The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-12-01
TRE RUMAEuE uf MOUNT vEKNuN.
The Great Achievement of an Invalid
Woman Nelly Custis' ROsebush.


The Great Achievement of an Invalid
Woman Nelly Custis' ROsebush.
New York Sun
1t was in 1858 that Col John Washington
saw that Mount Vernon would have to go by
the auctoneer's hammer if something did not
turn up And here comes in the romance Of
Mount Vernon. woman who had been
confirmed invalid since her nineteenth year
raised fund of 500, 600 and embodied plan
that gave Mount Vernon to the nation. This
was Anne Pamela Cunningham of South Caro-
lima. She was an only and INDUCED daughter
In her childhood she had visited Mount YER
non, and when she resigned all of life except
that which could be enjoyed in sick room,
in her early womanhood, she took hold of
project to buy Mount Vernon, or rather the
project took hold of her. II is one of the most
singular instances of indomitable energy and
practical perseverance recorded This frail
woman from her sick bed, aroused an enthus-
iasm, especially among southern women, that
resulted in splendid success. She inspired
Edward Everett with her spirit, and
money into the treasury She interested
Nine. lie Vert and Mrs Cora Mowatt Richie,
and in 1860 it was accomplished; the house,
the tomb of Washington, and 200 acres of land
belonged TO a national association. The legis-
lature of Virginia granted a very sensible
charter to the association. The capital stock
was limited to 9500.0O0 1t was granted in
perpetuity, and no disposition Of the property
could be made without the consent of the
legislature. None Of the Washington family
thereafter was to be inferred at Mount Vernon,
and the key Of the vault was thrown into the
Potomac river Around the marble tombs of
George and Martha Washington is a wooden
flooring which if stepped upon starts an
electric alarm at the house. Through the
open iron work one looks into the brick vault
where there are only the two tombs. "Hats
off" is the stringent rule at the grave: even
the most iiippant are awed into something like
reverence. During some Of the blOodiest DAYS
of the war, Mount Vernon was treated as
neutral ground, and soldiers of both armies
were seen fraternizinS under the trees thai
guard the tomb.
Frequent description cannot destroy the in
terest of the house. Year by year improve
ments are made by the regents. As far as
practicable every state has a ROOM ornament
ed with relics of revolutionary times, arranged
IN the style that prevailed az Mount Vernon
during the lifetime of Gen Washington
Hanging on the entrance hall is the key of the
Bastile, sent to Washington by Lafayette; and
over the door of what ID called the state din
ing-room is Washington's field glass placed on
its perch by the hand Of Washington himself,
and never since removed The mantel and
hearth in the dining-room are of marble, and
extremely curious. They were sent to Wash
ington from France. On the way the ship
bearing the gift was captured by pirates
When they found that this marble was intend
ed for Washington they took an opportunity of
landing it on American shores and it was for
warded to Mount Vernon. In the South Caro-
lima room hangs the portrait of Anne Pamela
Cunningham. She has a refined and thought
full face with deep, meaning eyes. The attic
room which Mrs. Washington chose after
Gen. Washington's death, and in which she
died is in almost the identical condition in
which she left it,
In quaint little drawing room-Nellie
Custis' drawing room-is the grand harpsi-
chord, as large as a modern grand piano,
which Washington gave her as we'd
ding gift This was the grandniece of Mrs.
Washington, not her daughter Nellie who died
unmarried at twenty-five. In the grounds
stands rosebush, where, tradition relates,
Nellie Custs received her first offer, and
walking around this rosebush six times
brings every young lady who believes in the
spell an offer of marriage within the year.
The place is managed upon the most prac-
teal plan. The greenhouses are made
source Of revenue as well as the farm Only
one boat is allowed to land passengers there,
and tho entrance fee of dollar foots up
handsomely at the end of the year. In the
old-fashioned kitchen a very good lunch may
be obtained, served by colored walters A
place in good order, and if the general and
Mrs Martha could return for an hour no
lnnhL Lhnu 1ynnld anailn arnrnrinnlu