The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-11-05
ThesMount Vernon Association.
(Contributed.)

| tudi tACtth III lHlclcSN ihI iihtiNN VI
the Mount Vernon Association, by the
devotion and untiring efforts OF which
the home and burial. place Of Washington
were purchased and perpetually dedicated
as the shrine at which the successive
generations Of American youth may learn
for themselves, and transmit to theirpos-
terity, the lesson Of lofty patriotism and
love of country
There has never until now been written
full and authentic account of this assO
citation, and of the legislation of Virginia
and of the national Congress touching
the remains of Washington and the vest
ing of the. title to Mount Vernon in per-
petual board of visitors Such an account,
after months OF assidUOus research and
labor has been prepared by Hon. j. B.
Sener and been approved and adopted by
his colleagues on the board. the Hon J.
L. NJ. Curry. Hon. b. b. Munford and
Capt John A. Coke, OF this city, and r.
l.. Gardner of Pulaski This most inter
esting descriptive account is contained in
the report of the board of visitors for the
present year. Ii has over hundred
pages Of printed matter, and contains an
absolutely accurate and complete narra-
tive of the doings of the association. and
the legislation connected Herewith, from
the reformation of the association, in 1853,
down to the present time 1t is model
OF patient and devoted labor and re-
search and it II only the truth to say
that no more skilful, competent, pains
taking and cultured gentleman could
have assumed the arduous task than the
Hon. J. h. Sener. IL reflects credit alike
upon his head, his heart and his dexterous
hand as a graceful and forcible writer. 1t
will constitute an exhibit to Gov Tyler's
report to the Legislature on its assem-
bling here in December, and each member
of the General Assembly will be furnished
with copy, while at the same time Others
who feel an interest will be able to secure
copies.
Many Of our older readers can recall the
delightful address of Edward Everett
upon the character OF Washington, deliy
cred in this city, and at every city in
Virginia during the years 1851 and 1858.
Mr.. Everett repeated this address one
hundred and thirty-nine times, delivering
it in every principal town and city in the
United States. The tickets of admission
to these addresses amounted to almost
seventy thousand dollars, every cent of
which Mr.. Everett turned over to the
association, towards the purchase of
Mount Vernon, not even deducting the
railroad fare and other charges incident
to their delivery
The writer well remembers having heard
Mr.. Everett deliver this address in the
summer of 1857 The peroration was
very fine and contained a prophesy which
is strikingly interesting in the light OF the
historical Developments OF the past three
years. The purport of this peroratiOn
has fingered in our memory to the present
hour, though we cannot, OF course, un-
dertake to repeat it with absolute verbal
accuracy. After describing the perma-
nency OF Washington's fame heconcluded
with a graphic picture to the following
effect: 1.-THE fame OF Washington follows
the Queen OF Night in her course across
the continent as she passes successively
over State after State, until she reaches
the Pacific coast, and parts company
with her only when she takes her exit
through the Golden Gate and enters on
her long journey across the Pacific to
hold her midnight court with the econstel-
lations of the Orient heavens. And in
those barbarous archipelagoes Of the
Pacific, when civilization shall have set its
foot upon their shores, even there the
name and fame of Washington will be
known and revered."
1t seemed to the hearer Of this predic-
ton that its fulhlment lay in remote
future, measured by the slow cycle OF
centuries. But what are the factsY In
the most barbarous OF those archi-
peIagoes, the Philippines, the United
States has planted our flag, and started
the bum OF those busy industries which
mark the presence Of modern civiliza-
tiun. And we saw, day or two since
the fourth volume OF the Reports Of the
General Court for the Hawaiian Islands,
published at Honolulu. Could more
striking obiect-lesson be given OF the
truth of Bishop Berkeley's well.known
verse that Westward the course of en-
pire takes it's way?'-L. S. NJ, in Rich
mond News.