. Calling to a group of well-dressed men standing near, "Why are you idle there, gentlemen? It is your business to lead in these matters," he leaped from his horse and seized the ropes. His action created such enthusiasm that the old engine went to the fire as it never did before or since.

On his return from the war, in 1783, he renewed his interest in the commercial prosperity of the town, and was instrumental in

having the locks built around the Great Falls of the Potomac-an enterprise since merged in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

He regularly voted at all the elections, always making it a point to vote early. An anecdote is told of the election in 1799-the last year of his life. The polling-booth was in the second story of the building and the flight of outside steps by which it was reached had become old and shaky. As the General reached the steps he placed his hand on the railing and gave a shake to test the security. Instantly a score of brawny shoulders were placed beneath the steps, and not a man moved until the venerable chief returned to firm ground.

The last scene in the connection of Washington and the town was when the news of his death was brought as the bells were ringing for service on Sunday morning, December 15, 1799. The ringing was at once stopped and immediately they began to toll, never ceasing day nor night until the mortal remains of the hero were deposited in the tomb.

When the last solemn rites were celebrated, the military escort was supplied by Alexandria volunteers, the salute at the grave was fired by Alexandria artillerists, Alexandria Freemasons conducted the ceremonies, and the official mourners were the Mayor and Town Council of Alexandria.

Inserted in the walls of the Washington Monument is a stone with the inscription, "From the people of Alexandria, the descendants of the friends and neighbors of Washington."

The most interesting landmark to-day is old Christ Church, where Washington so long attended divine service. It was erected in 1765, with bricks imported from England. His family pew, No. 59, is still preserved as he left it. There are three seats, two facing each other and the third against the wall. The latter was the one used by the General, who always sat quite erect, facing the congregation. All the others have been modernized. Pew No. 49 was formerly used by the Lee family, who drove here from Arlington.

Some interesting relics are preserved in the house of the Washington Lodge of Free Masons. Among them is the clock taken from his room at Mount Vernon, its hands still pointing to the hour of his death. There are portraits of Washington, Jefferson, Lafayette, and of Thomas, Lord Fairfax, the last being the only known picture of the old Virginia nobleman. There is the apron, worked

by the fair hands of the Marquise de Lafayette, and used by Washington at the laying of the corner-stone of the Capitol in 1793, and also one of his field-compasses, and his farm spurs.

An interesting landmark is the old Carlyle House, known as Braddock's headquarters. It is a substantial stone building, and was once elegantly fitted up, but it is now sadly dilapidated, and almost hidden by the encompassing walls of an hotel. It was in its panelled drawing-room that the conference took place between Braddock and the Colonial authorities. Five governors were present, Dinwiddie of Virginia, Morris of Pennsylvania, De Lancey of New York, Sharpe of Maryland, and Shirley of Massachusetts. Major Washington was summoned from Mount Vernon to give his views on the proper conduct of the campaign, and vainly endeavored to induce the General to abandon the stilted tactics of Europe in favor of those of border warfare. Notwithstanding his failure, Washington accompanied the expedition, and on the death of Braddock brought back in safety the remainder of his forces. Washington exposed himself fearlessly during the battle, had several horses shot under him and his clothes pierced with bullets, but was unhurt.

CHAPTER VIII.

MOUNT VERNON-THE TRIP DOWN THE POTOMAC-THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION-THE TOMB OF WASHINGTON-THE OLD TOMB-THE MANSIONHOUSE THE BANQUETING

HALL-WASHINGTON'S

LIBRARY-LAFAYETTE'S

ROOM-THE ROOM OF NELLY CUSTIS-THE ROOM IN WHICH WASHINGTON DIED MRS. WASHINGTON'S BEDROOM-THE OUT-BUILDINGS-THE GARDENTHE HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON-THE ANCESTRY OF WASHINGTON.

M

OUNT VERNON, the Home of Washington, is situated on the west bank of the Potomac, sixteen miles below the Capital. The trip to the hallowed spot may be made by either land or water, though the latter is the means usually chosen. A fine steamer, built expressly for the service, and named the "Charles Macalester," in honor of one of the earlier friends of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, makes daily trips from the foot of Seventh Street wharf.

The trip down the river is very delightful. Soon after leaving the pier, the grounds of the Arsenal are seen on the left. They present a beautiful appearance-the numerous buildings surrounded by wide stretches of lawn and shaded by stately trees giving one the idea of some peaceful sylvan retreat, were it not for the sight of cannon and piles of shot and shell, picturesque indeed, but grimly suggestive of deadly war.

Just beyond there is a glimpse of the Government Hospital for the Insane, rising from the summit of a hill across the Anacostia, looking like some fine old baronial mansion, with its lofty towers and battlemented stories.

The first stopping-place is Alexandria, some six miles below the city, the quaint spire of old Christ Church coming into view as the boat approaches the landing.

A short distance below, at the mouth of Hunting Creek, is Jones' Point, where there is a light-house, built in 1855.

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The second stop is made at Fort Foote, on the Maryland shore. The fortification, now dismantled, is located on a bluff one hundred feet high. It was constructed during the Civil War, and formed one of the numerous works built for the defence of Washington. The next landing-place is at Fort Washington, about twelve miles below the city. There is a tradition that Washington advised the selection of the site. The original fort was abandoned and blown up by the American forces, in 1814, at the time of the British invasion. The present structure was begun in 1815, and finished in 1824, at a cost of $560,000.

From Fort Washington the visitor gets the first view of Mount Vernon. The breadth of the river at this point is nearly two miles, and the mansion, as viewed across the wide stretch of water, presents a noble appearance. It stands on a hill, about one hundred and fifty feet high. A beautiful lawn, dotted with stately trees, slopes to the water's edge, and in summer the house is nearly hidden by the luxuriant masses of foliage. The view here is more impressive than it becomes on a nearer approach—the broad piazza, with its lofty panelled pillars reaching to the roof, presenting a stately and substantial appearance that is somewhat lessened when the spectator stands immediately before it and finds that it is built of wood.

As the steamer nears the landing-place and passes the Tomb of Washington, the bell is tolled. This beautiful custom is said to owe its origin to Commodore Gordon, of the British Navy, who ordered his ship's bell to be tolled while passing Mount Vernon in 1814.

THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION.

The estate of Mount Vernon comprises, at present, about two hundred acres, and is owned and controlled by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. The Association owes its origin to the patriotic efforts of a Southern lady, Miss Ann Pamela Cunningham. When the last proprietor, Mr. John A. Washington, announced his intention of disposing of the property, she conceived the idea of making the sacred place the property of the nation. Obtaining the refusal of the estate she appealed to Congress, but without success. Undismayed by her failure, she appealed to the "Women of America," writing under the nom-de-plume of "The Southern Matron." An