The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-02-19

to have public collections OF docu-
mentary valuables and articles Of his
tortc interest after the long time in
which they have been jealousy guard
ed In private hands. The historical
societies fill this want besides max
ing diligent research into the histories
II their respective states. Probably
The most active of these societies are
hose of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania
Ind Virginia. The best equipped is
hat of Wisconsin, which receives an
appropriation Of $14, 900 a year from
he state, besides possessing other
means. 1t owns the most complete
library extant of the histories Of the
various states, and it Is an accepted
act that should one wish to settle
some vexed question in the history of
my state in the Union the surest way
II doing so Is to go to the library of
he Wisconsin Historical Society in
Madison. The state of New Jersey
ippropriates $4,000 a year to her His
'orical Society, Maryland and South
Carolina each gave 50, 900, Minnesota,
Kansas and Michigan appropriate re-
ipectively s $4,000, $3.50 and $4,000 per
innum. Various other states, includ-
ng some Of the newest, give sums of
greater or lesser degree, while Texas
provides for her Historical Society in
rather an original way as a Bureau
II the Agricultural Department"
OF all these peculiar interest at
iaches to Virginia. The commence
nent of the Virginia Historical So
aety was due to Jonathan Cushing, a
New Highlander. One might almost add,
100, that it was accidental, for it was
while travelling through the South for
lis health that Cushing first became
aware of the number Of papers, rec
ords, etc., Of highest historical i'm
p%ortance, scattered here, there and
everywhere throughout the Old Do
ninion. The necessity of gathering
these documents together and preserv-
ing them impressed itself upon him,
md he in turn interested some of the
foremost citizens of the state in the
plan. Among those who heartily CO.
operated with him was Chief Justice
John Marshall. Thereupon the Vir-
Einia Historical Society was founded,
and Gushing himself made president.
For many years it fiuctuated between
success and failure, but struggled on.
Finally the city of Richmond gave It
tree use of rooms-hrst in the Athe-
naeum, then In the state capitol and In
sha VtrOinfo Moohonioob Tpu+io r.
the latter place books, papers, pictures
md manuscripts were unpacked and
displayed for several years.
During the war, however. the Con-
tederate States war department tool
possession of the institute. and again
did the Virginia Historical Society
have to move on its way. The pic
lures were stored in private houses;
the books were covered with cloth and
packed in the custom house, where
many of them were stolen or injured;
the society seemed almost extinct.
Nevertheless, 1t made another effort to
gather together it's forces in the H.
brary OF the Westmoreland club, I'm.
! til, in 1893, It's wanderings were final.
ly ended by the gift of a large brick
house-707 East Franklin street-by
Mrs. John Stewart, of Richmond, and
her daughters. This house was par
ticularly adapted to the purpose as The
home of General Robert E. Lee dur
ing the war. 1t was first occupied by
himself and a number Of officers who
dubbed 1t "The Mess" afterwards Mrs
Lee and her daughters came to Rich
mond and 1t became their home unit
the end of the war. 1t was given Il
the society in memory of General Let
and a beautiful monument dedicated Il
whom stands at the further end of tht
game street.
The Virginia Historical Society Ii
now in a fourishing condition. TT
manuscripts alone are estimated to bt
worth $25, 900. They include a valu
able collection of autograph letters o.
George Washington, a number Oi
colonial I->.rds so yellowed by timt
as to be scarcely legible and forty-foul