Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-18
MT. VERNON REPORT.
ANNUAL COUNCIL OF THE LADIES'
ASSOCIATION or The UNION.
Election OF Eight New Vicc-heEents-A
successfuI Yesr-Rece'p's ana TX
penditures-Intere Relics.
[wrltten for tho plspntsh.l

Written fer tho Dispntsh.l
The annual council OF the Mt.
Vernon Ladies Association OF 'he
Union convened Mt Mt Vernon Nav
9th AMI continued ia session untu
June Sd. The Tnfanta and Prince
end their party visited Nt. Vernon on tho
oath. and the officers Of the association.
who were ut that time in Washington. pre-
coded the royal party TO Mt. Vernon ana
conducted them through the mansion,
garden. end grounds. Mr'. Justine Van
Rensselaer, Townsend. regent. and the toll
lowing vice-regents were present: MFS'
Hudson, Of Connecticut, secretary yrs
Winder, Of View Hampshire; Ms tlan..
dreau. Of Minnesota; Mrs. Hearst, o.
California: Mrs. Washington, ~ We3t
VIRGINIA. and Mrs. Bail. ot Virginia. Mf'.
Hs1rst kindly transported the Ia ~ t'ND
the river IN the isst-hyiug yacht Fam9Se.
4 later boat brouSh; wee. t'eSent3 1ifs;:
Mitchell OF Wisconsin. Mrs. Bltor OF
Florida. Mrs. Richardson Of L3ulsanf'
Mrs. Rnth5one OF MicbeaH. Nus. Wliaer
of Georgia. Mrs. Walker Of North arO-
nna. Mrs. Ward of kansas MIS-. I1ckens
OF south Carolina, and Mss Conveys or
Delaware.
NEW vrcE. REGENTS.
TIE regent nominated ard tho cou1cN
confirmed eight new vice-rrgenfS q fGi-
lows. For MARYLAND Mrs. Gtor.e Gods
borough, for New Jersey Mrs. ti",eA
Conoyer. for PENNSYLVANIA Nrs. Dundas
Lipp.ucOnt. for Mississippi Mrs. :. =. CRl-
houn. Toy Missouri Ms. Christine Graham,
for rew York Mrl. Paiiiip Soluv ler. TOT
Tennessee MISS Mary T. leae,nau, Tor ONO
! Bliss Mary Pend."ton-
The hours Of tho daily sessions were
4 3 if To- % o.
VI. Each day council WIS opened WITH de-
votioral exercises.
AfHEN9NrvAt YEAs.
Tie past wear IN. been successful and
/ q pnenomeuGi ono az M. Vernon, anl tha
report Of the regent was tull of lnteresi.nS
I details. She made seven visit. 70 1T.
; Vernon during the year GnI gave her per-
souGl attention ~ every wa - rs welfare.
Her duties have bean mauy ali her r.
sponIbilitIes great IN the interim OF coun-
ellis. She has sought Legal afylce when
needed. and received most kind assistance
from Justice Field, who is a member OF
the ADVISORY Board. Forcsecing the ne
cessity OF unusual care and very great
precaution. the council OF ~ had IN
advance taken every possible means
to secure the safety ani preservation
Of the mansion and grounds during tue
anticipated visit of the Grand Army OF the
Republic Encampment in washington last
September Especial directions were gwen
the superlntendent that only n are mum
Der Of visitors should be permitted IN the
mansion at any one time. the crowd 20 60
only in detachments and a large number
of especial guards were aDpOlntet all
especial powers were conferred upon the
SUPERINTENDENT in order 20 enforce these
securities for the safety OF this ycneratcd
structure. On the OCCASION or the great
a ,r,fx 4
Cd TO exclude visitors from the second loOr
of the manson, and the regent requeSte
the commanding officers to appeal - the
patriotic feeling of their hosts and enforce
! an observance of these necessary precau-
tiOns.
On one day in September there were be-
tween 10000 and 1l,Q00 military AT Dit.
Vernon. going and coming constantly oy
boats and electric cars and under the eih-
Gent management of Mr.. Harrison Dodge.
superintendent. no serious harm was done
TO the home of Washington. The whole
number ot people visiting Nj. vernon du-
ring the year ending Nav 1st was 1882.
THE FINANCES.
The total receipts, including the interest
upon the endowment fund were S2G.J2S.O2.
( The total expenditures were Sl5,lsO.5J,
and an investment Of $4,000 was made
under advice of Alr. Riggs, treasurer. The
endowment fund is now somewhat over
$4,000. Each year members of the council
make individual gifts 10 this fund, and
also for their st ties, and several Of the
ylce-regents receive the amount OF their
travelling expenses and at once turn II
over TO this object. making their service to
Mt. Vernon entirely labor of love. The
regent declines any such compensation,
notwithstanding the frequency OF her
visits.
GREAT CARE REQUIRED.
The extreme severity of the last winter
has had some effect upon the brick-wOrE.
and the council has ordered thorough
investigation by the most competent
architects. In one part there seems very
slight bulge in the mansion, and the weak
ness 1T II be there will be detected and
corrected under che most competent al
vice. No care nor expense Is spared at
Mt. Verson. and the ordinary revenue
makes 1t now possible to do all that Is
needed to us restoration and preservation.
Great crowds are not desired by those
who love 1t best and wish It's long coz
tlnuance.
MORE RELICS.
Each year brings added treasures to its
store of relics. Mr.. Samuel =. Avery, of New
York. has this year presented 70 the asso-
citation. through the regent. magnificent
and handsomely mounted bronze bust OF
Washington, from cast by Houdon, by
Barhedienne Mrs Hearst. vlce-regent
for California. has presented a large and
very elegant India vase, purchased at
sale of Washing.oniana.
The ylce-regent for Louisiana, Mrs.
Richardson, brought very interestlg col
lection of relics as loan TO the associa-
ton from Mrs. Charles Conrad. of New
Orleans These embraced very handsome
jewelled knee-buckle and shoe-DucSle,
elegant thread lace. worn BY Mrs. Wash
ington; silk pieces of her wedding gowns.
and silver candestick. Mrs. Conrad
also presented two very handsome silver
lamps, once the property OF General
Washington.
Valuable books and autograph letters
are being added TO the library. of which
man. Copies OF books that were once a
part OF this library are greatly desired.
MARSH LAND.
Mr., Heurich, of Washington city, has
recently presented three acres of marsh
land lying adjacent to the steamboat
wharf, and which is now a breeding place
for malaria. and Mrs. Hearst has under
taken this year TO have 1t drained and
thus improve the sanitary conditions OF
Mt. Vernon. Mrs. Hearst has also pre-
sented Pohick church with $500 10 erect
parish house. The Record Committee is
carefully collecting and arranging an ac-
count of the early history and work OF the
association. Reports of this book will be
sent to historical societies when CON-
pleted.
VALUABLE EXHIBIT.
A condensed report Of the work of the
Mt. Vernon Association was ordered TO be-
made and sent TO the directors of the
-