Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-17

| nkNBERo OF THE BOARD.
| ~ ~ CUNT VERNON was the scene o
| J" snotable gathering Of patriotic
| MX/gl women today, when the annual
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whose privilege and pleasure it 10 to see that
the old homestead Of the first President of
these United States is cared for as it should be
and kept as nearly as possible in the con-
dition in which it was left Every year the
ladies hold a meeting at Mount Vernon lasting
generally through a number Of days. At this
meeting all that has been done since the pre-
ceding meeting is reviewed and reported and
all necessary arrangements made for the en-
suing year. The old house is thrown open for
the use Of the regents, and for time at least it
has a more homelike appearance than the mere
presence OF boat loads OF visitors can ever give
to it. 1t Is not wholly deserted then at the
whistle OF the steamer as it returns to the
wharf. Other people are to be seen around
| the piazzss and lawns besides the resident
superintendent and his assistants.
To as many of the ladies as have already
gone down the sight of the old home must
have been peculiarly beautiful one. To all ,
Of course, it is q pleasing sight, but they have
the feeling that it is through their diligent
care that the well-kept condition Of the build
non and all its surroundings never looked NOR g
beautiful than they have this week. The place
is always we'll kept, to be sure. That fact every
one knows. But it really seems as though this
year the trees were greener, the lawns more
velvety. the outlook more charming and that
nature herself had We'd successfully with man
to do honor to the memory Of q great man.
HOW MOUNT VERNON IS GOVERNED.
The government of Mount Vernon is a simple
one. The whole property belongs to an asso-
citation of ladies from all parts Of the country
Their power is all-supreme now, but that they
have always welded it wisely and carefully is a
fact that is clear to the most casual observer
They have resident secretary and superin-
tendent, who looks out carefully for all their
interests and sees that everything is as it
should be- He has an assistant and number
OF men and women around to look after the
place under his supervision.
The board Of regents as it is now made up is
composed Of the following ladies': Regent
Mrs. l.. Manchester Laughton. Vice regents
Mrs. Margaret J. NJ. Sweat, Maine; Mrs. Cor
nelius l.. King, Vermont; Miss Alice NJ Long
fellow, Massachusetts,; Mrs Abby W. Chace,
Rhode Island; Mrs. Susan E. J. Hudson, Con-
nnecticut; Mrs; Justine V; R. Townshend, New
Miss Comegys, Delaware; Miss Emily L. Har-
per, Maryland; Mrs. Mary T. Barnes Wash
lngton. d. C.; Mrs. Emma r.. Ball, Virginia;
Mrs. Ella b. Washington, West Virginia; Mrs.
LeutHt walker, NOrtn CarOlna; Mrs. Lucy
H. Pickens, South Carolina Mrs. Ida NJ Rich
ardson Louisiana; Mrs. Cynthia H. P. Brown,
Tennessee; Mrs. Jennie NJ Ward Kansas; Mrs
Elizabeth l.. Broadwell, Ohio; Mrs Martha
Mitchell, Wisconsin; Mrs. Elizabeth A. Rath-
bone, Michigan; Mrs. Mary T. Letter, Illinois:
Mrs. Fanny G.. Baker, Florida; Mrs. Alice Hill
Colorado; Mrs. Rebecca B. Fandreau. Mime
sofa; Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst, California or
this number all but Mrs. Chace. Mrs. Brown,
Mrs. Broadwell, Mrs. Mitchell Mrs Letter and
naly
meeting this year. Mr.. E. Francis Riggs is
treasurer of the association, Mr.. Harrison H.
Dodge, superintendent, and there is an advi-
sorry committee, consisting of Judge Jos.P. Co
megys OF Delaware, Mr.. JUS ice Field of Cali
fornia, Hon. John s. Barbour of Virginia,
Hon. T. N. McCarter Of New Jersey, DR.. J. c.
Yelling OF Washington, D. c., and MIR. G. w.
Childs Of Philadelphia.
PROSPEROUS YEAR.
The past year has been the most prosperous
since the centennial year. The travel has
been greater and the receipts correspondingly
increased. During the year there have been
about 81, 900 visitors to the tomb. October the
month OF the conclave Of the Knights Templar,
was marked by the heaviest travel. During
that month there were $4,000 visitors, in one
week IL 900 and in one day 1000. Almost all
the receipts of the association have been spent
In repairs and reservations, and but few i'm
provements in the strict meaning Of that word,
have been made. The object Of the associa-
ton has always been to make the place Just as
it was during Washington's time and not to
make 1t look altogether too elegant. No new
rooms have been fitted up. The last of these
was finished three years ago by the vice regent
from Maine.
RESTORING THE SERVANTS QUARTERS
Within the year the old servants quarters by
the conservatory have been restored by the
vice regent from Kansas on behalf OF the
school children Of that state. who raised O., ZOO
for the purpose. Many Of the bricks were still
standing in position and all the old bricks were
used in rebuilding the structure. This was
built as nearly as could be on the plan of the
old building. One great Improvement, though
1t does not show at its true worth, was the re-
claiming OF the land on either side of the
wharf for distance Of about !, 800 feet. sea
wall has been built and the great cavities in the
rear filled up. The river had gradually under
mined the bank along here until portion of
the road had caved in and greater damage
was threatened. There were some accidents
last spring that did q great deal Of damage.
These were in the form of extensive land
slides along the river bank, and one came very
near wreckng the old tomb. considerable
sum OF money had to be expended in repair
ing the damage that these slides caused.
THE FARM.
The fields ofthe estate are gradually being
got back to condition by proper rotation of
crops. They were badly depleted by over-cul-
tivation, and out Of the 235 acres in the estate
less than 50 are now open to cultivation; the
rest is timber, swamp lands and lawns. With
the exception of these items mentioned the re-
ceipts OF the association have been expended
almost entirely in necessary repairs to the
mansion and to the several buildings, all of
which are of frame and need constant repairs
to keep them in proper condition. Visitors,
too, do great deal OF damage in the course Of
the year, and all this has to be attended to-
The association is by no means a rich one. Its
only reliable source of income is from the re-
ceipts Of the sale of tickets OH the boat and Of
this amount the association only gets a third
1t has always been supposed that the receipts
during the time Of the conclave were enor-
nous, yet in that whole month-the most pros
porous one in the history OF the association
they only amounted to little less than "a, 900.
THE LIBRARY.
There have been many additions to the
library during the past year, if not with books
actually owned by General Washington. at least
with books of similar editions to those he
possessed The books that Washington left to
Bushrod Washington were afterward sold to the
Boston Athen9um. This accounts for the small
number OF his books now at Mount Vernon.
Odd pieces OF furniture that belonged to him,
however, come into the possession Of the asso-
citation from time to time and these are
religiously cared for.
COLLECTION OF PORTRAITS.
DIR. Thomas Adds Emmett recently presented
the association with a collection of sixty por-