The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-11-17
THE ROMANCE OF MT. VERNON.

A Washington correspondent of the New
/ York Sun says 1t was in 1853 that Colonel
John Washington saw that Mount Vernon
would have to go by the auctioneeT's ham,
mer if something did not turn up, And here
comes in the romance of Mount Vernon A
woman who had been a confirmed invalid
since her nineteenth year raised fund of
5000, 600, and embodied a plan that gave
Mount Vernon to the nation. This was
Anne Pamela Cunningham. of South Caro-
lima. She was an only and INDUCED dauPh-
ter. In her childhood she had visited Mount
Vernon, and when she resigned Fall of life
except that which could be enjoyed in a sick
room, in her early wOmanhood, she took hold
of project to buy Mount Vernon, or rather,
the project took hold of her. 1t is one of the
most singular instances of indomitable ener-
gy.and practical perseverance recorded. This
frail woman. from her sick bed. aroused an
enthusiasm, especially among Southern wO-
men thatresuted in a splendid success. She
inspired Edward Everett with her spirit. and
his lecture on Washington poured money into
the treasury. She interested Nine LIE Vert
and Mrs. Cora Mowatt Ritchie and in 1860
it was accomplished the house, the tomb of
Washington, and 200 acres of land belonged
to a national organization. The Legislature
of Virginia granted a very sensible charter
to the organization. The capital stock was
limited to $500, 600. 1t was granted in per-
petuaity, and no disposition of the property
could be made without the consent of the
Legislature. None of the Washington fam
lily 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
brick vault where there are only the two
tembs. 'Hats off, is the stringent rule at
the grave even the most fiippant are we'd
into something like reverence. During some
of the bloodiest days of the war Mount Yer
non was treated as neutral ground, and SOL
diers of both armies were seen fraternizing
under the trees that guard the tomb
Frequent description cannot destroy the
interest of the house. Year by year improve
ments are made by the regents. AS far as
practicable every State has room ornament
ed with relics of Revolutionary times, ar
ranged in the style that prevailed at Mount
Vernon during the lifetime of Gen. Washing
ton. Hanging in the entrance ball is the KEY
of the bastile, sent to Washington by Lafay-
cite; and over the door of what is called the
state dining room is Washington's field glass
placed on its perch by the hand of Washing
tou himself, and never since removed. The
mantel and hearth in the dining room are of
marble and extremely curious. They were
sent to Washington from France. On the
way the ship bearing the gifs was captured
by pirates When they found that this mar
BILE was intended for Washington they took
an opportunity of landing it on American
shores, and it was forwarded to Mount Yer
non. IN the South Carolina room hangs the
portrait OF Anna Pamela Cunningham. She
has refined and thoughtful face, with deep,
meaning eyes The attic room which Mrs.
Washington chose after Gen. Washington's
death, and in which she died, is almost in the
identical condition in which she left it.
In a quaint little drawing room-Nelly
Custiss rawing rOOm-is the grand harpsi-
chord, as large as modern grand piano,
which Washington gave her as a wedding
gift. This was the grand-niece of Mrs.
Washington, not heI daughter Nelly, who
died unmarried at twenty-five In the
grounds stands rose bush. where, tradition
relates, Nelly Custis received her first offer,
and walking around thisirOse bush six times
brings every young lady who believes in the
spell an offer of marriage within the year,