The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-07-12
AT MARY'S TOMB.
Prof Wade Visits The Tomb OF
Mary Washington.

An Interesting Letter Written From
Historic Spot -Hew the Women Of
of the Country Built the Splendid
Monument 10 Commemorate the spot
Where the Mother Of Washington
sleeps A Special Appeal Was Made
Every One Named Mary.
For the New Dominion.
FREpERIcKsBuRG, Va, Juty l0.--Fred-
erieksburg, Virginia where | spent the
glorious Fourth OF July, has q place in
history which never can perish. The
town has factories, and schools, and
churches. Its people are noted for re-
finement and its women for beauty. But
these are not chief in that which lends
Fredericksburg its cnarm.
Fredericksburg is best known for be-
ing the home OF Mary the mother of
/ cupied by the mother of Washington is
still standing in primitive simplicity.
and in a fair state of preservation, at
the corner Of Charles and Lewis streets.
Ii is now owned by the Society for the
Preservation OF Virginia Antiquities.
1t was here that Lafayette visited Mary
Washington, in 1884. And here the
Father OF bis Country paid to his then
feeble mother his last visit, in March
| 1888, before he went to New York, tt
be inaugursted first President of the
1 United States.
| The Tomb, 81 Mary Washington, near
the town. is now marked by monu-
ment worthy by its massive foundation
of granite aud its simplicity, stateliness
and beauty to preserve the memory OF
her who gave birth to the Father OF his
country, and who by her own virtues
and discipline contributed so powerfully
1 to make him what he was.
The changes which eliminated in the
erection, completion and unwilling OF
this monument are worthy OF notice.
Prior to the year 1898, one single per-
son, Silas T.. Burrows, wealthy mer-
chant of New York, volunteered to fur
nish all the needed money and means
for erecting suitable monument over
the grave of Mary Washington. A COM
| peteat architect was engaged and a
beautiful plan was prepared and ac-
cepted.
| In 1888, Andrew jackson. President
OF the United States, attended by MEM
bers OF his cabinet and by a large mum
Der of citizens and soldiers, military and
civic bands of music, came to Freder-
| icksburg and the corner stone of the
monument was laid with imposing cere-
monies. The work went on until the
square body of the monument was COM
pleted with its polished marble pillars,
and its carved Fittings and traceries.
The enormous plinth for the spire was
moved from the wharf to the site of the
monument with oxen and mules, and
wagon frames, wheels, chains, shoutings
OF boys and pullings OF ropes, where 1t
was disposed amidst weeds and rubbish
and where it remained for more than a
half century. No stroke OF sculptor >
mallet or chisel fell upon it. For in
mediately following the second term cf
President Jackson came the financis
crash and Silas T. Burrows the Renel
GUS patron went under The unfinist
ed monument was often visited, and al
ways with feeling OF humiliation.
After the civil war, appeals were made
to congress to appropriate money to
complete the monument or to build an
other in its place. But congress turned
deaf ear to these appeals.
] Then the souls OF the women OF the
country began to stir within them An
association was formed in October, 1899,
by the women of fredericksburg, under
Mrs. james r. Smith, and some months
afterward, as an outcome of this move
ment, a National Association was form
ed, headed by the widow Of chief JUS
tice W ate. Appeals went out. All the
women of the county bearing the name
Of MARY" and all the men interested
in these women were urged to give.
Money poured into the treasury. A plan
for q monument, solid, stately, yet
graceful and beautiful was selected.
The monument was approved and cree.
ted on the site of the unfinished monu-
ment which was removed.
On Thursday, the 10th of May, 1894,
the ceremony OF unwilling took place.
| The President OF the United States,
Grover Cleveland, and nearly all of his
cabinet, with a very large number OF
citizens, male and female, from the Dis
trict of Columbia and other parts OF the
country attended. Charles O'Ferrall i,
Governor OF Virginia, on horseback, at
tracted favorable notice by his knightly
appearance and bearing. Military regi
ments and companies from Washington
Alexandria, Richmond, Fredericksburg
| bands OF music, Masons, Knights Tenn
plar, fire companies large companies
| OF ladies in gay attire and mounted on
horses and an immense outpouring OF
citizens made the occasion one never to
| be forgotten.
Mrs. Waite and her co-laborers were
in attendance. full of the sweet joy of
success.
John W. Daniel United States Sena-
tor and Virginia's finest orator delivered
the address
Never in the history of the human