The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-21
Martha Washington's Crave
Near Freder

Outside OF the enclosure We're two
graves, one tina, ot Mrs Washington aud
the other that of an unknown cUlored
woman. When they commenced 70
build monument over Mrs. " a>hingtou
some years after her death, her resting
place was pointed out by one Of be ola
funeral After the base Of the monu-
ulent, with is pillars, had been erected
aud when, IN fact the monument was
completed all but a slender shaft, the
citizen changed his mind or his memory
and informed the managers that he had
made mistake aud that the monument,
instead OF being placed, as they supposed
over the grave of the Generals mother
was, in fact, over the colored woman :
grave. When they went TO work to re
pair this error by moving the monument,
the able pioneer again changed his mind
and finally became 80 doubtful aud dis
satisfied with himself thai the managers
gave up the job In disgust aud the monu
ment has never been finished TO this day
There it stands. if not monument OF
the mother OF Washington. at least
monument to the sioth and decay TO
public spirit in Virginia. just at its
base hes PROSTATE shaft of undrcssed
marble, twenty feet in length, meaut for
the capital OF the mouu nent The
storm sof many years have swept over it,
and the sunshine of many summers have
warmed its marble SUI face but no in
fiuence III Virginia has been found
strong enough to raise il from lis degra-
ed resting place aud plant it on top OF
u n.a,-. IL. Il hnE.. l..
such a strange state OF aiT .irs % the
powerful iuhabltants, | was told thae
bill was b. fore Congress 10 complete the
monument and keep the ground around
1t In repair. Congress agdiu. o, thou
unfailing refuge Of Ingenious paupers
Not alone the Mecca Of IaLd- grabbers
and lobbyists OF every shape aud size,
but the paradise of ali misery aud spirit
less thousands, who want to convert
their own lack OF local pride and self
respect into government cashl Here is
but one more sickening Illustration. We
don't want any more statues Of George
Washington The woo.s O. this country
are full Of them. Every first class citizen
has one in his back yard OF perched in
his library. You can fire a gun any
place in the United States, without de
facing an image of the immor al George
But the poor old lady who tended him
through collie and meaGles, and snatched
him from an early grave, is remembered
with cheap john structure iu d state OF
paralysis and decay. rs Virginia Is the
only Commonwealth entillcd TO the re-
mains Of Mrs. Washington her State
pride should be quoted low ia the mar
ket. The Mother of Presidents is the
name the Old Dominion.rather likes to
40 by; but she negIect> the mother Of
the first and greatest President she ever
produced. Apropos of this, let me tell
a story. Not long since few scions OF
Virginia were discussing the historic
magnitude of their Commonwealth. the
eulogy being FURNISHED off by Randolph
Tucker, in glowing tribute to the
mother of Presidents Yes > said Sena
tor Ransom. of North Carolina, with
cruel smirk, but like all other mothers,
she has ceased to breed st Louis
Spectator.
We don't believe Senator Ransom used
any such indelicate expression South
+, rn mothers are respected by their SONS.