The Tomahawk., 1919-02-20

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partment paper surgeons was rendered unavailable.
AS q 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 reparer down
to Fairfax to make the repairs and put the "a
pages into q 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 painstaklng work on
the part of William Berwick, the librarys 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 or bath designed to
prevent further fading. Then each one 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 endless amount of scraping, patching,
FASTING 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. Mr. Der.
wick was in despair as to where to find paper for
good new, when by lucky chance in a second
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 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, 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 a handsome
red levant cover were placed in a 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 90 perfectly. opens as follows:
l. George Washington. Of Mount Vernon. citi.en 81
the United states and lately president Of the s:ms o
make. ordain and declare this instrument which =
subscribed With name to b my last will And ess-
lament revoking all othera -'5 -v- -.
In II he directs that: .h
To my beloved wife. Martha Washington. give and
beoueath the use benefit OF entire estate. real
and personal for the term OF her natural NE except
such parts thereof are specifically disposed o.
He also ordered that his body be inferred in
ouiet manner without parade or funeral Grafton"
One clause which has been extensively quoted,
is a. follows: .... =.
Upon the decease of wife its my Vim and de,
.,rs that an the slaves which hold In own right
.hau receive their freedom = .E.r.~. D. 81
Concerning the disposition OF his slaves the
ronorol cnve more explicit directions than to any
ether part of his estate, and he especially directed
the% none Of them should be sold outside OF VIZ
ginia. -.
"foyv and none of great magnitude" be 'punctual'
~ and speedily paid" He also called attention
to the fact that many of the young men OF the
limited States were being sent abroad to foreign
conntr,es to be educated and were contracting
habits Of dissipation and principles unfriendy to
republican government TO aid In stopping this
ne .ave 80 shares In the Potomac company to
1-nrd the endowment Of q university within the
district OF Columbia under the auspices OF the
General government. He also made provision IN
h,s will for the construction OF q new family vauls
"a 81 Mount Vernon, in which might be placed the
remains of himself and his near relatives
The will may be seen through the glass ode OF
+ne vault In which Il IN deposited, befoEe which
h.ny. heavy green cu1tsins TO exclude the Fight.
rs,rfax Court House h doubly rich In view Of
the fact that It no. ssss treasures the will Of
Martha Washington. also returned to 1t after
many years Of wandering. II was signed on Sep