Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-04
The Mary washfngton Monument.
VIRGINIArs NOT MONUMENT Bull DING
PEOPLE.
Erra

KING GEORGE COUNTY.
Editor Star You are in an error in stating
that the monument to the memory of Mary,
the mother OF Washington, has had nothing
done to 1t since the imposing ceremonies of
laying the cornerstone. The design was to
erect an obelisk of some sixteen feet in height,
on pedestal, with proportionate base. The
in dimensions, were finished and " in place"
when the funds gave out, the contractor disap-
peared, and the work was abandoned. The
huge block for the obelisk was on the ground
and partly dressed, and now for a quarter of
century has lain overgrown with dense thicket
of weeds, discolored, and nearly buried in an
an eastern or western village Of a hundred
houses, the inhabitants, on the disappearance
of the contractor, would have finished that
90 stun" and had 1t in position without feeling
that they had taxed themselves very highly in
the effort. The truth is, we are
NOT MONUMENT BUILDING PEOPLE.
The wealthy on their large estates have pri-
vate cemeteries, in which a few erect tasteful
monuments over their departed ones, but none
cherish and keep alive their loving remem-
But the middle class and the poor lay away
their dead beside the generations that have
gone before in unenclosed sedge-felds, in I'M
marked graves among the stunted pines. We
NOT EVEN A MONUMENT PRESERVING PEOPLE
The founders of these vast estates, a century
and half ago, with English pride, buried on
their own domain, hoping that their successors
for long years. as in England could walk among
the graves of departed kin. But these plsnta-
lions have been exhausted by years Of isteful
culture, ana abandoned, and are now either
barren wastes, or in the hands of strangers
oyergrown with thickets or cultivated in corn.
Before the Association took hold of Mount
VERNON, the tomb of Washington itself was in
state OF shameful dilapidation. His fathers
tomb to-day has almost nothing to mark it, and
most OF his great contemporaries have little to
distinguish their final resting place from the
common herd, and the place of burial of his
immediate neighbor, one of the trainers of the
constitution and one of Virginia's ablest sons, Is
to-day unknown. Immediately below Mount
vernon. on the hills overlooking the "White
House" in the pine fores., amid almost impene-
table cedars, lies the slab which covers the re-
mains Of
"LADY FAIRFAX"
wife of the Lord Fairfax who was killed in the
wilderness of northern New York in the
"French and Indian WAL, % and whose body was
placed under the old Colonial church in Alba
ny. On the high bluffs which mark the mouth
of Potomac creek, in the same neglected seclu-
zion, lies man who at the close of the las:
century was the agent and confidential friend
of "'Charles Lord Fairfax" so the titles read,
himself OF immense wealth, and managing an
estate reaching from Smiths Point to the
sources Of the Potomac and Rappahannock. By
his side lies one who was leading politician
fifty years ago, and all over this early-settled
portion OF the State, in like neglected condi-
ton, you will find all that remains of the great
men who by their wealth or talents gave Vir-
ginia her influence in our early history. Their
lives are pointed to with pride, their conserva-
tsn Is initiated, their doctrines and principles
though inapplicable to the present, are adhered
to, but their earthly monuments remain TO be
built by other generations, and perhaps by peo-
pie from other chimes. NORTHERN NECK.
A SAC, 900 DIAMoND.-The New York Diamond
Company exhibited yesterday the largest dia-
m nnd nrrar INN rfn1 fnNn lsao
rough state it weighed so carats. The design
ing and cutting of this gem were done person
ally by Mr.. 1. Hermann, president of the COM
pauy. III was found In the South Africa dia-
mond fields, and valued in the rough at : nc, 900
1t lost about SO per cent. in cutting, and is now
valued at about so, 000 1t is not for sale, but
was exhibited as a choice specimen Of new
branch of industry established in this city.
which has so far advanced that it now rivals in
results of workmanship the best efforts of the
diamond workmen of Amsterdam. Five months
time was occupied in the cutting, and the bril-
liant, although slightly off color, being of a
delicate straw shade, lie a marvel of beauty
pour out new floods of light, until the eyes are
dazzled by its splendor-N I. Jour. Com.
The NEW HAMPSHIRE ELECTION TaIs
SPR1NG.-The present political campaign il
New Hampshire is the quietest ever known.
The republican state central committee feel
CONFIDENT that they will elect Gen. McCutchens
by a small majority, though there may be no
election by the people. Their canvass is com
plete for two hundred towns, and is about the
same as last year. The chairman claims thet
they will carry all the senatorial districts but
three, giving the democrats the tenth and the
eleventh districts and defeating an election in
the sixth. He also claims a majority in the
house. At the democratic headquarters thew
are equally confident, and claim TO be able to
elect Watson by good majority. In the sena
torial fight they expect to carry five districts
and defeat an election in another.
MARDI GRAs IN NAsHvrLLE.-The Nashville
hunR w 49, =
guage to express our sense of the outrage on all
decency perpetrated last week in Nashville
The mardi gras demonstrations were appalling
IN their obscenity and RIGHTEOUSNESS. Lewd
Fellows OF the baser sort paraded the streets In
the evening with loose women almost In state
OF nudity. Doggeries were visited by them
dances OF the most obscene character were per-
formed, and the miserable wretches of both
sexes were found at late hours OF the night
lyIPg about the streets, overcome by their
drunken debauch. And this lie the year of
grace, 1S14-this is the metropolis of Tennes-
see."
THE LASH In vIRGINIA.-In the circuit court
OF Henrico county, Va, on Saturday, in the
case Of the Commonwealth VS.. Peyton Walker
indicted for burglary, the jury found a verdict
ceDy, and the court sentenced the prisoner to
one months confinement in jail and to receive
twenty five lashes. The judge gave the accused
the choice of six months in jsil or thirty DAYS
in jail and twenty five lashes, and Walker chose
the latter. In this connection il may be re-
marked that bill WIS introduced in the Viz
ginia Senate on Saturday (Which is the case
every SESSION. TO repeal the law providing for
the punishment of citizens OF the common
wealth by stripes.
MARYLAND LRGIsLATURE.-In the MARYLAND
Senate yesterday the House bill providing for
the defence or the registers and judges of cleo
ton indicted in the United States court, and
appropriating $4,000 to defray the expenses,
was passed. The bill requiring the barber shops
to be closed on Sundays also passed the Senate.
Also, the bill authorizing the appointment of a
Chief of Detectives In the police force of Balti-
mere city, at q salary of $50 per week. In the
House Of Delegates the local option bill was dis
cussed, and made the special order of the day
for Tuesday, the 10th instant. The bill com
monty called the "dog law" passed the House