Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-20
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 20.
Mount Vernon.

Not many mouths ago the attention OF the
women of this country was called to the TACT
that the home Of Washington had passed out
If the hands of the "Nlonnt Vernon Assocla-
tiop,' and had become the property OF an III.
dividua and all connected Herewith was ap-
nropriated to private use This was accom-
plished through cunning clause inserted In a
second charter which was lobbied through the
Virginia Assembly three years after the hrst.
Although both these charters distinctly specify
that only an admittance fee OF twenty i've cents
shall be demanded Of a citizen for the prlVll-
eye of viewing the home OF Washington, 10 De,
6ance Of law aud public opinion the Regent aoo
her halt-duZ.n associates have placed the suth
at fifty-six cents, and under 10 circumstances
will these women devlale tlon this unlawful
rule.
The Centennial Committee of the District,
who have inaugurared the pilgrimage to the
tomb on Saturday, to-day, have TO deposit at
Mount Verueu ftty-six cents for every passen,
ger landed, Notwithstanding the fact that this
patriotic enterprise may end in bankruptcy.
Let it be recorded that the press, with It's
usual liberaIity furnished the placards, tickets,
and advertisements free. The owner OF the
steamer asks simply the running expenses OF
the boat. The musical services are, at the call
of patriotism, free, while the generous citizens
of the District send their donations without
money or price. But, nding on the wharf,
OF classic Mount Verbon,- may be seen the
modern female Shylock deaf to the call OF
patriotism, deaf TO everything but the pound
of flesh in the shape Of the 6ttysx cents.
After the great Tea party, 1t is said, hand.
some sum from the proceeds was invested 10
Centennial stock for the benz fit of Mount Yer
non. The attention of the patriotic women oil
Philadelphia is called to the fact that their
generous donation only serves to strengthen
the hands of talt. dozen women, who, with.
out limit of law or knowledge OF the public
can put this money to any purpose winch best
suits their whms or caprice. These ladies SIT
With closed doors, excluding the press aud the
people, and, by means of that cunnlDgly- devils
ed clause, trampe on the spirit of the charter
as the following facts will prove: ..... ......
The twepty.fv cents admlttance tee was
specified by the Virginia Assembly as sun
sufficient to keep the home 10 repair. 1t was
never intended that, the Mecca of America
should become speculation, but these women
have more than doubled the admittance fee.
They allow no boat except the Arrow,
to touch the classic shores They have
built huge eating house, where all sorts
of viands are disposed of at an enormous
profit. Horned cattle crap the precious
grass that milk may be furnished at so much
per glass; Plants and bouquets FROM the gar
den and greenhouse are sold at double their
Intrinsic worth, owing TO the near proximity to
the tomb of Washington Photographs relat-
ing to this superb speculation are sold at ad-
vaoced rates, and canes, Gu, frcm an iuexhaus-
tible source, are disposed OF for twenty. five
cents apiece.
Thousands of people annually f'ck to Mount
Vernon. The editors excursion party. the dit
tereDt societies which have sprung up in dit,
ferent parts of the Union, the ''happy pair"
all feel when they visit Washington that this
holy shrine must be reached, What must be
the opinion of the foreigner when he sees US
ping up the greenbacks aud small currency on
the hottest spot Of the Republic? Who is re-
sponsibe for this shameful outrage? Better
that the grave of the Father OF his
Country sink into the waves Of the
river he loved so well-Emily Ellison Briggs,
"Oltvia," in the Washington Chronicle.