The Washington herald., 1909-05-18
WASHINGTON CHAT.
d ~ sPECTAToR.

IEe annual meeting or the MOUNT
Vernon Association last week brought to
Washington nany Old friends. since q
number OF the regents are the wives Of
men whose lines have at some time been
cast here. Notable among these were
former Senator and Mrs Manderson. the
latter being the regent from Nebraska.
which her husband represented IN the
Upper House for three terms.
Sen5 t1r Msnderson belongs 10 the fast
disappearing class Of statesmen who won
honor and glory IN the civil war. for the
veterans Of that struggle have reached
the time Of life when the excitement OF
politics have no longer any charm a1r
them. Senator Ma1derson's war recotd
was in many ways remarkable.
He enlisted as a private when the first
call for troops was made. and. before re-
signing, because CT the wounds he re-
eeived IN the charge az Lovejoy Station.
Ga. in 1865. had hIled every grade IN the
army. including that of brigadger general.
and had participated in every battle OF
the Middle West. As soon as he recover
ed from his wounds. Mr.. MandersOn re-
sumed the practice OF law-he had been
admitted to the bar before his enlistment.
al about the time he reached his majority
and from that time re trod the path Of
success. rounding out lis political career
with his election 10 the Senate. where he
was president pro TEN. OF the Fifty-H-st
and Fifty-second Congresses. and one OF
the most popular presiding officers that
body ever had
Senator Msnderson's record IN the Sen
ate. indeed, was an enviable one. end 10
man ever retired from It who had made
warmer friends OF was more generally
regretted But. then. ne was fuH OF meat.
fCi OF wit and wisdom, q purveyor OF
good stories. with q bonhoulie that was
irresistible. He stiu keeps that ire
sistible bonhomie. and although he was
cnly ffty-eight when he quilted the Sen
ate, and he has now passed into the
seventies. his smile is as sunny. his wit
as keen, his interest IN life as great as
when he sat up in that big chair that IS
now filed By Vice President Sherman.
Mrs. Manderson has been a regent OF
Mount Vernon FOR a number Of years.
nud. having q deep interest in the work.
she rarely misses an annual meeting os
the association. which affords an excuse
for an outing and IN opportunity 10 greet
old friends in this part Of the world. The
annual session OF the Mount Vernon
Association. however, fs something not TO
be missed, save Tor the g-avest reasons
for the meeting OF the custodians OF
President WashingtoH's home IS as inter
esting a social event as Il is a business
occasion. During the session the regents
Eve IN the old mansion and the outside
houses. They sleep there, they. eat there.
they walk together under the glorious old
trees and through the gardens. and they
gossip there. IN a word. Tor g few days
they play, these ladies. ar being danes OF
tie colonial period and the early days Of
The republic. and their costumes even re-
call ''ye olden time"
Mrs Hearst. who is the regent from
California in the dainty shades. soft silks.
and rare laces she affects. looked as
though she might have stopped out from
some old colonial frame: IN fact she
mist have been one Of her Apperson
ancestors come back to life aEafn. and
her voice has that soft quality. her man
Hers that delicate grace that We associate
with our great-great-great-g -grandmothers.
but she has. nevertheless. a vigorous
brain. brain a man might envy. as
the manner IN which she has spent her
great fortune indicates. How much good
she has dOne with her vast wealth viii
probably never be Justly estimated. for.
with nearly al OF the sOcioIogists oF. the
day. sic belleres that the most eTecrusl
way 10 beueat the world Is 90 begin with
the HtJie children, 50, both in San Fran
cisco and IN Washington. she has en-
oowed many kindergaTters- and who can
count the seeds that are sovn n these
institutions. OF number the fruit that
they beare Besides the kinds-gartens.
Mrs Hearst has made donations 70 many
other educational institutions. among
them the American University. which the
Methodtsts have undertaken 70 found at
the Capital; the Cathedral School for
Girls, % which she has given nearly half
million OF dollars. and 20 the Cn.ver-
sity OF Califcrnis. where she erected and
equipped a mining building IN memory
OF her husband. who was '-FOrty-uiner.- %
and whose great fortune was dug out OF
the mines These are only a few OF Mrs
Hearst's splendid phIanthr0ples. She has
besides, endowed libraries. educated young
nien ard young women. and contributed
n many ways 20 Increase the national
knowledge OF and taste for art