New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-21
MARY WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

movement has been begun looking to the com
petiOn OF such a memorial which will be perslsentY
and Intellectually advanced until the end IS accom-
pshcd. The National Mary Washington Memorial As
ISOLATION incorporated over year ago and has re
ceved much encouragement in the work. The recently
organized association of the Daughters Of the American
Revolution is also taking active part In pressing
forward tie undertaking. Mrs. Roger a. Pryor, tle
regent Of the NewNOrh City chapter, herself Virginia
woman, is also vice president of the National Mary
Washington Monument Association for the State and
City of New York and the only authorized agent OF
the society. She VII appoint agents In all the
towns and cities of the state TO as
sist her. a Tribune reporter talked with Mrs
Pryor recently regarding the progress being
made in the movement. Mrs. Pryor had in her pos
session a photograph OF Kenmore House. in which
Mary Washington lived and died; also a photograph Of
the unfinished monument and these produced here
with. together with cut representing the badge OF
membership OF the National Mary Washington Memona!
Association. Invited to furnish some information con
corning the work, as well facts associated with
the life Of Mary Washington and the place where she
lived and was buried. Mrs. Pryor said
Yes the women Of America have resolved TO build
a monument 10 commemorate the worth OF Mary Wash
inston. This will be the first monument ever erected
by women this country or any other There IS one
and one only in America in honor Of woman-that Of
Irish Margaret who fed the orphan children Of the poor
in New orleans.
The question is sometimes asked and / suppose
quite naturally why has this monument been left for
the people Of this country to erect7 Why did not
General Washington himself do this honor to the
memory of his mother TO whose guidance In his own
moral intellectual and physical training he attributed
all his success In life Tradition answers that he was
restrained from placing a memorial stone over her
ashes because that privilege was claimed by her
eountrymen. If such promise was made it has never
been redeemed
Nearly sixty years ago Mr. silas Z. Burrows, Of
New York, presented marble monument Tor Mary
Washington The cornerstone was laid by Ande"
Jackson In 1888 This monument for some reason
probably the death Of the patriotic cuzen was never
completed. II has stood all these years prey TO
relic hunters and 10 the disinegratng ACTON Of ue
atmosphere The stones have been broken and mared
until The uncontrolled monument has become ruin
rot yet in a picturesque phase Of decay, but totally
unfit for use In the construction OF new memorial
/ trust that Dir. BurrOwS's munihcence VIII not De
forgotten and that stone In the new monument VIII
commemorate his noble gift"
Is there not a Fredericksburg Monument Associh-
ton which has been engaged In this undertaking
asked
There is such an association" replied Mrs Pryor
-but do not know how long IT has existed oh
many letters received several years ago from George
Washington Ball observed vignetie with 'haiy
Washington Monument Association upon II. me Ma
tonal Association was INCORPORATED little more ihan
year ago The trustees and directors are President
Harrison Chief Justice Fuller and Governor hchhheS'
Of Virginia Mrs Waite widow Of Chief justice "ai'c'
Is president; Mrs. Matilda Emory and Miss EhZaOeu
Blair Lee, voepresidents. The secretaries are Mo
Margaret Ketzel and Miss Maud Lee Davidge
At the annual meeting last winter Mrs "site
reported the nomination Of cepresdents for twenty
seven States. and every reasonable prospect O4 0oA