The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-05-24
MOUNT VERNON,
Annual Meeting OF the Regents-lntercsting Events
and i.i..

The annual meeting OF the Council OF the Regent
and Vice Regents Of the Ladies' Mount Vernon As.
sociation began at Mount Vernon on Wednesday,
ON Tuesday afternoon Mrs. Laughton, the Regent;
Mrs. Eve, Vice Regent, of Georgia; Miss Emily
sweat, OF Maine; Mrs. Halstead, OF New Jersey;
Mrs. Mitchell, OF Wisconsin; Mrs Walker, of North
Carolina; Mrs. Townsend, Of New York, and Mrs
Hudson, of Connecticut, went on the Corcoran TO
Mount Vernon after that steamer returned from her
regular trip. on Wednesday Mrs. Barnes, the Vice
Regent OF the District OF Columbia, who owing to
the many aiictions she has sustained In the loss OF
near relatives, had been unable for about four years
Carolina, and Mrs Richardson, of Louisiana, went
TO attend the meeting. These meetings, usually
Joyous reunion, as the ladies' are all fond of each
other, was naturally greatly saddened by sorrow for
the loss of two OF the Vice Regents since the
last meeting-Mrs. Herbert. of Alabama, and
Mrs. lulee, of Florida, both of whom died
In March in this city, out of respect TO their
memories no action will be taken this year to elect
successors TO them. 1t tiscustomary always TO leave
the places vacant Tor year after death has oc-
cured but there several other vacancies which
have continued for several years, which should be
fled. owing to ill-heath, Mrs. Broadwell, of Cin-
cinnati, Mrs Laughons cousin, not here to attend
the meeting as the Vice Regent of Ohio. Mrs. Chase
of Rhode Island, is in deep aficton for the recent
and several others are kept away by illness. Mrs
Washington, OF West Virginia, owing to sickness,
will probably not adjourn for several days. Captain
Blake, of the steamer Corcoran, says that during
the years since he began making trips to Mount
the weather as he did last winter, so the receipts
from passengers since last June not as great as
usual There were two successive winters, ls7I-'7s
and 1878 49, when he never lost but three days in all
from ice In the river, and made the trips as regt-
larry In the winter as in summer.
For the first time in four years the old custom of
the Virginia Legislature being represented at the
meeting of the council at Mount Vernon was fol-
lowed this year, and the Governor appointed the fol-
lowing gentlemen to represent the state: Lent.
Governor Lewis, Gen. James Mcdonald, Col Ed
ward f. PortlocE, and Col. Arthur Herbert. These
received on Thursday in the South Carolina room by
the Regent and Vice Regents These ladies' were
all very richly dressed for the OCCASION but all wore
black, either OF satin or brocaded grenadine, very
elegantly made and trimmed, and several of them
wore diamonds. Mrs. Barnes being in deep mourn-
ing, mad her dress trimmed with Grape. The gentle
men named above were each introduced to Mrs
Laughton, and by her in turn to each OF the vice
Regents who was present.
Mrs. Pckens, of South Carolina, Is naturally yery
proud OF the additions made through her exertions
TO the south Carolina room. in which this reception
took place. 1t Is now one OF the handsonest rooms
in the house. on the floor Is costly rug and at the
windows very elegant tapestry curtains. The old
has been renovated, and is now q much admired
piece of furniture The fender and fire set belonged
Governor Rutledge, of South Carolina, one of the
signers OF the Declaration OF Independence The
fender was presented by one of his descendants,
Mrs. William u. Reese, OF Nashville, Tenn. Por-
these is of Mrs. PicGenss late husbands ancestor,
Gen. Pickens, of the Revolutionary War, which was
presented by the city OF Charleston S. G. Another
u OF Gen. Moultrie OF the same war, and was pre-
sented by the Cincinnati Society, of South Carolina.
The third portrait is that of Gen. De Kab presented
Washington has been presented TO this room by the
Masons of South Carolina, because he was the first
modelled from Houdon's cast, which was taken from
lfe and this one has on the breast the Grand Mas
ier's Jewel. As a pedestal for this genuine pal
metto log from South Carolina was brought Mount
Vernon Thursday. 1t Ia suitably inscribed.
II was touching scene on Thursday to al who
understood the circumstances when Representative
q
hanging in the hal. which his late wife (who died
only In March) undertook in the name OF Alabama,
whose Vice Regent she was, TO refurnsh, OF the old
and rare engravings she had secured for this hall
before her death. The amount of labor she cheer
fully accomplished while in feeble health to ascer
tain what decorations and pictures this hall had
had In Wasnngton's time, and TO secure for t ell
cravings from ne original block. can be appreci
ated fully only by those who have undertaken
similar task. She not only read and studied de-
scrpons of the hall as was, but Travelled tar and
near 10 get the engravngs and after her death her
sorrowing husband, as last labor of love, COM
pleted and perfected her work, which Is alike
monument TO Mrs. Herbert's zeal and patri-
otism as well as to the great founder of
our Republic, whose memory she sought
to honor in the name of Alabama and the tender
work just she. wished 1t TO be DONE 1t Is GER
tainly singular coincidence that Washington, hav-
the Battle of Bunker Hill with death Of Warren in
the foreground and Battle Of Quebec with death of
Montgomery should have received them Just before
his death, chat is TO say the same year, 1897 and
that Mrs. Herbert, who sought to replace them
with ,fac sirnfies, should have succeeded in
obtaining them so shortly before her death.
So Representative Herbert must have looked upon
them in that same hall with much the feelings
OF sorrow for lost wife, who had ordered them, as
Martha Washington must have experienced In look
ing after the death Of her husband upon the self
same block which her husband had ordered 10 he
hung there too late TO enjoy them long himself.
The engravlngs are the Battle of Bunker Hill" and
Battle Of Quebec" companion pieces engraved by
Muller after Trumbull's paintings, the sorte from
Gibraltar, and two very old companion pieces "The
Dancing Shepherds" and "Pastoral Piece" en-
graved by BOsswert, after Rubens. All these pic
lures are framed in handsome style. and while the
frames were recently made, they are modelled from
these OF Washingtons time, some Of them being
copied from those at Tudor Place. Georgetown,
owned by Mrs Kennon. on the north side of the
hall, In frame OF old gold background of pur-
pie plush, Is Gen. WasniDgtons sword, which he
wore at BraddOck's defeat. This came through
George Lewis, and was procured by Mrs. Herbert
from the family OF Fielding Lewis, OF Comorne, Va.
on each side OF this bronze bas-reiefs or WASH
,ngton and Lafayette, and beneath the sword Ia
framed inscription OF great eloquence-an extract
relating to the future use OF his sword in Washing
toms will.
The banquet, which was served Just before o'clock
on Thursday, was IN the Massachusetts room, and
was attended by the Regent, Vice Regents. board OF
visitors named above, Mr. w. W. Corcoran, and his
niece, Miss Jones, and a few others. Mrs. Barnes
naturally felt too sad TO be present with so gay a
party, 80 took her lunch in Col HollingswOrths Of
flee alone with a lady friend.
Among the many other visitors on Thursday to
Mount Vernon were, In addition to those above
named, Mrs Macomb, VINO had not been there for
thirty years. and who accompanied friends, Major
and Mrs. Slack and their danghter-in-law and
friend from New Jersey, and Ex-Goyernor key-
The annual meeting was continued yesterday In
the mansion house on the grounds. The time was
occupied IN stening 10 the report OF Superintendent
HOlliDgswort, as well as that OF the purser OF The
boat and steward OF The house. The three reports
were very favorable and met with the unanimous
approval OF the Regents. The meeting will continue