The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-12-07
TRE STORY OF ROSEMONT
Written by Fl. L. Watson and Reprinted From
Tne State Of June IL, 1904

| 'Si ohuSl lHC CIlGlIcI II was
only after a long delay that the trans
fer was made. Miss Cuninghams
friends were uneasy for her very life,
she seem so frail. For fear that
she might ot live to sign the charter
a clause was inserted in the constitu-
ton empowering her to appoint her
own successor. But she did live. The
act OF signing is thus described in her
own words: "All the papers were read
IN due form, and then q gentleman
knelt beside my couch and held che
paper for my signature; my lifeless
fingers could hold pen but a few
moments; could only make two or
three letters at q time Finally all
was gotten through with, and the pa
pers, with my fearful scrawl, carried
to the archives Of the state | was in
a mental stnocr for three weeks. Has
not Mount Vernon been bought with a
price,? 1t Is said that this charter
was the first document signed by her
baptismal name. The purchase was
completed on February 22 CWashing-
tons birthday being the appropriate
date selected), 1859, just two years be-
fore the war came on. The work o.
repairs and restoration was stopped
by the war. Miss Cunningham returned
to Rosemont She directed that in
case Of the occupation OF Mount Ver-
non "by troops of either or both arm
lpc OH ho
commander to give a pledge for the
safety of the tomb and home Her
ideal Of vcneration was felt by the
whole nation, and the soldiers of both
armies met as brothers at the tomb
and stacked their arms before the gates
Of the house. Now that the interest
in Mount Vernon grows years by
year, this love and patriotism will be
a strong influence for a better feel
ing between the two sections.
one of the vice regents in a recent
report Of the work Of the association.
In describing the further work, says:
After the war was over, Miss Cum
ingham again met the vice regents in
council at Mount Vernon. They were
moved to tears hy the sad scene of
desolation which met their eyes. The
vice regents again set to work to raise
funds in their respective states. In
their embarrassment they were ably
assisted by Mr.. G. w. Riggs OF Wash
ingtor, who advanced fund to aid i'm
continuing the work Of restoration.
They also brought bill before con-
gress for indemnity for the use of the
Mount Vernon boat as transport for
troops. After long opposition the
bill was passed and the $500 secured
was used In repairing Mount Vernon.
This was Miss iCuningham's last vic.
tory over difficulties and disappoint-
ments enough to have made any but
an inspired spirit quail and succumb
When she retired from the regency
she had just strength enough to re-
turn to South Carolina"
In her farewell address to the board
of vice regents she used these words:
Ladies, the home of Washington is
in your charge; see to it that you keep
it the home of Washington. Let no
irrevcrent hands change it; no vandal
hand desecrate 1t with the fingers Of
progress. Those who go to the home
in which he lived and died wish to see
in what he lived and died! Let one
spot in this grand country OF ours be
saved from change! Upon you rests
this duty"
At Rosemont. the home Of her an
cestors, surrounded by tho surviving
members Of her family. she died in
the year 1875. Her great work will
live for ages and will ever be a great
and glorious monument to her MEM
ory. Her dying request was that she
rests there today. The monument ov-
er her grave was erected by her me-
phews. If it were possible, how we'll
would 1t be II her own home could be
purchased and preserved. Future gem
erations would find in It always much
to attract and inspire. There are very
few such old places left and none
with so rich a collection Of old md
rare articles.
Rosem0nt Today
Rosemont today inside Is just as 1t
was the day Miss Cunningham died and
almost as 1t was IT'S years ago. The
carpet YOU see in the picture Of the
drawing room Is ITS or more years old