The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1912-05-30

the preservation OF things historic.
Some years ago when the board met
one of the members occupied the room
which George and Martha Washington
used as bedroom. There was instant
protest from good many sources and
since then the regents when they met
at Mount Vernon have kept aloof
from the old bedroom, and have con.
tented themselves with quarters in
Martha's second room and in the
guest chambers of the mansion.
Recently an attempt was made IN
congress to have the fee for admission
to the grounds at Mount Vernon done
away with and to secure a congress
sional appropriation which would en-
able the place to be kept up without
the necessity OF charging people to see
It. The bill, however, failed and some
people think II is better so, because
by charging a small sum to enter the
old grounds thousands upon thousands
of visitors in a way help to preserve
the old place and so feel that they
have an ownership as well as patri-
otto interest in the home of the Fa-
Their of His Country.
Visited by Governor Mann. 30
Governor Mann of Virginia and the
members of his staff have just visited
Mount Vernon. The state of Virginia
takes a great interest In the place
and does something toward its main
tenance. The visit of the governor
was made the occasion OF an official
inspection OF the entire estate. A re-
ception after the old style was given
him and his official company. Mount
Vernon therefore was the scene of an
old-time Virginia gathering much like
those which were given at the time
that Washington was alive and when
the great of this land and other lands
journeyed TO Mount Vernon to be his
guests.
They the careful at the Washington
estate to guard against the POSSIBLE
ties OF fire. The heat in winter Is
conveyed to the building from with
out, and many Of the rooms are not
even piped for the transmission OF
steam. There is kitchen in the main
IlldI5lOI, Dul HE 10 dlioWcu thtiC
Expert foresters are employed to care
for the trees on Mount Vernon, sew
eral Of which were planted by George
Washington. The garden hedge, 125
years old. still green and thriving, was
planted by the first president, who
drew the hedge lines so that they
should inclose a fine, old-fashioned
garden which Martha helped George
to lay out.
Many Washington Relics.
The regents of Mount Vernon are
surprised every year at the number OF
relics of the Father of his Country,
authentic in nature, which appear and
many of which are sent TO the Mount
Vernon association to be preserved in
the mansion on the banks Of the Po-
tomac.
Within the last few days the asso-
citation has received a part OF Martha
Washington wedding gown. 1t was
Wilmington, Del. S. F. Wilmington
of West Somerville, Mass, gave the
association a pocket knife which Cen
eral Washington carried all through
the Revolutionary war. Frank Wal
ter of Washington has sent to Mount
Vernon a bronze bell used by Mary
Ball Washington, the mother OF
George.
In another article on Mount Vernon
1t has been told how several OF the
trees which Washington planted are
still thriving. 1t has been the custom
Of other great men to plant trees at
Mount Vernon from time to time.
When General Lafayette visited this
country In 1925 he planted a coffee
bean tree close 10 the Mount Vernon
mansion. After eighty-seven years or
life the tree is as tiourishing as any
tree lover might wish. 1t grows side
by side with another tree of the same
kind which was planted by Thomas
Jefferson while he was president.
When the late King Edward OF Eng
land was Prince of Wales he sent to
Mount Vernon small English oak.
It was planted by member Of the
nobility of England. This tree also Is
thriving and bids fair to be a rival in
strength and beauty TO the great
American oaks which shadow the
lawn of the Washington home.
1t has been said that General La
fayette planted tree at Mount Yer
non.
Memories Of Lafayette.
Until ten years ago one frequently
met in Washington elderly peo
pie who remembered we'll seeing
Lafayette on his visit to this country.
One man then was living who had seen
him plant the tree. at Maunt Vernon.
The old ladies who as children were
kissed by Lafayette were as numerous
as blackberries in August, but today
they are all gone, so far as one can
determine.
Perhaps one of the last of the old
residents of INSTRUMENTATION
she afterward moved 10 Chicago and
there died-who saw Lafayette ard
who, in fact, was of household which
entertained him, was Mrs. Davidson.
who before her marriage was Miss
Ancrum of South Carolina. She was
a granddaughter of William Washing
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