New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-27

Al.
,,o,.rv,xrs TO THE PLACE AND AD-
r,rroNs TO THE RELICS.
- MAY % (SpecaD.-Mount Vernon is
IN fines the Mecca for daily pilgrims to Inc
80 Of Washington. But once year II is some
.s,,c tnorc-when the Regents holu theT "nhu'
t"'''e avn 4 pleasant little hustle pervadcs the
cou".'' -, mansion The Council for the present
s'"'''' Va lie sessions last week. The Regents
va! '~' .,,e 10 Mount Vernon in May, which. in
'.,s latitude is a Northern June To be Regent
WI, srob ouiet. lovely surroundings would seem to
-oore Of delightful recreation than anything
,a,ter-of- fact business proceedings. But one
INV ~, % look in to the COuncil-room to feel that
" aeai Of business IS accomplished, neVerthc-
The sessions Of the Council are held in the
saro,et hail." the largest and finest room IN the
house. .,, ,,,, .,,, ~
,,,tvro in all-the Regent. Mrs. Justine Van
t"'' tor Townsend of New York. sitting at the
~ ~ the table. Among the vice-regenis were
.,ree recently electcd-Mrs. Clarkson. wife OF
n,,o, Clarkson Of Nebraska; Mrs. William Ames,
- pbode Island and Miss Amy Townsend of New
Work who takes the place of Mrs. Philip schuyler
signed Among older vice-regents present were
Nc Aztec Longfellow of Cambridge. Mass. daugh-
cor If the poet: Mrs Ella Il. Washington. of West
VIRGINIA. and Mrs. Emma Il. Ball. Of Virginia. de-
sccn1ants of the Washington family: Mrs Alice liiil
Vic If ex Senator Hin. of Colorado; Mrs. Leta II.
q
Hudson Of Connecticut. the secretary of the Mount
Vernon Association: Mrs J. NJ. Ward. of Kansas;
Miss Mary Lloyd Pendleton. of ohio; Mrs r. g.
pakcr of Florida; Mrs. Elizabeth y. Rathbone Of
Michigan: Miss Harriet Clayton Comegys. of Della
ware. Mrs Rebecca Il. Flandrau. of Minnesota
Nrs 4 + Winder OF New-lIampshre: Mrs. Ida
A Richardson. of Louisiana; Mrs. George Il. Colds
borough OF Maryland, who is great Srea t-Srand-
daughter of Martha Washington; Mrs Benjamin
Graham. Of Missouri; Mrs. Frances S. Conover Of
New-Jcrsey; Miss Mary POLK Yeatman, of Tennes-
see a descendant of President Polk.
The Regents are quartered at Mount Vernon. and
though living in the ever-busy present. the bed
rooms they occupy are. far it is possible TO
make them. reproductions of those OF Mrs.
Washnctons day The number Of bedrooms in IN"
mansion is not equal TO the needs OF the Council
They were long ago disposed of on the first come,
first served" plan. to the earlier vice-regents. by
whom they were furnished either from private
means or by the States they represented and for
which they are named. As the number OF Nce-re-
gents increased. there were not rooms enough TO
60 around and some found quarters outside where
restoration" has preserved the smaller buildings.
and at the time affords comfortable bed
rooms Through the vice-rcgent for Minnesota. the
school children of ST. Paul have restored the Old
spinning house" which is made available for the
Minnesota State bedroom and the Michigan state
bedroom. leaving intact for the inspection of VS.
i,ors the spinning room The vce-regent for Ohio
ever by the vice-regents for Ohio" Other vicere-
gents have fitted up the quaint little rooms over the
Old servants quarters. restored three years ago.
and put in beautiful order by the school children
of Kansas through the vice-regent of that State.
When Mrs Alexander Mitchell. vce-regent for Wis
consn Is with the Council, her room is the south
bedroom at the top of the mansion. where the lit
lie dormer window stands out, conspicuous feat
Of the roof 1t IS the room where Martina
Washington died.
The vice-regcnt for Michigan has restored the old
"coa chhouse." and in it is Washngtons coach. the
original found at last after long and toward
the end somewhat exciting search for IT,
Among other relics recently added Is the silver
centrepece used at state dinners by General
and Mrs Washington. who commissioned Gouver
neur Morris TO buy IL in Paris. This comes back TO
Mount Vernon through the vice-regent for Mary
land. From the vce-regent for Louisiana come
valuable articles which belonged to Mrs. Washing
ton returned after an absence Of a century or
more-among them a pair OF curious silver lamps
from the Conrad family of Virginia, great-grand-
Of Nelly Gusts. These and other relies from
the same source form the Conrad cabinet"
Among new old things in the library Is the copy
Of letter written by Martha Washington in 1884,
while in Philadelphia, to her niece. Fanny Wash
ingon. There is also curious profile OF Washing
ton done in black silk embroidery white silk
Background by Rowlinda Sharpess. daughter of
James Sharpless. who painted in pastel from life i
portrait of Washington.
The regents have eve 10 business. and man
age so well that the Mount Vernon Association is
not only quite free from debt but is able make
Improvements each year for the preservation OF the
place and put by pretty good sum for rainy
day, the latter invested in mortgage bearing in
;erest. Even the deer park is made to pay. Last
year dozen deer sold to x-Post rnaster-Gen-
eral Wanamaker for his park at JenkintOwn. Penn
il need not be added that Mr. Wanamaker paid,
voluntarily. for Mount Vernon deer than he
would pay for any other. Another lot Of deer was
sold 10 Dr. Fbert. Of Philadelphia. also at fancy
prices. The deer park is few acres Of the old deer
park the river bluff. In front OF the mansion. 1t
was restored and stocked half a dozen years since
by the gift OF 80 90 from the of former vice
regent, Mrs. Robert Campbell. OF Missouri. II Is
here that a part OF the old wharf constructed by
Washington. yet remains from which barges were
loaded with -four ground his mill, the