The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-02-21
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partment paper surgeons rendered unavailable.
AS labor of love and appreciation for the his
torica value of the document and its famous
author the library of congress finally volunteered
to send its most expert manuscript reparer 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-
CURED 16 days of the most painstakng work on
the part of William Berwick the library's skilled
manuscript member who made daily trips to the
quaint old courthouse The first step toward
restoration after he had photographed every one
of the ragged pages was setting the ink This
was done by a liquid process bath designed to
prevent further fading. Then each of the
sheets was backed mounted upon crepeline, a
sort of transparent durable silk gauze, which al
lowed any reasonable amount of handling. Then
came an endless amount Of scraping, patching,
pasting and cutting which only the deftest, most
expert fingers could do and the results would
have been remarkably satisfactory but for
most fortunate circumstance.
When 1t came to grating 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. Mr.. Ber-
wick was In despair as to where to find paper for
the patches which would make the will look MS
q q
hand book store in Washington number Of blank
sheets of the writing paper which George Wash
ington had made especially for his personal use
were discovered. This was 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 way Of
telling where the old part or rather the original
part leaves off and the grated sections begin.
When Mr. Berwick completed his task, 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, placed in 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 posterity 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 as nothing else
could do so perfectly, opens as follows:
United States and lately president of the do
make. ordain and declare this instrument which is
written with my own hand and every page thereof
subscribed with my be last will and tes-
lament, revoking all others
In 1t he directs that:
To my beloved wife, Martha Washington give and
bequeah the and benefit of my entire estate real
and personal the Of her natural life except
such parts thereof specifically disposed Of
He also ordered that his body be inferred Sin a
quiet manner, without parade or funeral Grafton"
one clause which has been extensively quoted,
is as follows:
upon the decease of my wife it is my will and de-
sire that all the which hold in my right
shall receive their freedom
Concerning the disposition of his slaves the
General gave 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
He directed that his debts, which he said were
STOW and none of great magnitude" be 'punctual
~ and speedly paid" He also called attention
to The fact that many of the young men of tn,
Iy,,ted States were being sent abroad to foreign
countries to be educated and were contracting
hohits of dissipation and principles unfriendly t.
renublican government To aid in stopping thi:
he gave 30 shares in the Potomac company to
ward the endowment of university within thu
District of Columbia under the auspices of tn,
General government. He also made provision il
lis win for the construction of new family vaul
at Mount Vernon in which might be placed In
remains of himself and his near relatives
The will may be through the glass side o
Tho vault in which it is deposited before whicl
hsng heavy green curtains to exclude the light.
Fairfax Court House is doubly rich In view o
tho fact that ii also treasures the will o
Martha Washington, also returned to 1t afte
many years of wandering. 1t was signed on Ser