The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-02-17

each floor, so complete that should
any accident occur the mansion could
be restored with entire fidelity.
The association has sought and OBJ
tanned every possible means to guard
against the destructive work of fire.
A comprehensive water system is in
operation, also a steam engine that
raises the water from the Potomac.
A large chemical fire extinguisher
plant is placed under ground. All of
these safeguards can be operated upon
three minutes notice by a well drilled
fire brigade of employees.
Many of the large improvements
are the result OF the generosity of the
v~ice-regents. The last extensive work
has been eliminating the swamp near
the boat landing. This tangle OF
trees, underground and morass was
&he foul centre of the malarial levers
always incident to Mount Vernon.
These twelve acres have been re-
claimed and reduced TO a meadow of
sweet clover, from which the river is
shut out by a substantial water wall.
The cost has been over $4,000 for re-
claiming this land.
This board of willing, quiet work.
ers is governed by one principle: The
preservation of the home of Wash
ington. Now the roads are In fine or
der, the fences are all good. the
drainage is sanitary and excellent.
A fine new wharf with a commodious
pavilion receives the thousands of
visitors brought to Mount Vernon on
a large steamer, n the eighteen
and more cottages and outbuildings
are all in perfect condition. The
| garden Is as Washington left it. with
the quaint boxwood-hedges and Dor
J ders. The old-timeroses pinks, lilies,
m~ignonette, sweet William, lilacs,
magnolia trees and a~cacias, and even
the green houses and servants quar-
] ters are restored and are as Washing
ton saw them. The lawns he loved,
the trees he planted, all r there, ST.
lent but eloquent.
The dream of the enthusiastic
founder of the Mount Vernon Asso-
citation is realized. The home of
Washington is ~ra~tc~on. ana h"s h.
come the shrine of liberty-loving pill
grims from home and foreign lands.
His tomb is religiously cared for by
women who love and revere his men,
DRY. Washington is remembered and
never can be forgotten while his
home and tomb are there to appeal
to the heart and soul of all. Follow
him through the winding walks, un-
der the trees he planted and into his
library surrounded by his books or
seated before his secretary. Then
pass into his room; stand by the bed
on which he died. At last. go over to
his tomb. there revenently bow; fol-
you have communed in spirit with
George Washington. the great and
good. the brave and wise!
Has not the Mount Vernon Associa-
ton redeemed its pledge given to the
country? ~
/ close with this extract from the
farewell address to the founder of the
association to her women associates
given after twenty years OF service
on June I, 1874:
Ladies', the home of Washington
Is in your charge; see to 1t that you
keep 1t the home of Washington. Let
no ~irreverent hand change It; no van
dal hands desecrate It with the flng.
ers Of progress!
Those who go to the home IN
which he lived and died wish to sec
In what he lived and died!
Let one spot in this grand country
OF ours be saved from change.
Upon you rests this duty.
When the centennial comes, bring
ing with it thousands from the ends
of the earth, to whom the home o.
Washington will be the place Of places
in this, our country, let them sec
that, although we slay our forests, re
move our dead. pull down oul
churches. remove from home to home
till the hearthstone seems to have NJ
resting place in America-let then
see that we do know how to care fol
the home Of our hero."-From Thc
Commoner.