Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-18

EN HEhE Is a passage IN the " Ia
of George Washington which
once in a while has pricked the
q conscience of an individual or
of an association of individuals, and
time and again the question has been
asked: why has no attempt been
made to carry out the will of George
Washington by providing an institution
operating upon the national scale
which he had in mind?
The passage in his last will and tesla
ment contains the following words:
That as it has always been a source of regret
with me to the youth Of the United States
sent to foreign countries for the purpose OF edu-
cation contracting too frequently not only
habits of dissipation and extravaganza, but prin-
ciples unfriendly to republican government and
to the true and genuine liberties Of mankind.
For these reasons it has been my ardent
wish to see a plan devised on a liberal scale
which would have a tendency to spread sys-
tematic IDEAS through all parts Of this rising
empire.
rnent Of desirable object as this is Tin my
estimationl, my mind has not been able to CON
template any plan more likely to affect the
measure than the establishment of university
tn a central part of the United States to which
the youth OF fortune and talents from all parts
thereof might be sent for the completion of their
education in all the branches of polite literature,
in arts and sciences-in acquiring knowledge in
the principles of politics and good government
under these impressions fully dated.
bequeath in perpetuty the fifty shares which
mold in the Potomac Company toward
the endowment of university to be established
within the limits of the District of Columbia.
under the auspices of the general government.
II that government should incline to extend a
fostering hand toward 1t and the DIV
tdends proceeding from the purchase of such
stock. and on. shall be vested in more stock.
and on, until adequate to the accom-
plishment OF the object is obtained, of which
have the smallest doubt before many years
pas away.
One stanch American woman has
t.ken that unfulilled wish of Wash
ington seriously to heart that for
over dozen years her chief endeavor
has been to fulfill his desire by the
establishment at the National Capital
of an institution, which, in her mind,
as well in some of the best minds of
the nation, will at the present time
and in the future fulfill the wish of the
father of his country, who saw far be-
fore him as to the needs Of the Ameri-
can people
The woman is Mrs. Henry F. Dimock.
a well known resident of New York
and Washington, sister of the late
William c. Whitney. Secretary of the
Navy under President Cleveland Mrs
Dimock's plan for carrying out the
idea and purpose of George Washing
ton is being effected through an organi-
cation known as the George Washing
ton Memorial Association, OF which she
is president, and in which she has
allied with her many men and women
of national repute. great Of mind and
high of purpose.
Mrs. Dimock looks to the coming
ri
seeing the successful elimination of an
intensive campaign of several months,
whose purpose has been the raising of
funds sufficient to commence practical
building operations.
America. since Washington's day. hal
obviated the necessity for the going
abroad of its youth for adequate edu-
cation by the establishment Of splendid