The Washington times., 1902-05-11
FURNISHED BY THE DISTRICT.
Remarkable Success Has Attended Their Ef-
forts in Securing the Furniture and Household
Utensils Once Used by the Father Of His
Country, But Subsequently Scattered to the
-Four Corners of the Ldnd--FeatuTes of the
Annual Meeting of the Regents, j j

"HE Mount Vernon Ladies' Associa-
tion of the Union, that Oldest and
1 most exclusive patriotic organiza-
tion of women in America, conven-
ed in annual meeting last Thursday in
the historic home of Washington, down
the Potomac, and will be in session dur
ing the coming week. A larger delegation
of the regents than usual are present,
representatives from twenty States being
in attendance.
This association proudly claims that no
other organization, of either men or wo-
men, has such long and honorable his
tory, nor any other such a patriotic and
for the home of the immortal Father of
Ills Country. That there is good ground
the history of the council viii attempt to
deny. Early in the last century, about
1929. the Mount Vernon estate passed into
the hands of General Washington's young
er brothers grandson, Mr. John Angus
tine Washington. For some unaccount-
able reason, unless it was a lack of en-
terprise and thrift, the property deterior-
ated under his care and instead of prov
ing to be wealth-producing, as it had dur
ing the lifetime of his illustrious ances-
tor, IL fell into decay and became a dead
weight of expense. Mr.. Washington made
numerous attempts to sell it to the Gov
ernment, and it certainly must be re-
corded as a remarkable lack of patriot
isla and forethought of the Congresses OF
those days that the estate was not pur-
chased and maintained by a grateful Gov
ernment in recognition of the inestiin-
able services of our first and greatest
patriot.
Saved by the Women.
That was not done, however. and had it
not been for the women Of the country
Mount Vernon would undoubtedly have
been sold to private corporation and
turned into pleasure resort Of some de-
scrlption. In 1s53-54. by which time the
buildings on the estate were literally col
lapsing for want of care, Miss Ann
Pamela Cunningham, Of South Carolina,
visited there, and Mortified at what she
saw, she appealed to her countrywomen
TO come TO the rescue ana save Mount
Vernon to posterity. From the day OF
the Spartan mothers the flame OF patriot
ism has always burned in woman's breast,
and Miss Cunningham's call met a ready
response. BY 1853 the purchasing fund of !
500, 600 was raised, and the 200 acres of
the estate which contained the buildings |
became the property of the American |
women, who intrusted its care to the |
council of the Mount Vernon Ladies' AS !
sociution of the Union. According to its
constitution, this council was TO consist
OF an executive officer, the regent, and |
Territory in the Union. Through these
vice regents auxiliary societies were or
Canized in the various States and the
funds provided with which the restora
tions have been made, the old mansion
refurnished. and the outbuildings rebuilt
The task has been herculean, and those
ladies who served upon the council, es-
pecially during the civil war. and the
years Immediately following, deserve un-
limited praise for their unsel6sh labor
Of love.
From the first the effort was made TO
have the furniture and belongings re-
turned to Il which were at Mount YER
non during General washington's resi-
dence there This was possible fro:n the
fact that the Father Of His Country was
,f such a. remarkably systematic turn OF
mind and kept such minute record Of
his affairs in his diary. His will alone
designated by name the greater part OF
III of his belongings. At the suggestion
II the vice regent from New Jersey the