The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-10
Frederic Ia,lxin ! Lelt
Or Nation1k Sltyines.

Or Nation
Wsshington D. G., June Sour
national shrines are again in H.
spotlight. The Mt Vernon LaAtes'
association Is holding its annual
o0aventioA, which always starts the
argument among Washingt0nians:
Should visitors pay to zee the home
Of the Father OF tho Country
Should not the government buy ~.
Vernon and throw open the doors
free to every one? Along with tbs
perennial argument. now ct IT.
height, comes the usual bill giving
the government the right and ths
money to buy the sacred home.
stead.
But this time . new idea - injac4-
ed into the stereotyped proceediugn,
Citizens are writing fofcefully 70
the papers urging that congress buy
jamestown, the first permanent
English settlement in America.
Also, there u . bill before congress
providing funds for the federal
government to acquire Monticello
the home Of Thomas Jefferson.
This naturally has brought ~
the question Of whether the Unit
ed States should not own . num-
Dor IT cur most venerated lana
marks and keep them IN good coa'
dition and accessible to the pub
lie without admission fees.
There are two sides to the Ques'
ton. It certainly seems . pity
that many people are unable u
visit some Of the most interesting
collections Of relies In the c0untr,
because in private Ownership fes
must b. charged to pay for the up
keep. On the other hand, II thu
government would do nj more with
Mt Vernon or Monticello than y
has with the house where LincolI
died and Arlington. which It hal
owned for some time, private own
ership is far preferable.
The grounds Of Arlington ar'
beautifully kept. It Is ono of tn,
most impressive cemeteries in tn
country. But the mansion, associ
ated with so many historic char
/ acters, is an empty shell. Washing
toms adopted son and General LIE
lived there, and such famous pr
sons as Lafayette were entertaine'
at Arlington House. Yet there /
scarcely = souvenir left there. moa
lof the valuable relics having bee
removed to Mt. Mernon and 70 th
National museum.
In the hands Of . historic society
Arlington might have proved
magnet for souvenirs and migh
today be q vivid a reminder q
Colonial life a. Mt. Vernon.
The Lincoln House.
In the house where Lincoln die
~ at Arlington, the government q
hibits nothing but, = house. IN
Lincoln house contains a fine co
, lection of Lincoln mementoes, bl
these relics belong to o. H. Ak
royd. After the property wa
bought by the government, an q
rangemsnt was made that Mr.. Oh
royd was to live there to look att
the place, and in return permissic
was given him to display his co
lection for an admission fee.
!. This plan has worked very vel
. - Mr.. Oldroyd, an ardent admire
! Of Lincoln, takes infinite pains
!. caring for his collection. 1t ha
however, the undesirable but nece
sary feature of an admissic
charge. Mr.. Oldroyd has sever
times offered his collection to Il
. government for 4 reasonable SUI
but no action has ever been take
: II the relics were bought, the 81
: sequent expense to the g0vernme
y would consist only In increasing Z
usual small annual appropriate
/. for care of the property. enough
: pay curator's salary.
= The strong point in favor Of t
? historic societies ~ guardians
= old landmarks 10 that they wo
!. increasingly to make them wort
= of public interest. The country
: secured for q chair or cup used
- this or that hero. Mt Vernon,
y y old frame house, ID made as fl
: proof as possible by lightning rO'
~ fire-resistant paint, and fireproofi
:. - solution. Corps of guards are X
% perpetually watching lest souvel
). hunters or ordinary thieves 8
- some tiny valuable relic into
pocket while admiring it. Cleani
:. and fsnoyating 60 on almost
!. continually as in IN occupied hoE
" To do all this. Q private soci'
= must have funds. and the logi
y way to raise them is to tax vii
= ors. This tax ranges ct differ
Il historic buildings from ten cel