The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-03-22

partment paper surgeons rendered unavailable.
AS a 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
to Fairfax to make the repairs and put the ~
pages into condition that would insure them
against further destruction This entailed the
shipping to Fairfax of considerable equipment.
including a heavy press
To put the battered paper in good condition re-
quired 16 days of the most panstaking 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 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.
pasting and cutting which only the deftest. most
expert fingers could do and the results would not
have been Sc remarkably satisfactory but for q
most fortunate circumstance
When it came to grnfting 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. Ber
wick was in despair to where to find paper for
the patches which would make the will look
good as new when by a lucky chance tn 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 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 a steel fireproof
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 or 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 perfectly, opens as follows:
7 George washington of Mount Vernon, a citizen of
the United and lately president Of the do
make ordain and declare this instrument. which Is
wrtten with INV own hand and every page thereof
subscribed with my to be my last will and tes-
lament revokng all others
In 1t he directs that:
To my beloved wife Martha Washington. give and
beuueath the and benent or my entre estate reaI
and PERSONAL the term of her natural ife except
such parts thereof as are specifically disposed or
10 a,so ordered that his body be inferred I'm a
ou,et manner, without parade or funeral Grafton"
One clause, which has been extensively quoted
Is as follows
,ro, the decease of my wife It is my will and de-
,rs that all slaves which hold In my own right
sbou receive their freedom
Concerning the disposition of his slaves, the
oro, paye more explicit directions than to any
thor mart of his estate, and he especially directed
49,. ron, IF them should be sold outside of Vir-
ginia.
.e,u opd none of great magnitude" be 'pCnctual.
=, ond speed:lr paid" He also called attention
=. tho foct that many of the young mn of the
IT,,,ted States were being sent abroad to foreign
ontias to be educated and were contrnctins
hhi+s Of dissipation and principles unfriendly to
onrhlican government. To aid In stopping this
ho Gave 80 shares in the Potomac company to-
,rard the endowment of a university within the
n,S,rict Of Columbia under the auspices Of the
,onora, government. He also made provision in
bic will for the construction Of new family vault
81 Mount Vernon, in which might be placed the
romains of himself and his near relatives.
The will may be seen through TIE glass side of
rho vault in which it is deposited, before which
hang heavy green curtains to exclude the light.
Fairfax Court House is doubly rich in view OF
the fact that it now also treasures the will Of
Martha Washington, also returned to it after
many years of wandering 1t was signed On Sep