Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-07-22
4 NEW AMERICAN SHRINE IN
ENGLAND.

1t is now proposed to buy the
ancient home of the Washington fam
lily in Northamptonshire, England, thu
we'll known SuIgrave Manor, and con
vert it into a shrine for visiting Amer
leans, as well as a lasting memorial
to George Washington, who has recent
| ly been referred to as the greatest
Englishman of his century.
The family estate of the Washing
tons has often been described in mag
azine and newspaper articles in re-
cent years, and the American eye has
become accustomed to views of the
old manor, the church, the family coat
of arms, and other features of interest.
! The proposition that now comes TO
! purchase it through American contri-
buttons is one that might well recon-
mend itself to the public in this coun-
try.
Anything that is definitely associar-
ed with the name and fame of WASH
Iington is of peculiar interest to true
Americans. Mount Vernon is visited
annually by untold thousands, repre-
! senting all parts of the country. There
is no more sacred, and few more beau
tiful, spots than the home of George
and Martha Washington During the
civil war it was held inviolate by both
armies To-day it is guarded with as
much care as the old Independence
| Hall in Philadelphia or other historic
spots that are endeared to the national
heart
Sulgrave Manor, as the birthplace
and homestead for centuries of the
Washington family, is we'll entitled to
protection and preservation. That it
will take American iniative and Amer
lean money to do this is probably true
The amount required is said not to be
excessive, nor great when the number
of interested Americans is considered,
and its maintenance would be render
ed easy by the charge of a fee to Wis
itOrs, as is done at Mount Vernon.
Tens of thousands of Americans troop
abroad every year, of whom a large
element undoubtedly would make the
trip to Sulgraye Manor were it con-
stttuted into a permanent memorial,
as suggested, to the good will that
exists between England and the Unit
ed States and to the century of peace
that closes in 1915, the centennial Of
the treaty that ended the war of 1872,
The marking of spots, and the pre-
seryation of buildings, connected with
the founders of this country, is stead
lily progressing in England. One day
recently there was unveiled a tablet to
the memory of William Penn in the
!; church where he was baptized Other
memorial tablets to the founders OF
colonies are to be seen in different
parts of the home country. To the
<AuclICd NuO Is DIT an dCqudlHtSu
with the history of his own country
and the history of the parent land, a
trip to England will be made all the
more delightful by constant reminders
of the fact that he is treading on the
soil of his forefathers. From a bust
ness standpoint the English themselves
might we'll perpetuate all such men,
cries. But with the Americans, money
makers though they may be, pure sen
timent is the governing motive in such
movements as that now on to pur-
chase Sulgrave Manor and preserve
E the estate forever as a memorial tC
one who towers higher and higher il
history as the day in which he played
his part recedes into the past.