Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-07-07

Tho two. three. or four stories high;
hut would like to see it. TO this eS-
tent in imitation of Westminster
Abbey, that is, contain places OF
vaults for buryiug our distinguishes
dead, wit statues in bronze OF mar
HE. and slabs of marble or metal,
nnon which would be inscribed the
names and deeds of our illustrious
neonIe. / would like to see panels
| of beautiful hard wood, in which
might be placed the portraits of our
Great generals and statesmen, and,
among other things, to brighten a
page of history, a room specially
adapted to 4 statue of an old negro
mummy, so dear to the recollections
of childhood in the South.
81 would have in cultivation
around it beautiful lawns and gar
dens, with trees and shrubbery, with
emblematic fountains, each descrip-
tive of some historical Renaissance,
and along each beautiful pathway
statues of those whom our country
would love to honor.
''As to the contents of the va
rious rooms and halls, that would be
matter of growth for years to
come"
Mr.. Rouss's reply to the above
letter was as follows:
Your esteemed favor of June 1st
is before me. 1t is remarkable with
what wonderful accuracy you have
interpreted my dream of great me-
mortal hall and battle abbey, dedica-
ted to the great men and women of
the South, and to the advancement
of civilization and science.
II have never been more Impress
ed than by the seeming inspiration
of your brilliant conceptions, and
thank You from the bottom of my
heart for your kindly assistance in
the development of my plans. You
have not exceeded my wishes or my
intentions, but you have OWNED my
purpose and you have laid out be-
fore me a great work that has be-
come in its purpose the realization
of my desires. 1t is no longer a
dream-the reality is within our
grasp, and the attainment of this
object, with the cooperation of my
countrymen, can be fulfilled.
Possessing, as you do, my entire
confidence, and feeling the strength
of your sustaining influence. | hope
we shall be able TO accomplish with
my means and your fundamentally
| upon the one hand, and the combin-
ed liberality of our people upon the
other, work that will be great
pleasure to all who have taken or
NAV take an interest in it. Your
thoughts, feelings, and tastes are in
unison with my own, and it must he
your province to represent me in
doing my part in planning and ar
ranging the Memorial Hall and Bat
tie Abbey as tribute of devotion of
southern men and women to n ma
TONS pride and glory. Nothing
narrow or contracted has intruded
itself upon the plans which you have
formulated and presented to me;
they meet my entire approval and You
have my authority, accompanied by
my best wishes, TO carry them out.
"a nation will endorse our plans,
and visitors from foreign countries
can be edited by the lights of know
ledge of things past aud present.
which will be created as much for
them as for ourselves. Although a
large factor myself, L am but an
humble instrument in the hands of
my comrades and friends to assist
them in perpetuating the glorious
deeds of our heroes. 1 am proud to
feel that / am to be an assistant in
developing the true history of our
great country. The pages that will
be written from the archives that will
be collected by the Battle Abbey As
sociatfon, and which have remained
so long unwritten, will be sacred to
truth and justice, and hope that
nv countrymen, both North and
South, will do my personal memory
the justice to believe that in offering
to devote half million of dollars to
the great ociects that we wish to OBJ
tain, that i have done it with n sim
gleness of purpose of devotion TO my
fellow-man and an unselfish desire
to honor the good and great of our
country.
ssYour long-continued and disin-
terested devotion to the same object
has won for you my affection and
esteem, and I trust you implicitly o
stand with me, by me, and for me,
in carrying out with promptness and
energy our part of the purpose of
our mission. All money necessary
to carry out these plans will be plac
ed at your disposal. and fund of
money to the extent of S500,0 viii
be so arranged that you and the rest
of your associates who will consti-
tute the Board of Governors can
make proper disposition of it, as
may be required; to this you may
con slider me pledged, rs we'll as my
heirs, and assigns, and have furth-
er the honor to state for your infor
nation that my great pleasure will
he TO see the work begun as soon as
| my partners, my beloved country
men of every State and Territory in
the South, are ready, and pushed
forward to completion with all the
rapidity commensurate with pru-
dence and good workmanship; for
some of us are getting along in years,
and we must hurry up little if we
| are to he permitted to see the result