Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-05-30
The Mount Vernon Association.

TIE Times has devoted very cone:derahie
sraos TO accounts OF the procae diogs of tie
Ladies' Mount Vernon Association. II is 9
matter Of special interest to note that this
IL cst me,i ofiops association was the cut.
growth Of 8 suggestion which originated
with pstsiotic soptbern We mar, Miss Ann
Pamela Cunningham, OF South Carolit q.
While going down the Potomac her atten'
tion was arrested by the tollirg CT the bell
of the steamer as il passed The spot which
hed been The home of the immortal Wash
icaton, sud which held ell that YVES mortal
of his rsvered Gust. Learning that the thea
owner OF the. place, Mr.. john Augustine
Washington. Was in embarrassed ciroum.
stances, AID 80 entirely unable 10 keep Ii re.
paired that he had offored 1t for SALE and
noticUg hat the building was ast going 10
decay eu6 tae g:cunda running TO waste.
sue conceived tbs I'd If inducing he ladies
of ths cou0try 10 purchase it, snd hold IL for
thu people of the Whole United States. AT
tor consultation charter OF tho aseccia-
ton was obtsiaed from the Sfsto of Virginia,
sad the ladies' throughout the land were ap-
pealed to to cont. ioute eece the sum OF one
liar for the purpose OF raising fund OF
5000 600 for the purchase OF the esfate, aud
putttpg il Ii thorough rspair and perfect
orier.
Her appeal met with generous response,
ard thus the Mount Vernon Association
was formed, and procseded in Its patriotic
~ork sad pious labor OF love. And wat
these women have accomplished Is freely
detailed in the article alluded tc. They have
redeemed the house from ruin, repsire the
tomo aud transfer med the desolste grounds
witch before we're luxurious fnly Ia weeds
to heauifni laws ard gsrdens now literal
y blOsscuir & SO be rose.
TIE OH sct in again calling attention to
this sui jsci s to try aud revive interest at the
S.uth IN this classic spot. As we bsve sesn,
the idea OF preserving il to poaieity IN
manner worthy OF it's historic ASSOCIATIONS
" a9 that of Scutbern woman, and before the
" :r betweeu the States our Southern ladies
we're the price movers ip liz redemption
With the war, however, not oBlY was all
Communication between Mount Vernon ard
The South cnt tf but our noble women had
their bands and minds iul of anxiety AID
mourning for their own loved ones who
we're either serving in the army in the
defense OF their country or suhericg from
Wounds, or bad fallen beneath the shot and
she'll Of the ruthless nvaders. In this wsy
tbs csre Of Mount Vernon WAS entirely loet
sight OF, and with the exception OF @ few
wao have, since the war, renewed their sx-
ertions in its behalf interest in the place has
never been revived,
This should not be co Washington him
self was Southerner, and every pu!sa,ion
of bis heart was full OF love for bis mother,
Virginia, and the South, Of which sae was a
psr'. It is emineotly appropriate, there
g.. tAnf thor oh ID
give themselves, heart and soul, to the
wcrk-which originated with one OF their
S1utheru sissers-of its preservation as 6
sacred shrine ct which posierity may wor-
ship They csn 90 much towards the &C.
CT campiishme o: so lsudsbls purpose, aud
should impress upon their children and
childrar's children the duty of keeping
green aud beautiful the home of Washing
ton So long as the great American republic,
" ich be was so instrumental in freeing and
establishing, shall eIist-Richmond Times.