Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-15
REGENTS OF MT. VERNON
Annual Council Now in Progress at tho
Old Mansion
improvements Made During the Year
Preparations foD Receiving
Official Visitors.


of New York. and the major portion of the
vice regents went down to Mt. Vernon
Wednesday evening, and the first session Of
the council was held yesterday morning
During the day yesterday several more of
the vice regents arrived and were present
at the second session, and further Access
sions are expected in a day or two. The
council, 1t is thought will be large and a
| most interesting one. Besides Mrs. Town
send, the regent, who presides at the meet
lngs there are present: Mrs. Hudson of
Connecticut, Mrs Richardson of Louisiana
Mrs. Walker of North Carolina, Mrs. Con-
over of New Jersey. Mrs. Comegys of Del
aware, Miss Pendleton of Ohio, Mrs. Ella
Washington of West Virginia. Mrs. Wilder
| of Georgia, Mrs Rathbone, Mrs. Barnes Of
the District of Columbia, Mrs. Hill of Col
orado, Mrs Letter of Illinois, Mrs. Colds
borough of Maryland Mrs. Ames of Rhode
Island and Miss Herbert of Alabama. The
latter two ladies are participating in coun-
ci Tor the first time, their appointment
having only been made at the last council.
Miss Herbert, daughter of the Secretary of
the Navy, was elected to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of her mother, who
was the second vice regent from the state
OF Alabama since the formation of the
soclatlon. To Alabama has been long ago
assigned the hall of the mansion, and it
was due to the efforts Of the late Mrs. Her
Deil tidt us restoration was completed
some years ago, and many OF the important
| relics which are hung on Its walls either
were collected by or presented to her and
through her reached their present fitting
resting place.
Meeting in the banquet Hall.
The ladies meet. usual, about long
table in the banquet hall, or east parlor.
The sessions commence early IN the morn
ing. and several meetings are held each
day, besides the conference, in which the
work of special committees is discussed
The hours in which visitors most fire.
quent about the mansion or grounds are
free times with the ladies. Yesterday after
luncheon most of them were entertaining
visitors from this city, and an air of do
nestle charm and delightful hospitality
prevailed, which naturally proves a great
attraction to visitors during the presence of
the guardians OF Mt Vernon at the his
torlc spot Today large party of Bal
tlmoreans were down, and enjoyed the
pleasure of a visit under similar conditions
so tar the ladies have been blessed with
good weather, which is always the first
essential to the comfort and pleasure of
their stay there. The beautiful aspect of
the entire estate, either from the river or
car approaches, has not only delighted
the ladies, but must also every other VS.
itor The long drought of last summer
gave serious blight to the grass but
Superintendent Dodge turned his attention
TO that defect early in the spring, and his
exertions have been rewarded by velvety
turfs on all the hillsides and lawns The
garden is one of the special attractions to
visitors at this season.
Its old-time prim-box hedges, its old-fash-
Toned climbing roses, shrubs and orange
blossoms are at the moment in full glory
and fragrance
The Garden.
Mr.. Franklin A. WhelAn, the head gar
dener. is quite a Mt Vernon institution
himself. He has been employed there for the
last twenty years. and has a personal ac-
quaintahce with every bush and shrub in
the garden. The ladies are delighted with
the appearance of everything within it's
boundaries, and have a sentimental fond
ness III keeping 1t up in the way it looked
in the Washington days. Clippings from
the Washington magnolia, the Martha
Washington rose bush. etc, are now grow
ing all over this country. and Mr. Whelan
frequently gets letters, telling him how
well the flowers from Mt. Vernon have
thrived thousands of miles off. Miss Pen
dleton of Ohio is acting chairman of the
garden committee at this council, in place
OF Mrs. PickenS of South Carolina, who has
not been able by reason of ill health to at
tend. Mrs. Letter, Mrs. Barnes and Mrs.
Mitchell other memebers.
The first sessions of council yesterday
were occupied in the reading of the minutes
of the last council and no new business
will be reached until their conclusion.
The River Front.
The most important work done on the
estate last year was the reclama ton and
draining of the marshes around the river
front and the building of the sea wall. This
was made possible and entirely completed
by the munificence of Mrs. Hearst, vice
regent OF California, who early in her con-
nection with Mt. Vernon took as the share
her state should enjoy in the restora ton of
Mt. Vernon the work the river front
AS sanitary reform this work is thought
to be the most important done about the
place in years, and vast improvement in
the health of the locality is expected as by
1t the malarial tendencies to which the low
lands and marshes subjected the place
have been largely removed. The receipts
from the boat and car lines to Mt Vernon
are now adequate for the maintenance of
the estate, but reservations Of any special
moment are still borne by the states, repre-
scented in their vice regents. At an early
session of council, an invitation to the
governor of Virginia and the board of Wis
itors from the Virginia legislature will be
extended, and the formal visit from these
gentlemen is expected by the middle of next
week. Council will continue, it is expected
until the latter part of next week.