The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-22

Shall the Tomb Of the Mother of Washing
ton lie Dcsccr;ucd?


ton lie Dcsecrttcd?
To the Editor Of the Times:
A visit to the historic old town Of Fred
erickhurg. SIX years ago, stirred many tender
and pathetic movements of thought and Of
ceiling which have not vet ceased TO flow as
inspirations of life and Of love for Virginia,
~ men and her women, ana for the causes
"A nd principles of which she and they lave
formed part. 4 stroll 10 the westward
wi en the shadows are lengthcnlng
led to the tomb Of Mary Washing
ton The hour was filed with mex
pre-. uby painful emotions II was Ike
conf ~ Suddenly and unexpect adly upon the
neglected grave of a long lost mother. The
granite obelisk, brought there over fifty
years before, lay prone npon the ground,
never aised. and the larger end half sunken
into the earth The enclosure was rotting
away. The grave and its plot were unkept
and gro wn Wild IN uncut g-'ss. weeds,
blamble~ and sciOns. My face burned with
shame an solf-reprOach. Ii was unpardona-
bic in the people of Fredericksburg. IL was
unpardona ole IN the people al Virginia.
And | wa one of the people of Virginia.
Somehow Rad never seen mention OF the
desolatc statC of this grave before
But have read this morning IN The TINES,
of the 18th i'm. gant that which Is much more
painful than his desolation. ! a'iudo 10 your
reDort of the T, scent meeting of the AssOcla-
ton for the / reservation of Virginia Anti
uuities and the lecture before II III the Gov
ernor's Mansion. II apprehecid that report
right il is proposed by the Fredericksburg
Association TO dNed away this property, this
grave of Virginia 5 most historic mother. TO
national ASSOCIATE on, an assocls ton animated
bv some spirit that keeps IN such perfect order
the National Gem etery hard by, where he
seven thousand me that NlOlat, 'd the soil of
the State with war, fire and robbery, and 10
leave 10 that alien association tie completion
and ownership forever of the monuments
VIII not our As,Ociai lOn Tor the Preservation
of Virginia Antiquities intervene 10 save the
Fredericksburg Assoc tation from such Il hui
initiating dcedy Is II possible that the people
Of tho State cannot n will not And if so,
can't 'rnE TINES start fund for he purpose,
should YOU do 50, yOur cOTresp ondent will
gladly forward his small but free will and
full hearted offering.
Private individuals are selling spots. which
should be hallowed sbrines for Nirginia's
children. TO lnoney-loving, dollars sctting pe0-
pie who are specializing upon TIN surviving
bitterness of the North against the South.
They take away all that can be ~ moved from
these properties, carry 1t of and CT Get tcn-cent
museums and rancOrOus mOnumt nts of the
ovcr-powering assault and raid which they
made upon the properties and rights of a
noble people. Such monuments, sprlnging
from Virginia necessity OF ayarlce and Yam
kee sharpness, can serve only 10 Llfiame and
pcrpetuate the spirit of strife In addition,
shall societies formed and chartered 10 pre-
serve Virginia antiquities now convey them
away q. shame Has poverty degraded
our people SO low and % this extent crushed
our reverence and Jealous regard for the per-
SONS and places of history Crane IN It's prln-
ciplcs deeds and scenes,
But more shameful than this the PROPOSE
ton seems 10 contemplate that the various
"women's clubs of America shall give money
for "a block IN the base of the mon umert 10 be
suitably inscribed" aS The Monlan's Chris
tau Association. the Womau's Christian Tenn
pcrauce Union" and We may sup pose others.
Miserable dictu' The base of the monument
10 Mary Washington C"Lady" " Washington
90 bc an advertising stand, TO display IN bold
perspective upon its poiishcd surfaces the for
getiulness Of mis guided womanh bod when
shOrn of pristine grace and intoxicated with
excess of emotion and discomfort
Mr.. Editor. shall tins monument be alien
or our own hearts own: Shall II be a tribute
10 the memory of Mary. the mother of Wash
ton from Virginia. daughters, commanding
the services and resources ol her sons and in-
Nitine others o. co-1pNAte with them .- %
privilege or D., it % be signal monument to
GROUND gained and claimed I'D IFS sweep 40
"tbe women'~ movement IF the day. n ST..
pale 1t IN with boards scld ana high. and
make il place upon which 20 paste or paint
the posters and bills that advertise the inn
pudcnce of unseNei woma1hood throughout
The country And all free. If You please
With barren bantam hen On the top. in full
feather as the chapter
1t Is high time aud 1t is fitting that Viz
ginla.s antiquities be put in state of prescr-
Walton. But If they are to become alien prop
critics or the advertising colunps of the i'm
pcrtnence OF wOmen's instructed move
ments. II were better 10 leave them to be
rescued from the further deprcGations of time
10y a future generation more appreciative of
the past and OF better taste and principle
BLACKSTONE, NoTTowAY Co.. Va, March II.
1891.