The Evening critic., 1882-05-25
MOUNT VERNON ASSOCIATION.
Annual Council of the Regent and
Vfce-Rcgeufs.

The annual council OF the regent and vice.
regents OF the Mount Vernon Ladies' Assocla-
tlon began yesterday at the mansion. There
were present at the opening session at
O'Clock fourteen members, Mrs. John Scott
Laughton, OF Pennsylvania, the regent of the
association, presiding. Tho other ladies are
Miss Emily Harper, of Maryland Mrs. Barry,
of Illinois; Mrs. yulee, of Florida; Miss Alice
Longfellow, Of Massachusetts,; Mrs. Eve, OF
Georgla Mrs. Sweat of Maine Mrs. Governor
pickens, OF South Carolina; Mrs. Broadwell,
Of Ohio; Mrs. Halstead, OF New Jersey; Mrs.
Howard Townsend, OF New York; Mrs. Alex.
Washington, of West Virginia, and Mrs. Her
bert, of Alabama. The latter lady is the wife
Of Representative Herbert, and is present at
the council for the first time, being one OF the
latest nppointees.
The annual report Of Colonel Hollingsworth,
the superintendent, was submitted, and also
the report OF the regent, Mrs. Laughton.
The process OF reproduction or restoration
OF the wornout parts of the mansion is nearly
tion being worthy Of the highest commenda-
tion. The finishing touches in the way of re-
storing the original appearance t,a,,the library
are just completed, having been Supervised by
Miss Longfellow, who selected that apartment
as the room for the State of Massachusetts.
mission at Annapolis In in iSs3 has been bee pre- pre-
sented to the Mount Vernon Association by
GeorgeI Bristow, A. NJ, OF Baltimore, and
hung In the library. In the main hall of the
mansionft was thought necessary, as a pre-
cautfonary measure, TO strengthen the upper
stories by two pillars and connecting iron gr-
ders. portion of the ceiling In the banquet
ball Che New York room), which has fallen,
has been restored.
The West Virginia room, which is that called
the green-room in Washington's occupancy,
has been restored to Its original look. The
walls have been painted faint yellow, and
the cornices and woodwork bronze green.
From designs in Washington's own sketching,
the Dimensions have been found to exactly ac-
cord with the fireplace In this room, and other
facts hunted up In connection with 1t show the
authenticity Of tho restoration. Mrs. Colonel
Washington, the vicc-regent for West Virginia,
and a greatgreat-grandniece OF Washington,
has sought out from among her relatives, oil
descendants OF the Washington family, an
interesting number of the relics and val
uable records. Some of the furniture and
ware used originally in the mansion Will
after these years be again returned there.
on the walls OF the West Virginia room
has been recently hung an old painting
OF the Falls OF Niagara, which was presented
to Samuel Washington by George Washington.
Through Mrs. Berry, OF Illinois, La Fayette's
room at the mansion has been enriched by O
Louis XIV. chair used by General La Fayette,
and lately presented to the association by q
descendant Mrs. Laughton, the regent, was
presented by Rev. e. ID. Neale, of Minnesota
| who was the private secretary of President
| ter College, endowed by Mrs. Laughton's
| father, with an original draft OF accounts be
| tween tho Hon. George William Fairfax and
| Washington, in the latter's own handwriting
The council will continue In session each
| day this week, and will remain until Decora
| tion Day, when the tomb will be decorated by
| the ladies; as is their custom.