The Washington herald., 1910-10-30
AS THE DAYS PASS.
BY FRANCES JAY.

In every direction throughout the cOun-
try the wires have this week carried
news that a monument has been I'M
yelled in the old graveyard at Clifford.
Va. TO the memory and above the last
resting place Of the mother OF Patrick
Henry, the tongue OF the American Revo-
luton. Behind this simple announcement
is as pretty an exposition Of the power
Of the press" as one would wish TO md
On mothers day" eighteen months
ago, The Washington Herald gave a
column-long tribute 10 Sarah Henry, who
might without eXaggeratiOn fifty be called
the 81 eatest Of American mothers, from
the extent OF her sphere OF influence.
William Writ. the historian, gave a warm
tribute 10 her talents in his life of her
distinguished son, saying: she posse sel
in an eminent degree the mild and benev-
client disposition, the undertaking pr0bity.
the correct understanding, and easy elo-
cution by which the ancient famlly-the
A.nstOns-has long been distinguished "
She has been called the "Abgale Adams
Of the South. with for her time. a bril-
liant education. the gift of elOquenCe,
ana facile pen. With these endowments
she stamped her influence on all who
came within the circle of her life.
Besides being the mother Of the great
orator. Mrs. Henry was the mother of Col.
John Henry, who bore an active part in
the wars for freedom, and four Of her
daughters were the wives oil Revolution
airy officers who took first rank in the
service of their country-CampbeH the
hero of Kings Mountain; Col Samuel
MEREDITH, hero of Trenton and Prince
ton" and intimate friend of Gen. Wash
ington. who made him first Treasurer
Of the United States; Col. Valentine
Wood. and Col Christian. Of Indian war
fame. All these gentlemen were enthusi-
astic admirers of their mother-in-aS,
Col Meredith desiring to be buried at her
feet as tribute OF his affection for her.
Largely 20 her powers q eloquence is
ascribed the brilliant records Of her house
hold.
All these practically forgotten facts The
Herald revived. and told the story OF
how her great-granddaughter after long
years of absence in another State. in her
ninetieth year. returned to the grave of
Mrs. Henry and pointed out the exact
location. and having had it inclosed and
made safe. well satisfied with her labor
VI NV EtAl ilFG 10 " hSulilS LOn ana lay
down for her own last-peaceful sleep.
Then the article ended with an i'm
FASHIONED call to those who revere mother
hood to rescue from oblivion the grave of
;'this strong. good woman, this sweet and
powerful mother of America"
BY a misprint In Writ Henry's life OF
his grandfather. the name of the home
OF Col. Meredith, where Mrs. Henry was
buried was called Winston. There Is no
sueh place In the county, and the ancient
name of the village had also been altered.
80, though several OF the Revolutionary
societies had tried to locate the spot they
had failed until The Herald was given
the true statement by a descendant in the
fifth generation, who had long been out
Of the country. When the printed story
reached Clifford the long forgotten grave
was revisited. the fence again erected,
and the fund for the monument gotten to-
gether.
IT is an interesting thought that when
Mrs. Henry's pen did so much for the
American cause her grave is rescued
from oblivion by the instrument we be-
lieve to be mightier than the sword.