The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1919-02-15

ES<AED
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 It's most expert manuscript repairer down
10 Fairfax to mike the repairs and put the 81
pages into condition that would Insure them
against further destruction. This entalled the
shipping to Fairfax Of considerable equipment.
including n heavy press
To put the battered paper In good condition re.
CURED 10 days Of the most painstaknE work on
the part Of william Berwick. the librnry's skilled
manuscript member. who made daily trips to the
quaint old courthouse. The nrst step to'sard
restoration after he had photographed evers one
of The rugged pages was settling the Ink. This
was done by liquid process or bath designed to
prevent further fading. Then each one Of tn.
sheets was backed mounted upon crepeline. .
sort Of transparent durable silk gauze, which al.
lowed any reasonable amount Of handling. Thea
cnme nm endless amount Of scrnping. patching.
FASTING 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 II came to grating new material Into the
old manuscript to replace the old which had been
worn away. the great problem ny In finding
material that would match In texture and color
that upon which the Will written. Mr.. her
wick was In despair MS to where to fnd piper for
the patches which would make the will look as
good new. when by II lucky chunce In second
hand book store In Washington number OF blank
sheets OF the writing paper which George WASH
ngtOn Ind made especially for his personal
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 rather the original
part. leaves on md the Ernfted sections begin.
When Mr.. Berwick completed his task. which
cost the Fairfax authorities nothing. the sheets
II the document. mounted upon cardboard. hound
In the form OF book mounted with handsome
red levnnt cover. were 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 Wi
nnble relic "f nny left In posterity by the father
of his cOuntry-inOrc valuable than the swords.
bOtkx. furniture china. In view Of the fact That
It more faithfully p0rtrnys the mind "f the man
himself. reiiectinr his personality ms nothing else
could do perfectly opens follows:
L. George Washington. of Noun, Vernon IA citizen o
make ordain and declare this instrument, which Is
written with hand and every page thereof
subscribed with my b. my last Will and ter-
lament. revolving all others
In II he directs that:
To my beloved wife. Mar.h. ws,hinston give and
and benefit OF entire estate real
and personal. tho term of her natural life. except
such parts thereof specifically disposed of.
He nlso ordered TINT his body bc Inferred Elm 4
uuIet manner. without parade or funern Grafton"
One clause which hns been extensively quoted.
* ms follows:
upon tn. dcceas. Of my WIFE 1t I. my Will and de.
STR. Tim, nj, tho rlnves which hold In right
shall receive their freedom.
Concerning the disposition Of Ills slaves, the
,,,,,,r,, unyr more explicit directions tlinn to any
,er mart Of his estate. and he especially directed
lint none Of them should he sold outside Of Wiz
gInin.
H. directed that his debts. which he siid were
.r.,,y mt, none III great magnitude. bc "punctunl.
liz nn,l speedily paid" He also cnlied attention
tn the fnct that many Of the young men Of the
ljnit,sl Stntcs were being sent abroad to foreign
,,,,,ntrfe. to he educated md were contracting
hntlt. of dissipation md principles unfriehdy ~
republican government. To aid In stopping this
IN. unyc 10 shares In the Potomac company to
,ynr,, the endowment of university within the
DI.,r,ct Of Columbia under the auspices Of the
lis vii, for the construction OF new family vnut
ut Mount Vernon. In which might be placed the
remains of himself and his near relatives.
The will mny bc seen through the glass side al
The vault In which 1t is deposited. before which
IA. ny hcuyy green curtains ~ exclude the light.
FujrfuN Court House Is doIhly rich IN view Of
the fuct Tint II now also treasures the Will os
Martin Washington, also returned 10 1t after
many years of wandering. II Has signed on Sep