Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-09
FOR AGREATREVIVAL
PLANS FOR A SOCIAL OBSERVANCE
OF wAsHrNGTON's BIRTHDAY.
MRS. ROBINSON SUGGESTS THE IDEA.
To Take Place Under the Auspices
of the George Washington Memo
r,.I A..,n-To Promote Interest in
Dream of n National University.

|
dence Of the chairman, Mrs. virginia
Morgan Robinson. at noon yesterday
| Those persons who have claimed that the
fulfilment of Washington's dying wish
the founding of free university-was
dead issue would seem to have reckoned
without their host. for 1t appears from
the reports submitted that the associa-
ton has never Ieen in such fourishing
condition as at present, and the OBJECT
sought seems iever TO have been within
such reasonable bounds of realization as
at present.
The meeting yesterday afternoon was
largely attended, and the members were
very enthusiastic. The object OF the
local committee is to place the state OK
Virginia at the head of list OF charter
member States. and there will be greatly
increased energy exercised towards TINS
end between now and November LIST, AT
which date the list closes.
Mrs. Robinson read communication
from the president of the association,
stating that Virginia stands. at present,
third in point of membership IN the list
of States, being eXcelled only by New
York and Massachusetts.
The effort 10 place the native State OF
Washington at the head of the list Is APP
propriate and commendable, and the Ia
dies of the committee are confident tnat
they will succeed in doing II.
A NATIONAL CELEBRATION.
The most interesting feature of yes
terdays meeting was a proposition when
came from the chairman to mark Feoru-
ary ODD next being the date of Washing
toms birthday, by a demonstration
throughout the length and breadth of the
country.
The proposal, which met with the
hearty support of the committee, compre-
hends the giving of a Washington as
sembly ball in Richmond, at which cos
tunes patterned after those of the pa
triots day shall be worn. The plan APP
pealed to the fancy of the ladies OF the
committee, and Mrs. Robinson was au-
thorized to write to the president of the
association, suggesting that the George
Washington committees everywhere
should hold either balls or teas on the
above date. and that the Colonial style
Of dress should be adopted in every in
stance.
WHAT THE ASSOCIATION STANDS
FOR.
in its constitution and bylaws, is ito
promote a patriotic interest in the be-
quests made by President Washington for
the establishment Of a national or CEN
trail university for the higher learning
a postgraduate university-that shall
complete the American system or public
education and give opportunity for the
highest research, and especially to raise
in small contributions a fund for the
erection of an administration building, the
cornerstone of which shall be laid on or
near the one hundredth anniversary OF his
bequest.
The original draft OF Washingtons last
will and testament, which outlines the
scope of the institution Of which ne
dreamed. is deposited in the ancient
courthouse at Fairfax, Va. 1t contains
this clause "Item--I give and bequeath
in perpetuity the fifty shares which l |
hold in the Potomac company Cunder the |
aforesaid acts OF the Legislature OF Vir- |
ginia) towards the endowment OF uni |
versity TO be established within the limits |
of the District Of Columbia, under the |
auspices of the General Government, If /
thar government should incline to extend |
P fostering hand toward IL, and until such |
a seminary is established, and the funds |
arising on these shares shall be required !
IuT ltS support, my luz bliNA ht9AiC - liioN
tho profits accruing therefrom shall. |
whenever dividends are made, be laid out |
in purchasing stock in the Bank Of Col |
umbia or some other bank at the discre-
ton Of my executors or by the Treasurer |
of the United States for the time being, |
under the discretion Of Congress, and the |
dividends proceeding from the purchase
Of such stocks are TO be invested in more
stocks, and so on until sum adequate
to the accomplishment Of this object is
obtained"
WITH FOREIGN INSTITU-
TIONS.
1t was not Washington's idea. nor is 1t
the purpose Of the bill pending before the
Senate at this time, to establish a rival
of the undergraduate colleges; nor. in
deed, OF the existing special pOst-gradu-
ate schools, but rather TO found an nsti-
tuition OF broader scope for men seeking |
wide fields for scientific and philanthro-
pic research, with the worlds best equip
ments at hand. after they have finished
their studies and taken their degrees in
tho foremost schools Of the land, a uni
versity that shall lead the world in the
work of research and investigation.
The Federal Government, has al
ready in its possession, or under it's
control. $00O0,000 worth of books, speci-
mems, apparatus, and other appliances
and is spending annually 100000 10 main
tain and enlarge these collections The
Library. the largest on the
Continent the National Museum, the
Institution, the Naval OBJ
seryatory, the Geographical Survey. !
the Bureau OF Ethnology. and all
he appliances, equipments, and Libraries
II the different departments are con-
,idered by the friends Of the proposition
TO constitute a valuable nucleus, which
nay be advanta geously utilized In the
.sta blishment of the projected univer-
ity.
AT the meeting held at Mrs Robinson's
donations were received from
several organizations and schools and
forwarded m the nresident az rho fund