Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-11

Memorial association, and Chief Justice
Fuller. The Daughters of the Revolution
had two cars. The National Marine band
was in another. The Alexandria infantry
boarded the train ut that city The run to
Fredericksburg was uneventful. Ii oc.
cupied two hours. An immense crowd
surrounded the station as the train pulled
in, presidential salute doomed forth
from the guns OF the Richmond and a
scarlet coated band played Hail Column
bia,"
Reception of the President.
President Cleveland and his cabinet
came to the platform of their car where
they were greeted by means of a recep-
tlon committee, of whom one was Justice
Harlan of the United States supreme
court. The Richmond Light infantry in
dazzling uniforms of blue and silver kept
back the crowds with their bayonets.
Aligned along the adjoining streets were
various organizations. conspicuous among
them the Confederate veterans with the
battie.iags Of the confederacy fluttering
over them. The procession was cheered
by thousands of country men as it wound
Il way through the little town from the
station to the green knoll. topped with
wooden stands, hidden in patriotic bunt-
Revolution and distinguished guests were
assembled. One feature of the procession
was the ladies on horseback. who led the
way.
Programme of Exercises.
Then came the grand marshal, Adju-
tant General Charles j. Anderson of Rich
mond and his staff. followed by W. J.
Crawford, the architect of the monument.
Then followed President Cleveland Vice
President Stevenson and members of the
cabinet IN carriages, followed by the gov
ernor and staff and military organiza-
tons and secret societies, conspicuous
among them being the members of the
fredericksburg and Alexandria Masonic
lodges, in which Washington had taken
his degrees. The programme for the dedi-
catory exercises included addresses of well
come 10y Mayor A. i. Rowe and Governor
OFerrall, Masonic ceremonies. an address
by Lawrence Washington, a descendant of
Mary Washington, and an Grafton by
Senator John W. Daniel, the orator of the
day. President Cleveland also spoke.
The Work of Women.
The monument was made possible by the
persistent efforts of two patriotic women
Mrs. Amelia {. Waite. widow of the late
chief justice of the United States supreme
court. and Mrs. Margaret Hetzel of Gin
ton Station, Va. Ii was paid for by the
contributions from almost every state in
the Union The idea of building this mon
ument has existed ever since 1880. In 1888
Mr.. Silias L. Burroughs. prominent mer-
chant of New York, offered to construct
i'll fredericksburg at his own expense a
memorial to the mother of George Wash
ington. The work was begun, but Mr.
Burroughs met with financial reverses
and was obliged to postpone tine compile
ton of his plan until he could retrieve his
fortunes and continue. He died before he
was able to resume the work
Work Done Over Again.
II 1890, however, the Mary Washington
Memorial association was formed, with
Mrs. Waite at the head and Mrs Hetzel as
secretary and the work of raising money
for the monument commenced in earnest
| All the work had to he done over again.
the stonework done under the direction of
Mr.. burroughs having by this time crum-
bled away. The monument does not
stand upon the site of the house in which
George Washington was born. He was
born near the village of Wakefield, on the
bank of the Potomac river, sixty-iive
miles below Washington. The monument
has been raised over his mothers long neg
lected grave, a quarter of mile beyond
the city limits of fredericksburg, on what
was once the farm of Colonel Fielding
Lewis, husband of her daughter Betty.