Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-11-01

rms APPEAL rs ADDRESSED.


The grave of MARY, the MOTHER OF
WASHINGTON, lies neglected anddesoiate;
monument begun there. but never CON-
pleted. stands biackened and dilepidated
We wound rescue from total Oblivion the
name of a woman whose memory should
be hallowed in every American home, and
a national tribute to her noble motherhood
by erecting monument to her honor.
This is a woman's movement says
the first circular issued, national in its
character, for raising The needed sum by
such small contributions that no woman
in the land need be deprived OF the priv
ilege Of aiding cause that must appeal to
the heart of every mother and daughter in
America.
This will be the first monument ever
erected by women to woman. Mary
Washington was Of a heroic nature, patri-
otto soul, tender spirit, and uncommon
mental gifts. She was the finest type Of
the brave and devoted woman who ruled
the households of the Colonies in those
days when our freedom t-embled In the
balance. Do we not stand reproached be-
fore the world? Should we not make am
pie atonement for the neglect under which
has lain for long years the memory of the
mother Of the greatest hero and patriot
.. that adorns the annals of hlstoryY 1t
is a sad spot, that desolate grave where
has rested for hundred years, amid tam
gied masses of humble weeds and grass,
the noble woman so beloved and reyered
by her noble son, who proudly declared,
/" | attribute all my success in life to the
moral, intellectual, and physical educa-
ton which received from my mother"
Should not this touch the hearts of our
women and make them cling tenderly to
her memory rs proud heritage? A pre-
cious memorial will be the monument
they shall place above her sacred dust,
and consecrated the ground where she re-
poses.
The women of America should be "heart
moved as by the voice of trumpet!"
when this appeal comes to them. To her
we are indebted that George Washington
became patriotic American citizen. To
her is due that grand character, castin such
heroic mould, that union of gigantic ener-
gy, indomitablc resolution, and dauntless
courage which marked him the first OF his
countrymen 1t was she who kindly kim
died noble principles and purposes in his
soul. At her side his genius budded and
expanded. But for her wisdom and spirit
he would have passed his youth upon the
deck Of a British man-of-war, trained for
Englands service, and the sword which
cleft the way to our victory would have
been drawn for our oppressor.*
Women are giving their time and ener-
gies to building monuments to men. Their
success is phenomenal. But the time has
come when there must be commemorated
in enduring marble the virtues of wo-
man, who shall be always to them the par
agon Of womanly excellence. Nothing is
left undone to raise to higher plane in
this and foreign countries the memory oil
George Washington; but for years this be-
loved and faithful-hearted mother, whose
protest against the plans of others to give
him to England made him OURS forever,
has but a dilapidated ruin to mark her
gravel
Behind the cleaning marble the artist
stands proclaiming his immortal workman
ship. What sculptor can point to a work
equal to THAT of Mary Washington TWAS
she who moulded into grand symmetrical
proportions this character so nearly per-
fect-it was she who gave him to his coun-
try.
WOMEN OF AMERICA, marshal your
forces! Begin the work with energies
quiekened by the thought that she is
YOURS!
Let every one of her sex, whatever her
condition, come with her contribution.
She who commands millions, will she not
give thousands She who by arduous
daily toll earns a pittance, may she not
cheerfully add her mitef
We would not that this monument be
built by few generous men and women
alone we want the pennies of the poor as
well as the dollars of the rich. We would
have every woman to share in the proud
privilege of associating herself by her con-
tribution in the work of erecting an i'm
perishable memorial to that epitome OF
womanly virtues and graces-HARY, THE
MOTHER OF OUR BELOVED WASHINGTON
This Appeal comes to you from the Ma
tional Mary Washington Memorial Asso
citation, chartered February, %, 1890, in
the District of Columbia.
Mrs. Senator Faulkner is now
preparing to organize an association
in our town, and as it is the earnest
desire of the association to make
this popular national tribute from
all classes and ages, and burden to
none, an opportunity will very soon
be given to the people of our town
to respond to the above appeal y
by an entertainment, for the purpose
of raising a fund to aid in this noble
work.