New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06

MY wants In this lie are rev. leci PSii0''iI
competent to take care of myself But TO $auiy
her con she purchased a house near the centre or
the town OF Fredericksburg. on Chares-st, PAM
weather boarded structure which stiis stahus anu
belongs TO the Society for the Preservation Oh VIZ
glnia Antiquities Here Washington visited her III
ISL after the battle of Yorktown with all his stan
of French and American officers, and three years
later In 1884, the Marquis de Lafayette paid her
visit of respect when as the traditions or FRED
ericksburg go, the old lady mixed him a mint Julep
and offered it with plate of ginger cakes she had
made with her own hands
All the time she lived In Fredericksburg Mary
Washington kept sharp eye upon the family farms,
and even up the age OF seventy-eght she crossed
the ferry every morning and drove about in an old
gig, inspecting fields, gardens, barns and slave
quarters, with a keen eye for neglect or waste or
disorder. They say she very hard mistress
As age and weakness increased she abandoned
the old gig and made her tours of inspection in an
DID, low-hung victoria, which had been provided for
nor comfort By the General stephen, ner coach
man, sat stlfiy upon the box Thoroughly conscious
the Importance OF Attending one whom every
body saiuted-the granGmother vi the great 1se-
public.
fury ana II has found Its way INTO many books,
particularly British and Tory publications that
Washington allowed his mother to live ana die IN
poverty ana prvatlon, while ne ana ms VINE were
surrounded with luxury But all the local tradi-
tons and all the clrcumStantal evidence point 10
its untruth, She was by habit ana preference 4
woman OF the strictest economy ana 1rusanV, anu
denied herself many comforts that were enjoyed by
her ana daughters but II was from choice ana
moi from necessity iier will which Is filed in the
clerks oiice at fredericksburg shows that she
had considerable property OF her own, ana several
slaves and horses, which were divided among her
il is very clear that she was woman of strong
character ana many pecullarties includins an IN,
dependent spirit and sharp tongue. IL Is sald
that she did not change the fashion OF her ranent
for more than twenty years. ana CUT ana niade net
own garments In defiance OF puDlc opinion ana
changing styles. When she went visiting, the sisht
OF her approach caused every member OF me house
hold Q.fra a a n.
manner to assist In strengthening up tnngs 30
that her fastidous and critical taste might not De
offended. She performed her daily duties at pre-
csey the same hour. in precisely the same manner,
every morning regardless oil chansne Tou I on,
and circumstances. and the neBhboIs aWaSs sel
their clocks and watches by the ringing Vi he'
Her death at the age of eighty-three. was from a
generous tumor. the result OF bruise lett by an
accidental blow upon her breast. ON the very day
the Presidency he galloped over from Mount Mount 'tr-
news and remained with her until it was necessary
for him to start for New-York This was the di
the announcement OF her death by special posi-
rider who made the journey from Fredericksburg
to New-YorlS In Ave days
During the last months Of her lie the venerable
lady spent much time among some great gray
bouders that Were shadowel by clump OF tree'
upon a gentle knoll not far from the house OF nei
daughter ut kenmore. The place was called Ora
tory Rocks" no doubt because some one at some
time had made a speech there. II commanded a
delightful view Of the Rappahannock River and a
panorama Of handsome homes and fertile farms
She often went there to read and TO rest, taking
a basket OF mending. or her knitting, with her
glous book Of the times and before she died she
asked that she might be buried there although her
husband and several other members OF Ine laihnS
were lying in the Episcopal Cemetery. IL was re-
garded az one OF the whims OF an eccentric "ohlai
but her daughter Betty respected IT. -.
There was general mourning throughout ne
country when Mrs Washington died. Many OF the
newspapers turned their column rules ana pubhshed
eIaborate obituaries Congress passed appropriate
resolutions and all the members OF the Senate ano
House Grape upon their arms i0r thlrty uas ;
Special memorial services We're held In churche.
everywhere. as II she had been high dignitary OF
the Government Eminent orators PRONOUNCED eu
logies upon her character, and recognized ner IN
fuence In shaping the career OF her son anc
through him the destinies of the American colonies
Rut her grave remained unmarked III was under
stood after her death that Congress would appro
pnd II is SUPPOSED that the family neglected 10 pro
vide ono because Of that expectation In lSZo pup
Geo~re Washington Parke GUSTS. the grandson OF
Martha washington and the adopted son OK I'm. tno
drst President, who said that had she been hvinH
In the Middle Ages monuments Gouid nave pesL
erected to her memory at ne Crpf f mnI s!''
when another century has elapsed. he said
"and our descendants shall have learned the true
value of liberty how well the fame OF the paterna
chief will be told in story and IN song Nor WI
then be forgotten she who first bent the twig &c
Win, Mi Youth and age maid and matron and
bearded men. repair to the now neglected grave o
u; The appeal Of Mr. Custs awakened some interest
throughout the eounty but the sgeect o Was Of S
hands OF the Lewis family. The succeeding owner.
buried the dead OF two generations upon we S,.'
mound and the construction Of low brick wall &c
incose this family buryng ground made the neg
lecf Of the grave that lay outside or II more con
spicuous and inexcusable IN 1873 oyrus burrb b
tho whole expense OF erecting monument. ant
obtained a design that was fantastic ana most IN
appropriate. The cornerstone was NO VIZ, 20, Ma
sonic ceremonies the morning OF May l. lsfS by
ArIrev Jackson then President Of the United
states I'm the presence OF the Cabinet the supreme
Court many officers OF TIE Army an. Nagy' o IN.
eral Jackson delivered a long eulogy ana a poem
nv Mrs Sgournev was read. sudden reverse II
the fortunes Of Mr.. burrows prevented MN IRON
furnishing the funds necessary for the completion
Of the monument and the deliberately carved col
umns and shaft Clipped TO pieces by wanda
relIc-hunters as they lay half concealed in the
grass for more than forty wears. until the armies
that were camped about Fredericksburg carried
the last 81 them away. 49,
The only known portrait OF NARY NaSnii ~ :, :,
belongs TO the family Of the late Professor s. y. Is
Morse of New York II is supposed 70 have beer
nainied 1T Cookham. Berkshire, England where
the parents Of Washington lived neiore they ran'
70 yrbon, II Ind been presented. George Field the
well known author of the british School OF Mod
ern Artists" purchased the picture " M anr r nS
his will bedueathed II 70 George harvey 1rou
whom II was purchased by Professor Morse II !:
supposed 10 be the work Of Thomas Hudson. WIZ
was n popular portrait painter In LONDON from l'Z
In selecting the design for the memorial the
ladies' have not been unmindful OF the character o.
NARY and u5donbteay most appropriate for thu
character NJ the woman over whose bones II ha
been reared It is infinitely more suitable than th'
| elaborate affair which Mr.. Burrows proposed e
erect sixty years ago. The raising OF the necessar,
funds and the erection of the monument have no
been without many difhculties ana nnnoyanceS 81, nu
and the persistent energy OF Mrs Hetzei haV'
trIumphed
"fy DEATH THEY WE'RE NOT DIVIDED"