The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-02-14

MARY WASHINGTON.

MARY WAsIsINGToN.
The Mary Washington Monument As
ISOLATION of Fredericksburg, Va, has is
sued the following appeal to the people Of
America.
"It has been one hundred years since
Mary Washington died and was buried, at
her own request, in a beautiful spot in the
borders of the town of Fred
ericksburg, Va. 4 good and noble woman
she was. Early in life a widow, she stood
brayely in her difficult lot, and reared her
family in principles of patriotism, integrity
and piety, and then lived TO old age to illus
trate the virtues she taught. It was Mary
Washington who gave her frst-born son
that magnificent physical form, with its
extraordinary powers of action and endur-
ance, that self-poised mental force. that
power to command, that calm dignity and
gentle grace which robed the uncrowned
King of the American people with a maj.
esty perhaps unequalled by any character
the world has ever seen, and who gave her
son a supreme regard for right, and taught
him in confessed weakness to look to God
for strength and guidance.
"We have long looked with sorrow upon
her ruined tomb. The unfortunate bust
ness failure Of a generous ind patriotic cit
izen Of New York, who over fifty years
ago undertook to build a beautiful and
costly monument at her grave; his earnest
desire that it should not be completed by
others so long as he lived and Hoped TO re-
cover his fortunes; the exposures of the
war period; the desolations of battle field,
and the long-cherished but disappointed
hopes OF an appropriation from the United
States Congress-ali these nave brought as
to the present time, with the tomb ia its
present condition. The responsibilities of
any further neglect will rest upon all the
people Of this country. At last our hopes
are revived. a general sentiment is rising,
stimulated by the meeting at the Old South
Westinghouse, Boston. and by the action
of the Washington Post, and has found a
widespread expression that the time has
come for action by the people to rebuild
this and -affectionately preserve
it as a grateful memorial Of a great Araeri-
can mother.
with confidence in the disinterested
and patriotic end at which we aim, we
appeal to ur great American Republic to
aid US in our work. Let tile 22d Of Feb
ruary, 1890, the anniversary of the day
when this great woman gave birth to her
first-born son, be marked and celebrated
By contributions all over the land to this
pious cause. Let subscriptions be opened
By newspapers. Let local associations of
ladies be formed with a fee Of one hundred
dollars per member, and let the money col
lected he forwarded, from time to time, to
the National Bank Of Fredericksburg. Va.
AS the gathering of funds progresses, pub
lie notification will be made; and when the
amounted contributed shall be deemed
adequate We will spare no effort to secure
an enduring monument, as appropriate and
beautiful as art can make. which shall be
guarded and respected by our children and
by theirs to the latest days. The city of
Fredericksburg will make it the center of
a public square, with wide avenues of APP
proach, aud the American people may
come, and all the world look on. and see
that republics are not ungrateful. And
among all the many monuments to the Ma
tons heroes Of war and peace. there shall
be one to a woman, a wife and mother,
who sought 10 publicity Tor herself but
gave the most magnificent gift this
country has ever re~eaived-her son 60 be
it's Father.
"Let every reader of this appeal deem it
a duty and a privilege to contribute to this
long-negleeted patriotic work.-Mr James
Power Smith, President; Mrs. james F.
Thompson, Secretary; National Bank of
Fredericksburg, Va, Treasurer.