Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-16


July 8, 1899, five months be-
fore his death. From begin
ming to end it gives evidence of the
firm hand and clear mind Of its maker.
1t contains many legal phrases, but 1t
was not written under the instruction
of a lawyer, and there is reason to be-
lieve that nobody was consulted in its
construction.
Modern skill has rescued the docu-
ment from dilapidation and impending
destruction and has assured to all
Americans the opportunity to read 1t
exactly as 1t was written. 1t was filed
for probate in the year 1900 in the
court house of Fairfax county, Vir-
ginia, in which Mount Vernon is stu
ated. In the intervening 116 years 1t
has undergone vicissitudes, including
much miscellaneous manhandling and
one removal and concealment.
Through all of a century he who
ran so far as Fairfax court house
might read at his leisure and with his
own hands manipulate the original
document and at his pleasure thumb
and tumble 1t, with only a court at
tendant near to see that the will was
not carried away, wholesale or piece
meal. One Of the pages of the will
bears mute testimony to the success of
some unknown enthusiastic relic hun
ter who tore off and carried away one
corner.
At the beginning of the Civil war
the will vas taken to Richmond, and
there securely hidden. 1t was re-
turned to Fairfax court house when
peace had been restored. The same
care was not taken of the will of
Martha Washington, on file in the
same court house, and 1t was carried
off by q Union soldier and was for a
time In the possession of the late ].
Pierpont Morgan. After a suit had
been begun to secure its restoration to
Virginia and Fairfax county, 1t was
returned to the court house.
The decades that have passed since
the filing of General Washington's
will, the journey to and from Rich
mond, the careless If affectionate han
ding to which the precious manuscript
was subjected did not tend to its pres
ervation. Finally it became a thing
of rags and tatters. It's custodians,
with the best intentions, added to its
peril Of early and complete oblitera-
ton by persistently folding it length
wise, following the original fold Of the
clerk of 1900.
In charge Of the repair section of
the manuscript division is William
Berwick, said to be the greatest living
expert In the restoration of old manu-
scripts. To him was given the task
Of ,estorlng the immortal document.
Impressed with a desire TO preserve
the tremendously important and in
teresting relic, Mr.. Berwick has ac-
compllshed something very like a mir
acle. Although the work was begun by
Mr.. Berwick In 1910 it was but recent
ly completed. The r%estorer, working
odd days and intervals sometimes
widely apart, needed much time to
bring the manuscript to its present
form.
As soon as he finished with the will
of General Washington he began the
restoration of the will of Martha
Washington, returned by Mr.. Morgan
to Fairfax county. The elder Mr.. Nor
gan having had the Martha Washing
ton viii In his possession, and having
bound and preserved 1t carefully, it
was In much better condition than that
Of the first president and gave Mr..
Berwick far less trouble. Further, it
contains hut eight pages.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Morgan's care
OF Martha Washlngton's will, the Vir-
ginians apparently are yet somewhat
~resentful that the document was kept
from them so long. The text of the
inscription oven Martha Washington's
will in Fairfax court house is as fol-
lows:
"The original last viii and tesla
ment Of Mrs. Martha Washington. It
IS dated March 4, 1902, and was adj
United to probate by the county court
Of Fairfax JIie p, 1902. and was re-
stored to its Present form in the year