Des Arc citizen., 1860-01-11
MON NpMENT TO MRS. WASHINGTON.

1 MONUMENT TO MRS. WASHINGTON.
 It was during Dr. Wilson's residence in Fredericksburg the idea was first sug gested of erecting a monument to tht memory of the mother of Washington there not being so much as stone or { board even 10 mark the spot where he dust was sleepingi its long sleep; and a: the Psesbyterians were at that time 1T need of new church, the scheme was adopted for combining the two things, and by connecting the monument with the church, to make the funds collected sub. serve to some extent, both purposes The effort was accordingly inaugurated and for time, prosecuted with consider able success. But very soon some of the Episcopaians raised strenuous opposi. ton, on the ground that the old lady hay. ing been faithful daughter oftheir church whilst alive, it was not proper or fair that she should be made a post-mortem Presby- eran. A heated controversy arose, and amid the din and dust of the conflict, the projected monument disappeared, and with 1t, also, most mysteriousy, the funds which had been contributed, and which have not come to light even to this day.
 Some years subsequent to this, a wealthy merchant of New York, inspired, it is said, with special reverence for the Washington family, from a tender regard for a lady of the connection, undertook the erection of monument, at his, own expense, over the grave, As has often been told by newspaper correspondents, the work went on until about two- thirds completed, when, unfortunately, by some commercial catastrophe, the benevolent and patriotic gentleman who had underta- ken it lost his large property. This, SC far as he was concerned, brought the mat ter to a stand. The citizens of Freder- icksburg would, no doubt, promptly have carried out the praiseworthy design, but the unhappy controversy in connection with the previous effort had engendered such feeling that nobody was willing again to meddle with it. The old fires were still smouldering, and a very little thing might rekindle the flame. Hence, though a score or more Of years have elapsed, the unfinished work still stands in statu quo "a very unpleasant abortion. In company with few friends 1 visited ii the other afternoon. It occupies knoll in field on the edge of the town, ad- joining the wall of family burying ground. The structure is of white mar. ble, some six or eight feet square, and perhaps twelve or fifteen feet high, orna. mented with small huled columns, and intended 10 have been surmounted by a shaft The massive block of marble fol the latter lays alongside, still in the erough as it came from the hands in the quarres as do also several pieces of stone, ever to those designed as the base for the ror railing which was 10 surround 1t. The impressions on the mind of the visitor are by no means agreeable, not only from the unfinished and ruinous appearance O things, but from the fact that lhe juvenile sportsmen of the town, thinking, probably that nobody respected it or cared for it have made 1t mark to shoot at, until the marble sides are completely bespattereC with bullets and sunken shot.
 A skillful workman, however, coulC soon remove these traces of Vandalism and very moderate sum would carry the projectors design to completion. l re spectlully submit to the ladies of our coun try, whether, when they shall have con summated their purposes in regard tt Mount Vernon, it might not we'll for then to evince still further veneration for Wash ipgton, by putting into some decent ant creditable shape the fabric which now dis graces his mothers grave.
 | TRADITIONS OF MRS. WASHINGTON.
 There are those still living here wht are able to speak from their personal re collections of ''Mary, the mother of Wash ington." A venerable lady with whom
 have been talking tells me that she cal