The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-27

phitheater for the -leer and the rooster.
and the eagle roarz serene-y above the
stars and stripes. and seeks not 20 p!under
OF infringe IAN. here is order and gov
mani
II was Mr.. William Writ Henry who
spoke thus, worthy grandson OF the no.
bic Patrick enjoying the society ~ MS
colleagues and perfecting a picture OF
distinction, he formed the center Of an IN
teresting group gathered on the veranda
There was DR.. Toner. phnanthropist.
scholar, writer: Stauuard, the historian,
and Gen. Browne and others Of note
The Potomac breeze stirred the foliage
and also the memories OF days gone BY
| Mr.. Henry remarked that the sun shone
| on whom it pleased ana pleased on whom
| IL shOne at Mt. Vernon; that whereas II
| appeared that ne and his associates spent
| one delicious day Of each year al ait.
vernon merely for the opportunity OF
| paying compliments TO fair woman-an
undeniably pleasant pasume-and Ieast-
| ing the outer eve and the inner man. IN
reality the occasion was with interest
/ fraught and a demonstration OF the eI-
| hclency Of women as custodlans OF sac
| red site and name.
| ed and revised and one fair dame drew
from her reticule the copy 81 an alleged
| love letter written by Washington, ana
also an attentive ear from her cOmpan-
| ions. During the reading OF this letter,
I Dr. Toner who rs engaged m preparing
| a pOnQerOuS work on W asnlIelO anu
| is therefore considered an authority eN-
hibited his privilege of fdgeting and
| doubling; Mr.. Staunard silently aDsorpeu
and pondered, while Mr.. Henry fixed with
his eye a distant cloud and haWd ana
hem'd at the graceful sentences contain
ed in the letter.
Within the mansion other pictures stood
out in exquisite relief. The regent, gown
ed In splendOr, with the insignia OF once
upon her bosom, sat I'm state, SURROUNDED
by an admiring and distinguished crc,e-
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Townsend never sp-
peared more charming ana was never
more efficient in her role OF presiding ge-
MUS. The embodiment of all that Is look
ed for in a Daughter Of the Revolution,
Colonial Dame and regent OF the Mount
| Vernon Association, Mrs. Townsend Is an
honor to the state of New York. The --
correspondent met with the most sra-
clous reception at her hands, ana tnOuSil
Mrs. Townsend had sprained an ankle ana
was forced to sit throughout the day. her
| hospitality was none the less pronounced.
Conspicuous In the galaxy Of fair women
was Mrs. Ella Basset Washington great
| granddaughter of WaShngtOn's only sis
ter. Betty, and vice regent OF virginia.
The widow of Col. Lewis Washington, VINO
descended from two of Washingtons
brothers by intermarriage OF first cousins,
| Mrs. Washington is even further connect
| ed in being great-grand niece of Martha
| Washington, through marriage. Distin-
| gutShed henage is apparent in every line
! of Mrs Washington's strong face, and
as she stood beneath a portrait of her
great ancestor. i'm robe of heavy black
| ana white satin, with rich lace and heavy
white stock, she was the feminine
/ counterpart OF the distinguished general
/ from the roll Of iron gray hair and nObly
chiseled features TO the manner of a gem
| eralissimo Mrs. Washington divides her
| time between New York and Charleston
| and has asked the privilege at this coun-
| ell Of decorating the tomb of Washington
at Easter.
Other Washington descendants present
! were Mrs. Kennoni great-grand niece OF
I Is n nrHf an a
| ington and Congressman Joseph Washing
| ton of Tennessee
Mrs. Wilder, vice regent of Georgia. is
| among the most charming of the women
| assembled at Mt Vernon. With true
southern charm she conducted the GORE
spondent through the mansion, and ex-
| hibited the recent additions to the col
/ lection of treasures in the Georgia room.
| II you viii accompany me to the old
spinning house." said Mrs. Wilder, Il
! Will SHOW you my room. The vice re-
/ gents found themselves too numerous for
| the mansion, so the overflow decided to
/ tit up the old negro quarters for occu-
| pancy during the yearly week of council.
/ IL is possible to enjoy greater privacy in
| these quarters. though they are less i'm
| posing than those of the house proper.
! Mrs Wilder's room, like others in the
| bullding, was quaint and cosey. DormeT
| windows and slanting roofs are not the
| coolest conditions Of summer Imaginable
but association and sentiment count for
| much IN the hearts of women and tiny
| dressers were laden with photographs and
/
table, and closet room was represented
| by domestic steeds known as clothes
| horses.
The absence of Mrs. Pickens vice re-
| gent of South Carolina, was greatly be-
| moaned and the many expressions of re-
| greet testified TO the high esteem and
| of the good cause of Mt. Vernon is held
| by her collaborators. Mrs. Pickens Is
suffering with severe illness, from
which her hosts of friends wish her a
| speedy recovery.
A brilliant hour was that devoted to the
| serving of lunch IN the old library.
Gen. Browne, as POSTMASTER, proposed
the health OF the regent and the vice
regents. This was drunk with enthusi
asm, and the general continued: Il rise
now to offer toast to her whose name
we all revere and whose memory mus
ever live-to the first regent, Mrs. Gun
ningham-and il is my pleasure TO in.
troduce the Hon. William Writ Henry
who will respond to the toast" Mr.. Hen
~, in his happiest vein, gave utteranct
to the following sentiments: while en-
loying this beautiful and historic spot
sick girl, a frail, feeble woman, who ont
day sailed down the Potomac, and, look
ing toward Mount Vernon, saw 1t in ruins
This girl, with determination which few
| possess, determined that the sacred home
should be restored, and undaunted by he
illness, she undertook the task Know
ing where love of country lay Warmest
she enlisted the women TO help her anC
also that peerless writer, Edward Ever
| ett. Together they worked, and TO-DAY
there is nothing more admirable in all ou
fair land than Mount Vernon and the La
dies Association. 1 voice the sentimen
Of the nation when I say that they have
American people," Clustered abou
Mount Vernon at this season is all tina
is choicest in thought and action, anC
| association. 1t is a just tribute to
brave memory that men and women NEE
upon this historic ground; the forme
| even less keenly alive to the necessity
for the preservation of ideals than Thu
latter yet all co-sympathizers and herr
worshipers Of the father of our coun
try"