The Monticellonian., 1919-02-14

partment paper surgeons rendered unavailable.
 As labor of love and appreciation for the his torical value of the document and it's famous author the library of congress finally volunteered 10 send its most expert manuscript repairer down to Fairfax to make the repairs and put the 24 pages into 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 ill good condition qulred l6 days of the most painstaking work on the part of William Berwick the library's skilled lnanuscript mender. who made daily trips to the quaint old courthouse. The first step toward restoration after lie had photographed every one 0t the rugged pages setting the ink This was done by liquid process bath designed prevent further fading. Then each of tha Sheets was backed or mounted upon cfepeline, sort of transparent durable silk gauge, which al- lowed any reasonable amount of handling. Then came an endless amount of scrapng. patching, pasting and cutting which only the deftest. most expert fingers could do, and the results would not have been SC remarkably satisfactory but for most fortunate circumstance.
 When it came to grafting material into the old manuscript to replace the old which had been worn away the great problem lay in finding new material that would match in texture and color that upon which the will was written. MT. Der. wick was in despair to where to find paper for the patches which would make the will look IS good as new, when by lucky chance in a second hand book store in Washington a number of blank sheets of the writing paper which George Wash ington had made especially for his personal use were discovered. This exactly what was wanted and now, unless holds the sheets of the restored will in such position that the bright light will shine through them, there is no way of telling where the old part, or rather the original part leaves off and the grafted sections begin
 When Mir Berwick completed his taSk which cost the Fairfax authorities nothing, the sheets of the document mounted upon cardboard bound in the form of q book mounted with handsome red levant cover. were placed in q steel tireproof and Gurglarproof safe constructed especially for the purpose in accordance with the Specifications of the government officials.
 The will, which has been called the most val. uable 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 retlecting his personality nothing else could do perfectly, opens follows:
 I. George Washington. of Mount Vernon citizen of the United States and lately president of the same make ordan and declare this instrument which is written with my own hand and every page thereof subscribed with be my last will and lament. revoking all others
 In it he directs that:
 To my beloved wife. Martha Washington give and bequeah the and benefit of entire estate, real and personal for the term of her natural life such parts thereof specifically disposed of.
 He also ordered that his body be inferred 'fn a quiet manner without parade or funeral oration."
 One clause, which has been extensively quoted, is follows:
 I1non the decease my 1t is my will and de- ere that all the slaves which hold in my right shall receive their freedom.
 Concerning the disposition of his slaves. the onorol poye more explicit directions than to any other part of his estate and he especially directed that none of them should be sold outside of vir- ginia.
 Ue directed that his debts. which he said were ..few and none of great magnitude" be 'punctuat lv and speedily paid" He also called attention to the fact that many of the young men of the Tinted States were being sent abroad to foreign countries to be educated and contracting habits of dissipation and principles unfriendly 10 ranuhlican government. To aid in stopping this be gaye 50 shares in the Potomac company tO ward the endowment of a university within the general government. He also made provision ln his will for the construction of new family vault ot Nount Vernon. in which might he I4.t, e,t ..i,. remains of himself and his near relatives.
 The will may be seen through the glass side of ,he vault in which it is deposited, before which bang 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 il after mnny years of wandering. It signed Sep