The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1920-05-19
\ x 4 II 4; X * x \ 4 4 X y &
= WASHINGTON
: : NEWS LETTER
BY The Washington Star
Copyright 1920.
IMPROVEMENT OF MT. VERNON
Long The Home of George Washing
ton And Restoration OF Estate
By The Ladies Association.

! WASHINGTON, May Improve
ment of Mt. Vernon, Virginia, long the
home of George Washington, and fur
ther restoration of the old estate is
to be carried out by the Mount Ver-
non Ladies Association of the Union,
which held its annual meeting there
a few days ago, their object being to
have the surroundings conform exact
ly to that period when Washington
lived there after leaving the presi-
dency.
A meeting of the association that
owns Mount Vernon never fails to re-
yive the issue as to whether the u
S. government should not own the
famous spot, more reyerenced thaq
any other shrine in America, not ex-
cepting Fanueil Hall or Plymouth
Rock. Financing the government dur
ing the present post war period will
prevent any serious attempt to put
through a measure for the purchase
Of the estate this year, but both sides
Of the issue has strong supporters in
the House and in the Senate, and
more than once it has been the sub
ject of speeches on the floor Of either
house.
Of tens of thousands Of tourists
who visit Mt. Vernon every year,
many come and go with very inde-
finite idea Of how the place is main
tanned, and the impression that it is
publicly owned is very general, Yet
it has never been out Of private CON
troll, and since 1858 has been in the
hands Of the association which now
holds the title. Situated eighteen
miles down the Potomac River from
Washington,sit is accessible by pri-
vate boat line, by electric cars or by
motor, though the latter means nee
essitates travel over a stretch Of very
rough road.
Those who maintain that Mount
Vernon should remain under its pre-
sent management point out that when
the famous estate was for sale more
than sixty years ago Congress SHOW
ed small interest in it's preservation,
and appeared willing to let the place
he dismantled or fall into decay be-
yond repair. Gathering a group Of
patriotic women about her, Miss Ann
Pamela Cunningham of South Caro-
lima, organized the Mount Vernon
Ladies' Association Of the Union IN
1853, and five years later had raised
and paid over to the distant heirs OF
General Washington 100000, obtain
inc title to the buildings and 237 acres
Of the original estate Of 5000 acres.
Since that time the main house and
most Of the outbuildings have been
restored, large amount OF Washing-
tonia has been collected and placed IN
the old house, including such price
less rare collections as the Bible IN
which General Washington's birth isl
entered, and his swords. Where orig
inal objects were not to be had re-
plicas have been obtained IN several
instances. as in the carriage house
where a coach Of the 18th century
period is kept, though not the one IN
which Washington was won't to ride.
The Ladies' association includes a
regent, now Miss Harriet G. Comegys,
and one vice regent from each state
Hinder their management everything
nossible is done to impress visitors
with the dignity and beauty Of the
home Of Washington. As Washing
ton never entertained on Sundays, SO
fhe grounds are never open to the
nubIic on that day Of the week. NO
smoking is ever permitted, either m
The house or on the grounds Inc
Grounds are kept immaculate, and no
,;onic lunches may be eaten on tne
lawns or in the surrounding Wooas,
though there are restaurants Just out
side the gate
All of the guards around the place
are grey veterans of the civil war;
nossassed Of a courtesy and patience
that never tires, no matter now many
hundred visitors swarm through the
nlace during the day, or how many
foolish questions they ask. Ihe eN-
pensey are met by a charge Of twenty
five cents for admission.
Those in and out Of Congress VINO
maintain that the. government sfouia
take over Mount Vernon usually base
their argument on the assumption
tb.t 10 American should be compeli-
ID to pay d fee, however small toI
stand before the tomb Of George
washington. or to walk through thei
nortals Of his white colonial mansion
overlooking the historic river. They
also hold that as many tourists csn
|lgat d washington only on sundays
tbe grounds should be open on tnat
Idav. "a that people in New YORK, &
philadelphia, i Pittsburgh, Richmond,