Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-12
THE FLEETING SHOW.
Some of Its Facts and Fancies. Written for the JOURNAL AND COURIER. 1

SOme OI ltS FactB auO Fanc1es.
 Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIER.I
 THE NEW MEMORIAL.
 The simple and stately monument dedi- cated with public ceremonies on May 10 to the memory of "Aary, the Mother of Washington" though a tardy tribute to her worth, would probably have remained unbuilt to the end of time had 1t not been for the patriotic and persistent efforts of two women, Mrs. Amelia O. Waite, the widow of the late Chief Justice, and Mrs. Margaret Hetzel of Clifton Station, vir- ginia, widow of United States army officer who was killed in the war with Mexico.
 It was through Mrs. Hetzers indigna- ton over a scandalous attempt to make the burial place of Washington's mother the subject of real estate speculation, that the National Mary Washington Me morial Association came into being. This association has now carried it's noble work to a successful completion.
 It is composed entirely of women, and all the necessary funds-the monument alone costing eleven thousand dollars- have been contributed by women in every State of the Union. An auxiliary orgsni- zation composed of the ladies of Freder- icksburg, Va, purchased the property and transferred 1t to the parent association. It was situated near the grounds of 'tKen- more," the residence of Mrs. Washington's g daughter Betty tMrs. Fielding Lswis) and but little way from the cottage on Charles street Fredericksburg,t to which Mrs. Wash ington removed in 1776, at the time when her SOD took command of the Continental army. A gsntle knoll, crowned with gray boulders that were ehaded by overhanging trees, commanded beautiful view of the Rappahanuock and the pleasant homes and fertile fields of the river valley.
 To this place "the grandmother Of the Republic" often took her lonely way. l with her mending or knitting, her Bible l or a book of devotions, she spent there | many solitary hours. Who shall say what snxieties beset her strong, indomitable soul; what fervent petitions arose for the safety of the son 60 dear to her, for the release of e people from tyranny, for the
 final triumph of the Right, for the glori. ous birth of new nationa
 Eight stormy years of war for the nation for this self-contained and resolute, but tender woman, eight years of weightiel care than that which the young widow as
 stunned when the untimely death of Angus tine Washington laid upon her the manage
 ment of his estates and the responsibilit,
 of rearing and educating tbeir children
 Little wonder that she loved to steal ava,
 to that safe and secluded retreat. where al
 things spoke of peace and hope to her sou
 and there to lay all her fears and auxietie.
 before Him who is mighty to save.
 So great was her attachment to this spo
 that she desired to bs buried there, apar
 from her kindred, and the wish was re
 speeted.
 During the ono hundred and four year
 that have paused since she was laid in he l grave, various attempts have been made t
 erect an appropriate monument to he
 memory. It was supposed at that tim the government would take the matter f. hand, but the organization of the new It , public was all-important and absorbing and the plan was forgotten, revived, an forgotten again. In 1926. Mr. Psrke Cut
 tis, Washingson's adopted son, made g , eloquent appeal to the country in behsl of this neglected duty, and awakened 1 wide but dseting interest. A few year later, Hon. Silss E. Burrows of New Tor offered to construct 6 monument at h1 i, own sxpsnss. The cornsr-stons wss lsi