Evening star., 1918-02-17
Distinguished Foreigners Visit Mount Vernon During Past Year

were familiar and whose deeds seemed
more a part of the present century.
When Col. Dodge was asked how he
came to take up the duties at Mount
Vernon and remain there SO many
years he said that, like most of the
plans made by mortals. his had been
subject to circumstances beyond ms
control. AS young man he starred
learning the banking business with
the late George w. Riggs of Washing
ton. the prominent banker whose in
terest in Mount Vernon and it's restora-
ton came about through the fact that
his wife was one of the vice regents OF
the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
of the Union. for the District of Column
bia. in 1859. Mr.. Riggs was the first
treasurer of the association and was
an invaluable friend to it during the
civil war. when there was no revenue
from visitors. 1900
Col Dodge often assisted Mr.. Riggs
with the accounts of the association.
and at the 1atter's death. the position
being taken by his son. the late F.
Francis Riggs, who was not SO famil-
lar with the work, Mr.. Dodge gradually
took 1t up and attended to it. Later
on his eyesight became somewhat I'M
paired and he was offered the position
That was thirty-three years ago. Since
then his entire time has been given to
seeing to the restoration of the man
sion and grounds IN accordance with
the plans decided upon by the associa-
ton
When Col. Dodge went to Mount Yer
non in 1885 very little had been done
and the historic surroundings OF the
place had suffered sadly, owing to the
widely scattered furniture and relics
which since have been gathered to-
gether and given to. or bought for.
the mansion. giving 1t the harmonious
atmosphere SO pleasing to historians
and artists alike.
the regent and vice regents of the as
sociation were dwelt on at length by
Col Dodge, and the infinite pains and
large expense taken by them to make
their work fulfil the end in view-a liv-
ing monument to the life of Washing
ton.
In the building of classic outline. in
which is the Office, such as every south
ern plantation had in the olden times,
where the gentleman of the estate
transa cted his affairs, there is another
room just across the hall from the one
in which Col. Dodge sits, in which he
takes his meals. In this room Is fire
place of mammoth proportions and a
cavernous chimney. 1t was constructed
according to the wishes of Mrs. Wash
inSton and was used to keep tne 1000
hot when large dinners or banquots
were being given in the banquet nall
which is connected with it by colon
nades. Col. Dodge did not make clear
how the food was brought from the
other side of the lawn, where the Kitten
ems are to this place, but it was doubt
less swiftly done by the relay OF DO
mestics who had been trained In such
duties. All this struggle to serve hot
dinneVs had it's counterpart IN the
White House until the mansion OF the
President was made over during the
Roosevelt regime. when Mrs. Rooseveii
insisted that. some means be .providee
whereby the guests could at least en-
joy hot soup, hitherto luxury.
At one time the lands at Mount Yer.
non were farmed and a dairy was KEPT
up which furnished fresh milk to tour
lists. But the building of the electric
railway brought such an influx OF visit
ors. enlarging the revenue so much
that the dairy was given up and the
horses used on the place for running
the bus from the wharf were moi
needed.
From year to year valuable relics
connected with the Washington family
are brought to light and then an enor'
is made to secure them for the estate.
Life at Mount Vernon seems as peace
full as IL the world were not at war
though many unusual precautions arr
taken for guarding it. During the civil
war the commanding generals OF botf
sides. Beauregard and Scott, had thu
, understanding that the place was to re:
main sacred to the armioo OF besh thS
north and the south.