The record-union., 1893-03-08
A SHAME,
The Grave of the Mother of Wash
ington Neglected.
Begging for Paitry Dimes to Place
Even Plain Memorial Stone
to Mark the Spot.

1t is burning shame that it should be
necessary in this Nation of wealth 70 Or
ganize society to beg a few dimes to put
PLAN bit OF marble over the spot where
molder the bones of the mother of Wash
ington.
The body Of Mary Washington rests
under disintegrating pile OF masonry.
begun as her monument but never COM
pleted, in the old burying ground of the
Lewis family in fredericksburg. The
plot adJoined Kenmore House, the home
OF Bette Lewis, Mary Washington's
daughter, and it was here the mother
died August %, 1889. She was buried on
August 9th at spot selected by herself.
Near this is a large shelving rock that
looks like the mouth Of a cave Here she
| used often to seat herself, read, mediate
and pray, and think of her son, subjected
to all the perils and priyations of war,
! the prey both of his countrv's enemies
aud of The plotting malcontents amono
the Continental forces and legislators. II
Is on this site that the new monument
will be erected.
Reference has been given to a crumb-
ing pile OF masonry marking the grave.
1t Is the remains of the heretofore most
AINtNAAJ SuNCCooLu1 dIltuiDL OF nl0IlN tor
the erection OF a suitable memorial.
| Tradition says that Washington himself
desisted from his purpo of erecting a
I monument to his mother upon the soli-
citations of the citizens of Virginia. who
represented to him that they would es-
teem 1t privilege to be allowed thus to do
| honor TO her memory. The State of Nir-
gina appropriated 81 900 for the purpose.
/ but the money was never applied.
OTHER UNSUCCESSFTTT, CrFoprc
| The citizens of Fredericksburg early in
this century subscribed s., 600 to carry
| out the purpose, but the money was lost
! through business failure. In CONGRESS
| two bills passed the lower House only to
| be defeated or smothered in the Senate.
At last came merchant of New York,
| SilaS Il, Burrows, who volunteered at his
! own expense to erect a handsome marble
memorial. 1t was to comprise a base 10
| feet square, and about 10 feet high, sur
mounted by an obelisk feet square at
| the base, taperlng to about foot and a
| half at the summit, the shaft being also
| 10 feet high. The corner stone OF this
structure was laid May Z, 1888, by Presi-
! dent Andrew jackson.
Mr.. Burrows prosecuted the work
vigorously, but he was overtaken with
! business disaster. a movement was then
started to complete the work by public
subscription, but Mr.. Burrows expected
! W Ills iOIluHe, ana AT his IeOneSt
the movement was abandoned.
MUST BEGIN ANEW.
In the meanwhile the work of disinta-
! grafton began. AS described by Il recent
visitor, the base is now only a loose pile
| of stone and masonry. The workman
| ship was not OF superior character, and
rain, frost and vegetation have wrought
! havoc with MI. Burrows tribute.
Beside this, the monument CHANGED to
] lAn glar aflr in lTVna ~
| Union and Confederate troops in the
battle of fredericksburg, and it was
| struck repeatedly by the missiles.
| Now determined effort is being made
| by the ladies OF the National Mary WASH
ington Memorial Association to atone for
the neglect OF more than century by
! erecting a suitable monument to mark
the grave of the mother of the first Presj-
| dent.
Mrs. Roger a. Pryor has published an
| appeal on the subject, and it is beginning
| TO bear fruit; but more is needed, for the
/ monument, with the small park in which
! it is TO stand in fredericksburg. Va. and
| the custodian's house, which it is pro-
! posed to erect, are estimated to cost
| $4,000, of which but $ll 900 has been Sc
cured. The Women's Memorial Associa-
| ton hopes to secure enough money to es-
! tablish Il permanent fund tor the MAIN
| tenance OF the grounds
| INDUCEMENTS TO SUBSCRIBERS.
| Inducements are offered to all SUBJ
scribers to the fund by the association.
The payment of So entities the donor to
a hereditary life membership, the GER
! tiiicate OF which is a silver and enamelIed
medal i'll the form of five-pointed star.
This bears on the diverse side the head
/ of Washington's mother surrounded by
/ the initials of the association, IN. NJ. W.
NJ. A." in blue letters upon white
/ background. ON the reverse side the
medal bears in heraldic colors the arms
OF the Washington family, which it has
often been said suggested the idea of the
federal flags, 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 q 1891, no medals will be given
out.
For subscriptions of 81 and upward the
/ Memorial Association offers Il member
ship and a blue silk ribbon badge con-
tanning the portrait of Mary Washington
| and the initials of the association printed
in silver. The names OF such subscribers