Dorothy's Tour Part 23

"Surely we are honored," added Ruth. They followed Mr. Ludlow out to the President's box, where he and his family and a few friends sat.

When they reached the box, the President rose and said, smilingly:

"I want to congratulate you young people on your success. It has been a great pleasure for me to hear you. Your playing, Miss Calvert, was entrancing."

All the eyes of the audience were now turned on the presidential box, and there was a craning of necks, trying to see what was going on there.

The incident was soon over, the President had shaken hands with each, and Dorothy at last found time to look at the card attached to her roses. She imagined Aunt Betty had sent them to her. But she was very much surprised and greatly pleased when she saw Jim's name on them, and wondered how he could have sent them. She hugged them close to her and kissed each pretty rose.

Just then Ruth came up and said, "I am ready now, dear, let's go out in front. My! What beautiful flowers you have. Who sent them to you?"

"A friend," answered Dorothy, blushing.

"Wasn't _he_ thoughtful to remember to telegraph them here for you,"

laughed Ruth. "I wish I had a friend to send me beautiful flowers,"

she added.

"Who gave you those beautiful violets you are wearing, that just match your eyes?" questioned Dorothy.

"Oh, Mr. Ludlow sent them. He always does, because he knows I love violets, but that's different from having American beauty roses sent to one," Ruth replied.

By this time they were around in front and had quietly sat down in the two seats reserved for them beside Aunt Betty and Alfaretta. Miss Winter had come on the stage preparatory to performing her dances.

She was a very pretty little girl, with blonde hair, and had a small, but well formed figure. The stage was cleared and the lights dull. She danced about the stage in such a light, breezy way that it seemed to the audience that she was wafted about by a spring breeze. She danced most artistically, and her rendering of the two dances was so perfect that the audience applauded again and again, though in response, she just made some curtain bows and retired.

The trio, which Ruth so wished to hear, came next. Their rendition was a long and exquisite one, and Ruth now realized why Mr. Ludlow had put them last. She turned to Dorothy and whispered, "Aren't they wonderful!"

"Yes," answered Dorothy. "They are the best we have."

"That's why," explained Ruth, "Mr. Ludlow put them last, so they would leave a good impression of the whole concert in the people's mind. I feel as if I just couldn't sing at all."

The concert was now over, and the audience indicated by the volume of applause that rang out that it was a great success. Everyone had done just what they thought was their very best, and many had received beautiful flowers. It wasn't long before they were all home.

CHAPTER XV.

MT. VERNON.

As Mr. Ludlow had planned for them to visit Mount Vernon and the White House the next day it necessitated their packing partly, so as to be ready to take the train for the next city in which they were to give a concert. As the concert had been such a great success here, they were very hopeful regarding the rest of the tour.

The next morning they were all ready in time for the 10 a. m. boat for Mount Vernon. They had agreed the night before to see Mount Vernon first and leave the White House till last, as the majority cared more to see the former.

On their way they pa.s.sed the City of Alexandria, and were told that here the Union troops began the invasion of Virginia soil, and here fell Elsworth the first notable victim of the war.

The old red brick hotel, where he pulled down the flag of the Confederates was pointed out to the party by the guide. Also the guide pointed out to them Christ Church, which Washington and his family had attended.

Then, a little further on, among some peach orchards, begins the Mount Vernon estate, which in Washington's time contained about eight thousand acres. The estate is on the right bank of the Potomac, just sixteen miles below Washington.

The land was part of an extensive grant to John Washington, the first of the family who came to America in middle of the seventeenth century. The estate descended to George, when he was barely more than a boy. He continued to develop and beautify the property until the breaking out of the war of 1776. Then the ability he had shown in the Virginia militia called him to the service of the United Colonies. He returned to Mount Vernon at the close of the war, but had to leave it, and take up his duties as first President of the Republic.

He was buried upon his estate and the family declined to accept the subsequent invitation of Congress to transfer the body to the undercroft of the Capitol.

After Mrs. Washington's death, the property descended finally to John Augustine Washington, who proposed to dispose of it. A Southern lady, Miss Ann Pamela Cunningham, secured the refusal, and after failing to interest Congress in her proposal that the Government should buy and preserve it as a memorial, succeeded in arousing the women of the country. An a.s.sociation of these women, named the "Mount Vernon Ladies' a.s.sociation of the Union," with representatives from every State was incorporated, and in 1858 paid $200,000 for the central portion of the property, some 200 acres, covenanting to hold it in perpetuity. An admission fee of 25 cents charged all visitors goes to the payment of current expenses.

The tomb of Washington is the first object of attention. It stands immediately at the head of the path from the landing. Its position, small dimensions, and plain form of brick, were indicated by Washington in his will.

The front part, closed by plain iron gates, through which anyone may look, contains two plain sarcophagi, each excavated from a single block of marble. The one in the centre of the little enclosure contains the remains of the Father of His Country, within the little mahogany coffin in which they were originally put. At the left is that of Martha Washington. Four times a year these iron gates are opened by the authorities, and wreaths and other floral offerings are deposited therein.

The mansion itself, stands upon considerable eminence, overlooking broad reaches of the historic Potomac. It is built of oak and pictures have made its architectural features familiar everywhere.

When Mount Vernon was acquired by the ladies' a.s.sociation, it was not only out of repair, but the furniture had been distributed to various heirs, or sold and scattered. An effort was made to preserve as much as possible, and to restore as closely as might be the original homelike appearance of the house. It has been impossible to do this absolutely, and a great many other articles of furniture, adornment and historical interest have been added. In order to do this, the various State branches of the a.s.sociation were invited to undertake to furnish one room each, and many have done so. The names of these States are a.s.sociated with the apartments they have taken charge of. A considerable quant.i.ty of furniture, as well as personal relics of George and Martha Washington, are here, however, especially in the bedrooms where they died.

"Ah," exclaimed Dorothy as she entered the hall. "Just look at those swords. Did they all belong to Washington?"

"Yes, dear, the one in the middle of the three," answered Mrs.

Calvert, "was the one he wore when he resigned his commission at Annapolis, and when he was inaugurated at New York."

"And what is this key hanging here for?" asked Alfaretta.

"That key has a most interesting history," answered Mr. Ludlow. "That is the key to the Bastile, that prison in Paris, which was so justly hated by the people, and which was demolished by the mob. Lafayette sent it to Washington in a letter."

Next they turned to the east and entered the music room. This room is under the care of the State of Ohio.

"Oh, just see all the things in here!" cried Dorothy. "Look at that dear harpsichord."

"That harpsichord was given to Nellie Custis by Washington," answered Aunt Betty.

They next entered the west parlor. Above the mantel piece is carved the coat-of-arms of the family. The carpet here is a rug presented by Louis XVI to Washington. It was woven to order, in dark green with orange stars; its center piece is the seal of the United States, and the border is a floriated design. This room was refurnished by the State of Illinois.

"Look, dear, see the spinet there," said Mrs. Calvert to Dorothy.

"Yes, and what beautiful candlesticks those are standing there on that queer table," answered Dorothy.

"What is this next room?" inquired Alfaretta.

"This room," answered Aunt Betty, "was Mrs. Washington's sitting room, and was refurnished in the manner of the period by Georgia. But the dining room is what I want you to especially notice. The furniture here was that originally used by Washington--"

"Next is Washington's library, for I see books in there," announced Ruth.

"This is one of the most important rooms in the house," said Mr.

Ludlow, as they entered the banquet hall.

Its length is the whole width of the mansion, and its richly decorated ceiling is full two stories high.

"The ornate fireplace and mantel of Italian marble and workmanship once occupied a place in a country home in England," said Mrs.

Calvert; "someone brought it over the ocean and gave it to Washington, and it is worth examining."