Cheyenne record., 1919-02-13
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k;XEaE NA1KDG>QrJ MIL
Ms FILED


partment paper surgeons was rendered unavailable.
AS labor of love and appreciation for the his
torical value Of the document and its famous
author, the library of congress finally volunteered
to send its most expert manuscript repairer down
to Fairfax to make the repairs and put the "a
pages into a condition that would insure them
against further destruction. This entailed the
shipping to Fairfax Of considerable equipment.
including heavy press.
To put the battered paper in good condition re-
quired 16 days of the most painstaking work on
the part of William Berwick, the ibrarys skilled
manuscript mender who made daily trips to the
quaint old courthouse. The first step toward
restoration after he had photographed every one
Of the ragged pages setting the ink. This
was done by liquid process or bath designed to
prevent further fading. Then each one of the
sheets was backed or mounted upon crepeline, a
sort of transparent durable silk gauze, which al
lowed any reasonable amount of handling Then
came endless amount of scraping patching,
pasting and cutting which only the deftest most
expert fingers could do. and the results would not
have been remarkably satisfactory but for
most fortunate circumstance
When 1t came to grating new material into the
old manuscript to replace the old which had been
away, the great problem lay in finding
material that would match in texture and color
that upon which the will written Mr.. Ber-
wick was in despair us to where to find paper for
the patches which would make the will look
good new, when by lucky chance in second
hand book store in Washington a number of blank
sheets of the writing paper which George Wash
ingtou had made especially for his personal
were discovered. This exactly what
wanted and now unless one holds the sheets of
the restored will In such position that the bright
light will shine through them. there is way Of
telling where the old part, rather the original
part, leaves off and the grated sections begin.
When Mr.. Berwick completed his rask, which
cost the Fairfax authorities nothing. the sheets
of the document, mounted upon cardboard, bound
in the form of book mounted with handsome
red levant cover, were placed in n steel freproof
and burglarproof safe constructed especially for
the purpose. in accordance with the specifications
of the government officials
The will. which has been called the most val
liable relic Of any left to posterty by the father
of his country-more valuable than the swords.
books furniture china, in view of the fact that
it more faithfully portrays the mind OF the man
himself. rejecting his personality nothing else
could do perfectly opens follows:
the United States and lately president of the same do
make. ordain and declare this instrument which Is
subscribed with name to be my last will and tes-
lament, revoking all others
IN 1t he directs that:
To my beloved wife. Martha Washington give and
bequeath the and benefit Of my entire estate real
and personal the term of her natural nfe except
such parts thereof as are specifically disposed Of
He also ordered that his body be inferred '1n a
One clause which has been extensively quoted,
is as follows:
Upon the decease of my wife it is my will and de-
s;ra that all which hold in right
shall receive their freedom.
Concerning the disposition of his slaves, the
oeneral gave more explicit directions than to any
other mart Of his estate and he especially directed
that none of them should be sold outside Of Vfr-
gnia.
He directed that his debts. which he said were
few and of great magnitude, be punctual.
,v and speedily paid" He also called attention
tn the fact that many of the young men of the
United States being sent abroad to foreign
countries to be educated and contracting
habits of dissipation and principles unfriendly to
republican government. To aid In stopping this
he gaye so shares in the Potomac company to-
ward the endowment of university within the
district of Columbia under the auspices of the
general government He also made provision In
his will for the construction of new family vault
,t Mount Vernon. in which might be placed the
remains of himself and his near relatives
The will may be seen through the glass side of
,be vault In which 1t is deposited. before which
b.np heavy green curtains to exclude the light.
Fairfax Court House is douby rich In view of
the fact that 1t also treasures the will of
Martha Washington, also returned to 1t after
many years Of wandering 1t was signed on Sep