Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-25


promoted by these associations met the public
pprova and their management was honest and
faithful.
The enterprise has a higher and nobcr pur
pose than sny that has been proposed By those
to whom 50 much OF the popular conf ience and
support has been given. A great war devastated
the noble Commonwealth: Such general dis
tress has rarely afflicted people as has been
brought upon Virginia within the last fifteen
years. The Virglnian women, in the long, slow
agonles that followed i'll the path OF the great
strife, have endured more even than the Viz,
ginisn mon. For the men there are still left
open some Of the ways for useful industry and
successful enterprise But where can many of
our distressed ladies find field for useful labor
and remunerative employment. Ii | were
skilled in the phrase of eulogy might truth
fully employ it all on the high traits OF charac-
ter that have been displayed by the women of
Virginia. Yet can we only pity their distress
while we praise their merits The founders of
this charity give manly response, and propose
the hrst comprehensive acLiou for the relief OF
our distressed women. They seek to establish
for them u home at Montpelier, and to provide
on that beautiful Piedmont estate some of the
comforts OF q home for those interesting victims
of unavoidable distress. Others may present
more magnificent objects OF enterprise. None
can otter one that so touches the sensbilities Of
good men or so appeals to the generous senti-
ments which are cutivsted by manly chivalry.
Such is our object. If the means which we
employ are appIauded when used TO collect
Libraries, construct buildings, and adorn parks
for leisure, recreation, or mental Improvement,
who shall criticise them when applied to the
noble enterprise in which the Virgninn farmers
who lnaugurated this association have embark
ed? Those gentlemen of the Piedmont counties
who originated this enterprise knew the Mont
peer estate before tfroy arranged to purchase it
for this work TO those who have visited Mont-
peier, the former residence of President Mad
Ycnr lln@
have not been so fortunate | cannot sketch it
justly. The farm contains eleven hundred acres
OF line land, comparing favOrabiy with any
farm of equal size in the State Four hundred
acres are in original growth, chiefly OF oak,
hickory and chestnut. Its beautiful garden and
line orchard afford flowers and fruit. The fine
water and pure atmosphere Of that Piedmont
residence combine to make it (as is all that sur
rounding country one of the most healthiul
locations in the world. l certainly know no
place SO lit for the purpose proposed by this AS
ISOLATION rs Montpelier We shall hoaor tue
memory Of its former illustriouS proprietor if we
succeed i'll the (tfort to appropriate Montpelier
to the noble charity proposed by this association.
The delay IN lnaugurating our work by this
first drawing has annoyed the managers quite
as much rs 1t can have vexed any one OF the
ticket holders. We have employed our best en-
ergies, and have now q measure Of success that
is calculated to encourage al who feel an inter-
est in the mplishment Of our purposes.
Inc single tact that we employ in the different
States OF the Union more than five hundred
agents Will Indicate the magnitude, d I'll ulty,
and expense of the business which we conduct
None Of the managers were experts in this
business, anG Ill their anxiety that ii should be
conducted with prudence and integrity they
were cautious and slow in calling to their aid
those who had experience. From the report
maze to the directors by the secretary (Which
we will direct to be real to YOU it appears that
4o,0OO tickets have been sold. Corresponding
numbers are now in that wheel. The drawing
will be conducted undor tho supervision Of
Lieut. Gov. Henry w. Thomas, Judge James
Sangster Col M. d. Ball, Col Lew Washing
ton, and COL 4 w. Falls More than fifty per
cent of the tickets remain unso.d, and have
been destroyed. A rateablo reduction ought
OF course, to be made in the payment OF the
prizes advertised. But fifty per cent will be
paid This does exact justice to the purchasers
of the tickets and to the association.
In order that the ticket holders shall have MS
surance that every number sold is represented
IN the wheel the inspection Of ticket holders is
Invited vt the close of the drawing For this
purpose every facility will be afforded by the
officers in charge
trust that what has been done by the man
ayers will give satisfaction to all who take An
Interest in this work. l know that the u. II.
ayers have Spared no effort or precauLion to
secure justice to all.
Telegram to the New York press denying
the report Of the swiudle
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Oct. 5.-The publication
in the New York papers WAS founded on II state
ment IN one OF the evening papers OF this city.
Every member of the com mlttGe diSclaims hay
ing intlmsted a remark that justified the state
ment. The committee commenced the cxam-
nation this morning, and their report must ex-
pose the newspaper statement.
WIN. G. WILLIAMS,
Vico President Montpelier Female Humane
Association.
Gard from the New York Herald, October
7k:
A CARD-To TUE TICKET HOLDERS OF THE
MoNTPEL1Ea FEM LIE HUMANE ASSOCIATION:
Having noticed in your evenings issue state
ment relative to a swindle in the above enter
prise, thereby throwing odium and disgrace
upon the New York office and the endeavors of
the Association, and having been connected with
the same since this Office first opened, we deem
1t our duty, in justice to ourselves and the pub
lie At large, to make q full and correct state
ment large majority of all the tickets dis
posed of were from this office, through all the
principal cities and towns Of the United States.
Every ticket sold, with the numbers OF the same
selected from the whole one hundred thousand
was forwarded to Alexandria, to the care of E.
T. Alstrop Secretary Of the Association. These
numbers We're placed in the quilts by three
young ladies' of Alexandria, whose characters
lor honesty and integrity are above reproach
They were also counted by the same young la
dies and scaled up by Mr.. Aistrop until the
morning of the 3Uth of September. They were
then placed IN the wheels in the presence of the
judges committee, anda large concourse OF peo
pie, at that place all of which was perfectly sat-
lstactory to all present at that time The draw
ing commenced at IL o'clock q. M and closed on
the morning of October l. Up to this time, as
every one will attest, there was not the least dis
satisfaction on the part of any one present. The
wheels and contents, at the solicitation of Hon.
Judge Barbour, President of the Association,
were then placed in the hands of n committee for
investigation. Up to this time everything was
straight and corr ect,s weare prepared to prove
left for New York on Saturday evening, leav.
ing the wheels in charge of the committee.
What may have been done between Saturday
night and Monday morning, am unable to say.
II anything, 1t was the fault of that committee
The statement relative to the money having
been solely entrusted to sharpers in this city,
and not being subject to draft of the officers.
and not bona fde ticket holder has been heard
from" is false in every sense. There has up to
the present time been presented to this off q
over SIS, COO worth of prize tickets, and among
the same is the capital prlz,, purchased by E.
n