Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-02-26

July Q, 100, i've months De-
fore his death. From begin
ming to end 1t gives evidence Of the
Arm hand and clear mind Of its maker.
II contains many legal phrases, but 1t
was not written under the instruction
of lawyer, and there Is reason to be-
lieve that nobody was consulted In Its
construction.
Modern skill has rescued the docu-
ment from dilapldation and impending
destruction and has assured to oil
Americans the opportunity to read II
exactly as It 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 II
has undergone vicissitudes. including
much miscellaneous Matchmaking and
one removal and concealment.
Through oil Of 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 II, with only court at
tendant near to see that the will was
not carried away, wholesale or piece
meal. One Of the pages Of the viii
bears mute testimony to the success OF
some unknown enthusiastic relic hun
ter who tore of and carried away one
corner.
At the beginning of the Civil wal
the will was taken to Richmond, and
there securely hidden. 1t was re
turned to Fairfax court house wher
peace had been restored. The sam'
care was not taken Of the will O.
Martha Washington. on file In thu
same court house, and II was carried
on by Union soldier and was for
time In the possession Of the late ]
Pierpont Morgan. After a suit ha'
been begun to secure Its restoration I
Virginia and Fairfax county, II wa
returned 10 the court house.
The decades that have passed sine
the filing Of General Washington
will. the journey to and from Ricf
mond, the careless II affectionate har
ding to which the precious manuscriT
was subjected did not tend to Its pre-
ervation. Finally It became a thin
Of rags and tatters. Its custodian
: with the best Intentions, added to II
peril Of early and complete obliter'
ton by persistently folding II lengtl
: wise. following the original fold OF II
clerk Of 1900.
In charge Of the repair section
!. the manuscript division is VILLA
|. Berwick, said to be the greatest livir
y expert In the restoration Of old man
scripts. To him was given the tn'
y Of restoring the immortal documer
. Impressed with desire TO preser'
the tremendously important and !
tercsting relic. Mr.. Berwick has a
complished something very like mi
,. aclc. Although the work was begun
!. Mr.. Berwick In 1910 II was but recer
"A ly completed. The restorer. workil
m odd days and intervals sometim
,s widely apart. needed much time
a. bring the manuscript TO Its prese
No form.
\. As soon rs he finished with the "
Of General Washington he began I
n. restoration Of the will Of Mart
OF Washington. returned by Mr.. Morg
TO Fairfax county. The elder Mr.. Nj
ot gan having had the Martha washiI
rc- ton will In his possession. and havi
he bound and preserved II carefully.
cd was In much better condition than II
Of the first president and gave
he Berwick far less trouble. Further,
he contains but eight pages.
INT Notwithstanding Mr.. Morgan's q
or. Of Martha washington's will. the '
ginians apparently are yet somew'
his rcscntful that the document was X
from them so long. The text Of
lie inscription over Martha washIngto
ds will In Fairfax court house Is as
as lows:
IN "The original last will and te'
Idi mcnt Of Mrs. Martha Washington.
,ny In dated March 4. 1902. and was
i've mitted to probate by the county co
or Of Fairfax June q. 1902. and was
stored to it, present form In the y