Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-22
MOUNT VERNON REGENTS.


As stated in the GAZETTE of that date
the Mount Vernon Regents adjourned
yesterday aftera pleasant weeks session.
Sever items of interest were brought
out in the regents report. 1t referred
to the finding of the bank book of Mrs.
Hale, late vice regent for New Hamp.
shire, which contained q generous
credit for Mount Vernon, never drawn
from the bank; also to the work done
by the vice regent of New York in re-
storing the "ha-ha" fence. Mr. Have
meyers generous gift of four pictures
which originally belonged to Mount
Vernon and New York's vice regents
contribution of $500 were likewise
mentioned. The regeut expressed her
Indebtedness to the treasurer, Mr..
Riggs, for his unfaiiug interest in the
association, and her appreciation of the
valuable services ofthe superintendent,
Mr.. Dodge; the assistant superinten-
dent, Mr.. Young, and the head gard
ner, Mr.. Whelan.
The chairman of the finance commit
tee, Mrs. Ball, of Virginia, has most
gratifying balance sheet to report this
year. In spite of the attractions
offered in other parts of the
United States and in foreign lands the
tide of travel still strongly sets toward
Mount Vernon. The number of visi-
tors by boat and land during the last
twelve months reached 1888. 1t is
expected that this number will be
greatly increased by the thousands of
Christian Endeasorer5 who will be in
Washington this summer.
One other committee, that on guide
books, Mrs. Ward, Vice Regent for
Kansas, chairman, is hoping to reap a
benefit from the Christian Endeavor
visitors. The book has been carefully
prepared and gives many historical
and local facts of which the casual
conner is often quite ignorant.
Mr.. Harrison II. Dodge, the superin-
tendent of the buildings and grounds,
presented his annual report to the
council. 1t is full account of the
business transacted by him un-
der the direction of the individual
committees of the association and
chronicles the various repairs ex-
ecuted through the generosity of the
| vice regents and individuals, and by
the societies of the various States.
Mrs. Ward, Vice Regent for Kansas,
aud member of the records commit
lee, read an interesting letter from Miss
Cunningham, the founder of the asso-
citation. The letter contained valuable
information. The Cunningham letters
and all other valuable historic manu-
scripts in possession of the association
are being collected by the records COM
mittee, Miss Comegys, Vice Regent
for Delaware, chairman.
Mrs. Hearst, Vice Regent for Cali
fornia, presented a request, which was
granted with thanks, that she be allow
ed to have printed, at her own expense,
the entire set of the Mount Vernon As
sociation reports, beginning with the
year 1858. These reports are now
scarce and difficult to obtain. Mrs.
Rathburn, Vice Regent for Michigan,
presented to the association for Mrs.
Starkweather, of Ypsilanti, 12 hand
some volumes of the illustrated work
on cart and Architecture ofthe Official
Worlds Columbian Exposition" She
also presented for Miss Pitkin, of De-
troit, copy of "The Spurious Letters
of Washington" written by Mrs. Thos.
c. Pitkin. These were accepted with
thanks.
Mrs. Washington, Vice Regent for
West Virginia, asked the privilege OF
decorating the tomb of Washington on
Easter Day, which was granted with
the gratitude of the association.
a brief report was given of the work
that has been accomplished by the sew
eral States. These reports were only
short resumes merely, and did not in
clude what was done at the time the
money was raised to buy the Mount
Vernon estate.
The Regents decided that the annual
meetings shall hereafter be held on the
first Wednesday in May.