The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-28
WASHINGTON'S MOTHER.
THE EFFORT TO ERECT MONC-
MENT OYER HER GRAVE.
The National Association VIII Atone for
the Neglect Of More Than a Century-The
Memorial viii Not be Elaborate.

umeht over the grave OF Mary Washing
ton. Only a few days ago that paper
published long appeal from Mrs. Roger
A. Pryor. which was reproduced in The
Times the next day. and yesterday the
following appeared. with several excellent
illustrations.
A determined effort is being made by
| the ladies Of the National Mary Wash
ington Memorial Association to atone
for the neglect Of more than a century
| by erecting suitable monument TO mark
the grave Of the mother of the first
President.
The condition Of the grave Of Mary
Washington was mentioned in the Herald
! on Wednesday last. ON that day a COM
munication from Mrs. Roger a. Pryor
was published. 1t called attention to the
neglected grave, and gave a few par
ticulars of the plans for the erection
of the contemplated memorial.
Already Mrs. Pryors appeal has be-
gun to bear fruit In many churches
yesterday attention was called to the
subject, and the patriotism Of the con-
gregatons was appealed TO. Considerable
sums Of money have already been sub
scribed. but more is needed for the monu-
ment. with the small park in which 1t is
to stand in Fredericksburg Va, and the
custodian's house, which 1t is proposed
to erect, are estimated 10 cost $4,000, Of
which but Sll 900 has been secured. Then
the Memorial Association hope to secure
enough money TO establish a permanent
fund for the maintenance Of the
grounds.
Inducements are offered to all sub
scribers 10 the fund by the Association.
The payment of SIS entities the donor TO
g., Isl IL, 10.
tificate Of which is a silver and enamelled
medal in the form Of five pointed star.
This bears on the diverse side the head
of Washingtons mother, surrounded by
the initials Of the Association. ~. NJ.
w. NJ. A." in blue letters. upon a white
enamel background. on the reverse side
the medal bears in heraldic colors the
arms Of the Washington family, which
ii has often been said suggested the idea
of the Federal fags the alternate stripes
of red and white and the stars in the blue
field.
The Association. being organized for
perpetuity, the life members and their
successors by Inheritance constitute a
permanent board OF managers. After
February %, 1894, no medals will be given
out
For subscriptions of 81 and upward the
Memorial Association offers a member
ship and a blue silk ribbon badge con-
tanning the portrait of Mary Washing
ton and the initials of the Association
printed in silver. The names Of such
subscribers will be enrolled and preserved
in the custodan's house in Fredericks-
burg.
The National Mary Washington Memo
rial Association dates its existence from
February %. 1892. Its corporators are
Mrs Amelia c. Waite. Mrs. Elizabeth
Blair Lee. Mrs. Matilda ". Emory. Mrs.
Margaret Hetzel and Miss Maud Lee
Davidge. Mrs. Waite. who is the widow
Of the late chief Justice Of the United
States, is president of the organization.
Mrs. Roger \. Pryor, Of this city, is
vice president at large.
Tie body Of Mary Washington rests
under u disintcgrating Pile Of masonry,
begun as her monument but never com
uleted, in the old burying ground Of the
Lewis family in Fredericksburg. The
plot adioins Kenmore House. the home
of Betty Lewis. Mary WashmgtOn's
daughter, and 1t was here the mother
died August y. 1873. She was buried on
AUGUST 9th at a spot selected BY her
self Near this IS d large shelving rock
that looks like the mouth Of a cave. Here
she used often to seal herself, read,
mediate and pray. ana think Of her son,
subjected to all the perils and privations
of war, the prey both Of his country
enemies and Of the plotting malcontents
among the Continental forces and legis-
lators. 1t is on this site that the new
monument will be erected.
Reference has been made 10 n crum-
bling pile Of masonry marking the grave.
Ii is the remains Of the heretofore most
nearly successful attempt of many for
the erection Of o suitable memorial Ira
dition says that Washington himself de-
sisted from his purpose Of erecting
monument TO his mother upon the solicit
tations of the citizens Of Virginia, who
represented to him that they would
esteem it a privilege to be allowed thus
TO do honor to her memory. The State
of Virginia appropriated $1,000 for the
purpose, but the money was never APP
Piled.
The citizens Of Fredericksburg early in
this century subscribed 5000 TO carry
out the purpose, but the money was lost
through a business failure. In Congress
two bills passed the lower House. only 10
be defeated or smothered in the Senate
At last came a merchant Of New York
Silas l.. Burrows, who volunteered at his
own expense to erect handsome marble
memorial It was 20 comprise hase
10 feet square and about l6 high. sur
mounted by an obelisk feet square at the
base. tapering to about a foot and Z hslf
at the summit the shaft being also lG
feet high. The cornerstone Of this jtr,!s-
ture was laid May 7, 1888, by President
Andrew Jackson.
Mr.. Burrows prosecuted the work yj~or-
ously, bur he was overtaken with busi-
ness disaster A movement was tnen
started to complete the work by pubic
substitution. but Mr.. Burrows exprc.e Led
10 regain his fortune. and at his reQueGt
the movement was abandoned
In the meanwhile the work of disnte-
grafton began. As described by 1 recent
visitor, the base is now only loose riie
Of stone and masonry. The workman
ship was not of superior character. and
rain, frost and vegetation have Wrought
havoc with Mr.. Burrows tribute.
Besides this the monument Glanced
to be directly in line Of fire between the
Union and Confederate troops IN the
battle of Fredericksburg. and It was
struck repeatedly 10y the missiles.
The work Of erecting the new memo
rial will proceed immediately. Tna la
dies believe that when the onIliioa Of
the grave and the true financial needs Of
the Association are known there VIII be
no lack Of funds
4 design. beautiful in it's simplicity End
solidity. rs best COMFORTS with the char
acter OF Mary Washington has been ap-
proved by the Association. "She was an
unassuming. unpretentOCs Virginia
housewife" said Mrs. Roger 4. pryor re-
Gently. "and IL has been deemed inad-
Visabie TO erect an elaborate memorial
The erection Of a plain monolith, 20 feet
In height. resting upon a solid DdJe 20
feet in height. has been determined upon.
AS the monument will stand on high
ground. 1t will be imposing.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.