The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-02-14
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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 condition that would insure them
against further destruction. This entailed the
shipping to Fairfax of considerable equipment,
including heavy press. s..s -.s.-s...s .z,.,
70 put the battered paper in good condition re-
quired TO days of the most painstaklng work on
the part Of William Berwick, the ibrarys 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 liquid process or bath designed TO
prevent further fading. Then each one of the
sheets. was backed or mounted upon crepeline
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 not
have been Sc remarkably satisfactory but for
most fortunate circumstance.
When it came to grating new 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. MFR. Der.
wick was in despair as to where to 1nd paper for
good as new, when by lucky chance In 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
we're discovered. This was exactly what was
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 no way of
telling where the old part. or rather the original
part leaves off and the grufted 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 leyant cover were placed in steel fireproof
and burgarproof 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 nothing else
could do so perfectly. opens as follows:
l. George Washington of Mount Vernon, a citizen of
the United States and lately president of the do
make, ordain and declare this instrument, which 10
written with my hand and every page thereof
subscribed with my be my last win and
lament. revokng all others
In It he directs that:
beoueath the use and benefit of my entire estate real
ana uersoua for the of her natural life. except
such parts thereof are specifically disposed Of
He also ordered that his body be Inferred ain a
Quiet manner, without parade funeral Grafton"
One clause, which has been extensively quoted
is as follows:
11non the decease of my wife Ia my win and de.
,rs that ali the slaves which hold in my right
shall receive their freedom
Concerning the disposition of his slaves the
oonarol gave more explicit directions than to any
Ether part Of his estate, and he especially directed
,bat none Of them should be sold outside OF vir-
gnia.
He directed that his debts. which he said were
afaw and none of great magnitude" be 'punctnal
10 and speedily paid He also called attention
RI The fact that many of the young men Of the
limited states were being sent abroad TO foreign
countries to be educated and were contracting
habits OF dissipation and principles unfriendy to
REPUBLICAN, government To aid in stopping this
be saye so shares In the Potomac company TO-
,ard the endowment Of a university within the
n,strsct OF Columbia under the auspices Of the
General government. He also made provision IN
lie win for the construction OF new family vault
a. Mount Vernon, In which might be placed the
remaips Of himself and his near relatives
the win may be seen through the glass side OF
,he vault in which Il is deposited, before which
IL ne heavy green curtains to exclude the light.
Farfax Court House is doubly rich in view OF
The fact that n now also treasures the will OF
Martha Washington also returned TO II after
many years OF wandering II was signed on Sep