Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-02-20

case, holsters, ink stand. silver snuFere.
etc.
In the quaint old town Of Alexandra.
the community nearest to Mount vernez,
is supplemental collection OF Wash
ington relics which are usually spokea
Of In conjunction with those al the manor
house Hero in Alexandria Is the Wash
ington Masonic Lodge where the Father
Of His Country presided as worshlpfSl
master and there Is shown to visitors
the chair In which be sat when prcsi&-
ing al lodge meetings aud the apron and
collar made for him by the Nuns e
Nantes Here also may be seen tins
cherry wood clock which was tickiax
away the minutes in washington's bed
room ON the night BE died and which,
as the great man breathed his last. was
reverent' Wy stopped by Or, Dick with
the hands registering y minutes past 10
the hour they have ever sinee recorded
II will be seen from the above RESUME
that almost all the important relics o[
George Washington 1ave gradually beea
gathered together In the city to which
be gave his name or in the territo-.
within a dozen miles Of the scat OF gov
rrnment Almost the only impor. ant rel
les not to be found In the neigtborhcOd
or washington's old home are lhc books
which belonged TO the hrst gentleman Of
America Nearly the whole OF the origi-
nal Washington lbrsty Is now 10 the
Boston Athenaeun. which Institution also
owns the Stuart portraits OF George and
i Martha Washington painted FROM life in
/ the year 1906
| Tre prominent men and women who
have Interested themselves ia the project
TO have the national government acquire
! practically all OF the existent meElentoes
! Of the Father % -. - country are hopeful
that ia time there r-ay be turned over to
the National Museum the relics now in
the possession OF Mrs Beverly kennon.
great granddaughter Of Martha Washing
ton aud the oldest living descendant OF
thu life partner OF the most famous
American Mrs Keunon's home Tudor
I Place located Ia Old Georgetown, .. c.
/ now part Of Washington city L Giied
/ with historic souvenirs OF 8aic. many OF
/ which were formerly owned lay the occu-
/ pants of Mount Vernon.
! The Washington silver plate Is erea
/ rsrer than the china because there was
| less Of II originally bot Mrs. Kennon has
| goodIy representation Of this tableware,
/ all embiazoned with the washingtoa
| crest She has numerous specimens Ct
all the china service used Ia General
washingtoD's household and mention Of
! which has been made earlier 10 the srtt-
| Gle In connection with the Lee coilectiOa
! and the reiics already in the possession
/ OF the government The Kcunon coEsec
ton likewise includes cherry wood tea
| tray. similar to that owned by Miss Lee
| Then there are half a dozen spiral can.
dicsticks and mural candelabra mounted
! in front OF oval mirrors. Finally MrE
Kennon has Martha washington's writing
table and several autograph letters
penned by General and Mrs. Washing.
ton, as well MS an unequaied collection
Of miniatures of the W ious members OF
the Washington family.
II. SIS now seems probable the National
Museum is 10, in time. becoge the PEI
maneDt depository Of all the most Inter.
esting reminders OF the greatest Ameri-
can, II Is indeed matter for congratuis
ton that this institution is shortly 10
have a new home calculated 10 enable the
eifectual safeguarding Of all such treas.
ares. For tive years now workmen have
been o0sy erecting the great granite
structure Of classic design that Is 20
house the vast collections Of this lmpos-
tant educational institution. Three years
more will be required to flnish this mon.
ster cdldec, which will cost when coDs-
pleted fuIiy s3.Jo0, ooo and VIII rank aeKt
to the United states Capitol as the lsrg-
est OF our public buildings
The new structure the largest museum
building in the worlds J62 feet IA
length and 800 feet 10 width. excl isiye Of
projections. The aOor space will sggTe-
gate 10 acres and more tbsn half Of this
Will be devoted 10 exhibition purposeA
The Washington relies have the place VI
honor IN the present museum, and it .
expected tbTt corresponding prominenes
will be given 10 them In the new strue,
tire. II is obviously Important shat the
glass cases containing the washlagtea
relics shall be so placed that they can
ever be under the wstcnful eyes of armed
guarda WALDoN FAWCETr.