Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-06

! edge Of a beautiful plateau overlooking
one of the sweetest little valleys in all
Virginia. Vertable vale Of peace sweep
/ ing around TO the northwest, its quiet
unbroken save by the distant musical
murmur Of the Rappahannock as hidden
by the foliage it rolls over its rocky bed.
Across the valley are Marye's Heights,
the sky line Of its continuing ridge melt
ing drcamly into the horizon. while TO
the east back Of Kenmore, which fronts
the plateau. is the city. The monument
and grave are near enough 10 the city
IL suggest that they are under its especial
watch and ward, but far enough from its
noise TO hall1w the spot y Few yards
from the grave and jutting out immcdi-
atelV over the valley are two gray bOuld-
crs. once overarchcd by the branches OF
forest mouarchs. which were a favorite
resort of Mary Washington. There. ii is
said. she was accustomed to spend hours
with her Bible and her knitting.
The monument IS severely simple. but
IS exceedingly graceful in its proportions.
II consists of a basc-course of three mem
Iers. its upper one hevelled, die cap
and obelisk. the whole Of white marble.
and rising to a height of fifty feet. ON
the die is in relief the inscription, MARY.
the Mother of Washington
HISTORY Or THE MONUMENT
The history Of the effort to erect
monument TO Mary Washington is an ~
lustration Of the iconoclasm OF circum-
stances. The present memorial Is thc
elimination Of n movement inaugurated
nearly three quarters of a century ago.
As far back as 1876 George Washington
Parke Gusts issued Al appeal TO the
country on this subject. which in the
light Of to-day develops the Inspiration OF
true prophcsy. Among other things Mr.
Curtis said;
Thus lived and lied this distinguished
woman. Had she been OF the olden tlme
statues would have been erected To her
memory at the capital and she would
have been called the mother OF the l'o-
mans. When another century has elapsed,
and our descendants shall have learned
the true value Of liberty. how Will the
fame OF the paternal chief he cherished
In story and In song Nor will be forgot
fen she who first bent the twig to in
cline the tree of glory. Then, and not
tul then, will youth and age. maid ana
lnatron. aye. and bearded men, repair TO
the now neglected grave of the mother
OF Washington"
If this appeal bore immediate fruit
there is no record Of it, but few years
later the movement received practical
impulse.
10 quote lIe IdUkudS' VA 'i'N
of the Mayor and Common Council OF
Fredericksburg TO Congress in 1881:
about the year 1881 the people Of
Fredericksburg feeling that gratitude TO
this excellent and sainted woman. Tor
her inestmable contribution TO the coun-
try In the gift of her brave and heroic
son, George. demanded that monument
should be erected to her memory over
the spot where she often retired morning
and evening for prayer ana moditatlon'
and where, at her own request, frequently
expressed while living, she was buried"
\ private subscription was started and
5000 raised, but the custodian OF this
fund failed. and il was lost.
In 1888, however, Hon. Silas r.. Bur
rows. wealthy citizen or New YORK,
expressed a desire to build monument
10 Mary. the mother OF Washington.
and pay all of the expenses out OF ms
priyate purse The design OF this monu-
ment is thus briefly described: "A square
pedestal to bear the inscription that Is
on the present ,oonument. Hfeciah
columns. eight in number. TWO on each
side. set In enbrasures above: four eagles
sit over these. an obeisk tapers 10 bust
of Washington. and upon the bust a
ffth eagle, with outstretched wings and
beak."
The cornerstone Of this remarkable
architectural conception was laid May
Z. 1888, with Masonic ceremonies ana I
amid the pomp' and circumstance OF "a !
grand military and civic parade. ana the +,
address was made by President Andfew
Jackson. Disaster seems 10 have attended /
,he memorial almost from the beginning /
OF it's building. At any rate 1t was never
finished, and such OF its stones as were (
nut in position became the prey OF the I
'.corrodng tooth OF time" and the relic
hunter.
HISTORY NO LONGER.
For half century IL has been history
that Mr. burrows. meeting with financial
reyerses. postponed the work until ne 4
could recuperate his fortunes. and died
befofe he could carry out his patriotic |
undertaking. But this is history no lon
ger. A few days ago Mr.. Quinn. OF
Fredericksburg received through MIS-