The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-01-05
virginias Mt. Vernon Exhibit at
Chicago.

A most interesting section of the ex-
hibit made by Virginia at the Worlds
Fair will be the work undertaken by the
ladies to supplement the display provid
ed by the States appropriation. The
Legislature appropriated but $4,000,
sum left to be insufficient to secure an
exhibit that would accord with Virginias
character as the mother of States and
statesmen. The women of Virginia
Worlds Fair commission accordingly re-
solved to provide by their own efforts
further fund to insure worthy repre-
sentation of the Old Dominion. 1t was
resolved to add to the State Building on
the exposition grounds another building
which should be an exact reproduction
of Mt Vernon, to be repository OF his
torical treasures. The rooms. it was de-
terlnined, should contain the furniture
and appointments of a mansion of the
colonial period, evey article at Mt. Yer
non being represented as far as pract1ca-
BILE by genuine antiques. The visitor
would thus in the Virginia Building
| have about him the vertiable objects
among which the men who made the
Union lived and moved and had their
| being. There would be thus obtained
an instructive idea of the civilization
| and the social and domestic life OF the
| fathers, such as could not be had other
wise without the perusal of dozens OF
musty volumes. This design, thanks to
the energy and untiring zeal of Miss
Elizibeth Borst, of the Virginia commits
sion, and others, has been carried far
| toward realization. Last July at the
| White Sulphur Springs a Mt. Vernon
| Columbia Memorial Association fund of
| 5000 was planned, and ball then Civ
en- Supplied the nucleus of the balance
of $4,000 now IN bank. The work has
| prospered in the hands of ladies constl-
tuting auxiliary boards in various parts
of the State, and the building is now in
process of construction. The regents OF
the Mt. Vernon Association have cords
ally co-operated in the enterprise, the
success of which is now believed to be
assured Valuable bronZes, paintings,
furniture and other articles OF clonial
times have been obtained from the Car
ters, the Lewises, the Harrisons, the
| Prestons and other old families of Vir-
GINA. Mrs. Kate Green Paul, of Vir-
| ginia, has prepared a list of over 5000
| books by Virginia authors, samples OF
which will, it is hoped, be secured fo1
the literary exhibit. Mrs. Drewry, OF
Westover, will furnish a collection OF
photographs of notable colonial homes
on the lower flames. Arch@ologists will
be interested in a collection made by
Miss. Borst of articles illustrative OF
prehistoric life in Virginia, recently OBJ.
tanned from mounds near Luray and
other points in the Valley. The Virginia
Mt. Vernon exhibit is, in short, to be
varied in character. SO as to embrace
features that would not be included in a
merely industrial exhibit. Virginia's
interest for the World at large lies in
her past as we'll as in her present. 1t il
largely historic, not to say romantic
interest. which cannot be ignored in 6
representation of the State at Chicago
1t is gratifying to observe that the la
dies of the State have appreciated the
Importance of the matter, and thai
their efforts in its behalf are SO success