The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-01
telephone No. &C.
TO THE LADIES OF ASTORIA.

Mrs. Waite. the widow Of Chief Justice
Waite. mas devoted a great deal OF time
TO the society whose object 1t is to erect
a monument to the mother Of George
Washington. When asked the other day
what the status of this work is, she said
The National Mary Washington Mem
orial association was organized In 1890
about the same time the Mary Washing
ten Monument association OF r'redericks-
burg was organized, and being on the
ground. secured the land surrounding the
monument with the unfinished affair COM
snenced sixty years before. AS the Ma
tionai Mary Washington Memorial asso-
citation. as organized seemed to have bet
ter facilities for raising money, the Fred
ericksburg association, after much con-
su.tation agreed TO deed the property to
the National association on condition that
they erect a suitable monument within
reasonable time and provide sufficient
endowment fund TO provide and take care
Of the property in the future, but that
in case OF failure TO fuifll the conditions
q their deed the property should revert,
RIfh its improvements, to the Mary
Washington Monument association, OF
Fredericksburg.
The new monument, handsome shaft
OF Barre granite over fifty feet high,
was completed in 1898. and dedicated In
the presence OF President Cleveland and
other distinguished persons May 10, 1894.
We now have the money to buEd small
cottage for the gardener and watchman,
and hope to have 1t finished within the
year. but the endowment fund is yet to
4.
Least As i said, we have the money
for the gardeners house, but there are
four acres OF ground to be laid out and
improved with trees and shrubbery When
we firEt commenced work we wished to
make II national affair and asked for
200 from each state in the union. No
egate has as yet given us over that
amount, not more than two as much
and many more comparatively nothing
Massachusetts collected small sum at |
the time or the centennial celebration in |
Boston, which was afterwards paid over |
to US upon the completion of the monu-
ment That is all we have had from that
state. Collections which might be made
by entertainments, fairs. concerts, "col-
oDial teas" or DANES" in the states
which so far have done nothing would
enable us to complete our work and turn
1t over to the trustees, the president of
the United States, the chief justice of the
United States and the governor of the
state OF Virginia, all ex-officio.
1T is especially woman's work-the first
monument built to woman by women
As patriotic movement, Will not the
women of this country come forward now
and, help us compete the work of hon
oring the mother of the father of our
country? Honor our greatest man by |
hon0rfng his mother.
II iR very important that proper cara
s1an be taken TO guard this great
work from destruction. We are Obliged TO
have 81 watched all the time Vandalism
is rampant over all the land. | believe.
and the relic hunter is abroad. There is
q large rock near the monument on which
Mary Washington used to sit with her
Bible 10 read and mediate where she
undoubtedly sent up many prayers for
mat noble son. That has to be con-
stantly watched o. not vestlge of II
Aooye ground would be left at the end
Of this year.
The suggestions contained In the above
statement are most excellent ones. Mary
"the mother Of the father
u our country" is a figure whose per-
'onality win alweys stand out in bold
'elief from among the host Of brave ana
seniee women who helped us in a far
'Teater measure than we shall ever know.
p obtain our Independence Her quiet
lie. her constant loving care and gentle
discipline iavlshed on our first president.
nd, above al, the sturdy spirit Of truth
md manliness fostered in him by years {
y careful training, are the treasures she
rave to America. and never have gifts /
'een moro timely or fraught wlth such
results. !
Tho ned opened up for our women in
okowing out the history OF her life, in
indying her surroundings. and In bring
ng back in detail for stated occasions ,
'ome OF the customs and habits OF gem I
lefo.k Of her time, Il one filed with r
very opportunity fer recreation ana I
lAppy social intercourse. To sit for sew .
raj evening hours In the company OF Il
riends and acquantances, and to breathe v
luring that time an atmosphere OF old !,
fashioned ideas. would be In our opinion v
recreation OF the most charming char a
icter. and We can imagine no species OF 1
IN which SO many channels q
4 dslightfuiiy noyc surprises cou.d be d
oilcwei up with success during the t
'oning winter months. h
astoria SHOULD have the honor OF be- !
rs the first city in Oregon to make con- 8
flbutions towards this Mary Washington a
It Is a matter In wnlch every q
ady in the city can. with profit ana a
'1easure. interest herseE. It viii be D
ne means Of bringing together the lead 5
rs q various church and other social ,
organizations, into a project where nj :,
an meet together and for a purpose j
4h'ch al can heartily endorse--.he eul-
iyaslon oi hroad-mlndcd and elevated a
pirit Of patriotism. q
The ;adies Of Astoria are invited 10 r.
meet az the rooms OF the PubMe Library o
4 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, "
or the purpose Of discussing this oues- II