Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-02-19

During the Civil War there was
only one spot in all orr now United
States where soldiers OF both armies
could meet on common ground MS
friends, not foemen, rs brothers ana
sons of one father, the Father OF HIS
Country" That spot was Mount
Vernon. A ''truce of Cod prevailed
throughout the broad acres that con-
tanned the home and tomb OF Wash
ington.
Whether hunted by their enemy or
drawn hither by the same reverent IN
spiration that attracts visitors to
Mount Vernon from every part OF the
habitable globe, wearers of the blue
and the gray were equally welcome,
The only restriction placed upon their
coming was the servants request that
they leave their arms Mt whatever
point they entered the grounds, some
times at the old porter's lodge, three
quarters of mile away.
At Washington's tomb unarmed
pickets of the South and North fire.
auently met during the years OF the
"great conflict" Sacred, however, as
this home of peace is, it is to the
women of the United States, and to
them alone, that we owe the purchase
and preservation of Washington's
home, and only their loving care has
made possible the past and present
restoration of this fine old type OF the
colonial mansion of century and a
half ago. The high privilege and real
happiness of visiting this house ant,
grounds, with all their varied and
tangible memorials so intimately as,
sociated with the life and character
of the immortal Washington, the
American people owe to the Mount
Vernon Ladies' Association OF the
Union. OF the early struggles ant
patient,labors of successive members
of this association much might be said
ORGANIZED in 1858, under the regency
of Miss Ann Pamela Cunningham,
obtained by purchase some 200 OF thu
thousands of acres owned by the late
Colonel John Augustine Washington
last private owner of Mount Vernon
who found himself unable to maintain
the estate. To his credit be it said
Colonel Washington did not sell tin
land on which rests the tomb OF Gen
eral Washington aud his family. Tn
tomb, or the two acres containing 1t
were decided as a gift to the assocla
ton. Later donations from ,'a
Gould and others have increased tn
real estate of the association to 231
acres.
The restoration, equipment an'
keeping of the respective rooms G
the mansion have been intrusted t
the noble women of the differed
States represented in the Board
Vice Regents. These vice-regent
are representative women OF most c
the leading States, appointed by til
regent. their names being submitte
by her to the Board OF Vice-Regent
for confirmation or rejection, after tn
manner of Presidential appointments
There are thirtythree vice-regen,
+ now in office. These ladies hav
| wrested what they atlectionately styl
!, "this, our beloved home" from deca
, and almost from annihilation. Nc
ONLY the mansion and tomb-with II
family vault and two sarcophagi II
r closing the remains Of "the General
and his "consort' - receive the
t anxious care, but the work of the a.
sociation extends to all the outbuil'
> ings and every distinctive feature
t the grounds that has any connectlo
!, with the period of Washington's occ'
$ pancy.
, The annual reports presented an
o read at the yearly meetings OF I'll