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APRIL 17," 1908
The Commoner.
..
7
Mount Vernon The
The ignorance in regard to Mount. Vernon,
the home of Washington, -is deplorable and in
formation concerning if should be given to grown
folks as well as to children, It is not, we dare
say, generally known that the women of America
bought Mt. Vernon in 4858 just fifty years
ago and have restored and maintained it ever
since without a penny from the United States
or from any state. This great accomplishment
is strong evidence of woman's administrative
and executive ability, and the men of America
should give recognition and acknowledgement
to the great fact. In order to give the readers
of The Commoner some idea of the work accom
plished by these patriotic women The Commoner
reproduces an address made recently in the city
of Omaha by Mrs. Charles F. Manderson.. Mrs.
Manderson is vice regent of the Mount Vernon
Ladies' association. Speaking before the
Woman's club of Omaha Mrs. Manderson de
livered the following address:
Mount Vernon, endeared to every American
as the home of George Washington, and sacred
to all who have love of the country of which
he was the chiefest citizen, has a history deeply
interesting and because of the life spent there
and that it is the last resting place of the father
of his country, the estate will ever remain the
Mecca of all who rejoice that they are citizens
of the great republic, founded by him and those
who wrought with him in the creation of our
self-governing nation.'
Located on the west bank of the broad Po
tomac river in a province renowned for its fer
tility and productive power one does not wonder
that Washington selected it at an early period in
his life as a desirable possession; That he fond
ly cherished it after it was acquired can not be
doubted by any one who reads of his care for it
and sees at this time the material evidences of
his1 pride in it and fondness for it. So long as
he lived that provident care was exercised and
the great estate remained without loss or dam
age.' After his death there came decay and de
struction that nearly re&ched utter ruin. Those
o!'''whom tt Passed, although' of his blood,, were
"-iipfof" clos'e kinship or direct descent, and many
'acres were sold, until at last there remained
but a few hundred acres, upon which stood the
historic home and the modest tomb. George
Washington died December 14, 1799, and for
half a century Mount Vernon seemed neglected
and forgotten. In 1854 John Augustine Wash
ington, owner of the estate, made repeated
efforts to sell the property to the United States
and to the state of Virginia. Every effort
failed-. At last a noble and patriotic spirited
woman of South Carolina, Miss Ann Pamela
Cunningham, conceived the idea that the women
of America should acquire the estate and restore
Mount Vernon, that it might be cherished and
respected. The offer to the general government
and to the Btate was to convey the property for
?100,000, but when the 3 fount Vernon Ladles'
'Association of the union sought the purchase
and care of the two hundred acres the price
demanded was $200,000; an immense sum when
the date is considered and the equivalent now
of probably five times that sum. The money was
raised T)y the women of that time, their great
est help being the orator of that day, Edward
Everett, who by his lectures on Washington
raised $70,000. I read from a report made by
Mrs. Hudson, the vice regent from Connecticut,
that which tells better than I can narrate the
history of the Mount Vernon association:
"The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of
the Union" was founded in 1854 by Miss Cun
ningham of South Carolina, the first regent.
She appointed as vice regents one lady from
each state.
The immediate object of this first woman's
society was to raise funds for the purchase of
two hundred acres of the Mount Vernon estate,
including the mansion and the tomb wherein
repose the mortal remains of General Washing
ton. The ultimate design was to teach the peo
ple of the United States to remember Washing
ton and his great" achievements. To attain this
result and bring the people into sympathy with
this great man and his daily life, here, in this
home so dear to his tfeart, there must needs be
a faithful restoration of the surroundings and
conditions existing during his residence, while
above and beyond all was the fervent hope that
Mount Vernon should become a shrine whither
all liberty-loving pilgrims should resort in rev
erence and Veneration.
Work of American Women
?200 000, the price demanded for this portion
of Mount Vernon. The pledge given was the
preservation and restoration of the home of
Washington. How has the association redeemed
its pledge?
It is needless here to recount the disasters
and discouragements which attended the initia
tive efforts of this small band of devoted women.
One formidable cause of opposition, scarce cred
ble in our day, was the prejudice then prevail
affair womeu as workers in any public
But, inspired by the 'enthusiasm of Miss
Cunningham and guided by her marvelous abil
ity and executive talent, each state was can
vassed and officered, and enthusiastic interest
awakened, with the result that the sum re
quired was collected, and that in 1858 Mount
Vernon became the property of the Mount Ver
non association.
i. Snc,e ln Possession, the association realized
that their work had but begun, for ruin and de
cay showed on every side. Nothing daunted, re
pairs were instituted, a small steamboat was
leased for the conveyance of visitors to Mount
Vernon from Washington the gate fee being
twenty-five cents; and there was much to en
courage the hope that in a few years Mount
Vernon would be restored to order and beauty.
Alas, civil war burst upon us! The govern
ment took possession of the Mount Vernon
steamboat, and all means of self-support ceased.
The superintendent alone was left in charge,
all work was necessarily stopped, and through
those terrible days and years the place stood
isolated, with hostile armies surging up and
down past its gates. With no defense, Mount
Vernon stood self-protected; no harm came near
it. Officers and soldiers in grey and blue
knocked at the gates, which were opened td
them. Their arms were stacked outside, while
they entered and sought the tomb, where they
met as brothers. A few hours later and these
men were again arrayed in battle against each
other!
There is but one act of desecration recorded
in these years. An eagle which surmounted the
iron railing of the tomb was stolen. This was
returned two years ago as mysteriously as it had
disappeared.
As soon as peace was proclaimed the asso
ciation was called together by the regent, for
consultation and to devise ways and means to
recommence the repairs at Mount Vernon. At
this juncture the condition of the estate was
appalling. The mansion showed rotten timbers,
leaking, roof, decayed floors, and not a stick of
furniture. The great barn held up a roof like
a sieve, through which the rain poured down
upon crops and stock; there had been no new
roof since Washington's day.
The roads were almost impassable, the
wharf unsafe', the servants' houses scarce hab
itable, and above all the channel of the river
was nearly filled up. Where to begin work in
this chaotic ruin was the question. Another
steamboat was leased, friends arose on every
side, material aid flowed in, if not in money, in
building material, in fertilizers, in food for the
stock assistance came in all shapes. The press
throughout the land stood by the association.
The Masonic lodges responded to the call to
save the great Mason's home from destruction.
Wall Street's brokers' board sent money, while
little children clubbed together to rebuild a gate.
Others to rebuild the colonnades. The work of
repair progressed steadily year by year. The
association had adhered strictly to two rules:
"Do. thoroughly whatever is to be done, and,
no debts."
The necessary repairs accomplished, then
came the task of restoration. In the mansion
the replacement of such furniture as was owned
by Washington has been accomplished where
possible; when this was not obtainable, furni
ture of historic value and of the past century
style has been placed In the rooms. The bed
stead on which General Washington died stands
in his room, mirrors are restored to their for
mer positions. Nellie Custis' piano stands in
the music room again and Washington's flute
lies upon it. Clocks are returned to their man
tels, chairs, tables and a sideboard have resumed
their places. The large silver-mounted plateau,
used at Washington's state dinners, is now re
turned to Mount Vernon, a recent gift from a
vice regent, herself a great granddaughter of
Martha Washington. There arc also In the
cab nets laces of Mrs. Wellington, jeweled
buckles of General Washington, fans, china. otc.
Ihe collection of original letters from Well
ington and the rare collection of engravings of
his generals arc most valuablo and Interesting
Each room ln the mansion Is In cliargo o a
vice regent, who furnishes It I the , fame of
her state, and through whoso personal exertion
and expend turo It Is maintained. A most val
uable acquisition has been received ths year
from a vice regent-an exact architect ral p?an
of the mansion, detailed In a book of fifty-six
ages of minute measurements, therein every
niche Is given, every decoration, hit of earvlne
vaUof? and chI'-Ilece alJT'e
" 0 ch floor, so complete that should
tJ5 m"1 occur' tho mansion could bo re
stored with entire fidelity. '
cvervTnnK,UHf.nClaUon l 80Ught and obtained
Ei bl lneanB t0 Guard against tho dc
l on f rrk f fire A comprehensive water
system is in operation, also a steam engine that
MnS, lK;iwat from the Potomac. A largo
g omd "vn Mi,ngU,8h?r I,Iftn,1 lH P,ftced umlc'
ground. All of these safeguards can be operated
upon throe minutes' notice by a well drilled fire
brigade of employes.
0h Mra!7 C the large Improvements are the re
sult of the generosity of the vice regents Tho
last extensive work has been eliminating tho
swamp near the boat landing. This a glo of
trees, undergrowth and moran was the foul
center of the malarial fevers always Incident o
SniIIit Vrn0V' T,leso twG,V0 acre ,,avo boon
reclaimed and reduced to a meadow of sweet
clover, from which tho river Is shut out by a
J? nin"?aI Wa,t0.r VaI1 T,, C08t ,,a8 been over
$G,000 for reclaiming this land.
This board of willing, quiet workers Is gov
emed by tho one principle: The preservation of
the home of Washington. Now tho roads are In
fine order, the fences are all i;ood, the drainage
is sanitary and excellent. A fine now wharf with.
a commodious pavilllon receives tho thousands
of visitors brought to Mount Vernon on a largo
steamer; and the eighteen and more cottages
and outbuildings aro all In perfect condition.
The garden is as Washington left it, with tho
quaint box-wood hedges and borders. Tho old
time roses, pinks, lilies, mignonette, swect-WII-11am,
lilacs, magnolia trees, and acacias, and
even the green houses and servants' quarters
are restored and aro as Washington saw them.
The lawns ho loved, the trees ho planted, all
are there, silent but eloquent.
The dream of the enthusiastic founder of
tho Mount Vernon association is realized. Tho
home of Washington is restored, and has become
the shrine of liberty-loving pilgrims from homo
and foreign lands. His tomb is religiously cared
for by women who love and revere his memory.
Washington is remembered, and never can be
forgotten while his homo and tomb are there to
appeal to the heart and soul of all. Follow him
through the winding walks, under tho trees he
planted, and into his library surrounded by his
books or seated before his secretary. Then pass
into his room; stand by the bed on which ho
died. At last, go over to his tomb, there reven
ently bow; for you have communed in spirit
with George Washington, the great and good,
the brave and wise!
Has not the Mount Vernon association re
deemed its pledge given to the country?
I close with this extract from the farewell
address of the founder of the association to her
women associates, given after twenty years of
service, on Juno 1, 1874:
"Ladies, the home of Washington is in your
charge; see to it that you keep it the homo of
Washington. Let no irreverent hand change it;
no vandal hands desecrate it with the fingers of
progress!
"Those who go to tne home in wmen no
lived and died, wish to see in what he lived and
died!
"Let one spot in this grand country of ou
be saved from change.
"Upon you rests this duty.
"TXMiftn Tm nontnnnlnl nnmna Tiff n erf tifr TirlfrVi
it thousands from the ends of the earth, to whom
the home of Washington will be the place of
places in this, our country, let them see that,
although we slay our forests, remove our dead,
pull down our churches, remove from home to
home, till the hearthstone seems to have no rest
ing place in America let them see that we do
know how to care for the home of our hero."
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