Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-01-24
V|LLED FINE ART
CONSERVATORY
Denver Musician Reveals
Fortune Left by Geo.
Washington
HEADQUARTERS IN DC,
She Claims He Left $4,000 for Pur-
pcse Of Founding National Con-
scrvatory-Fletchet aIystified.

Denver, Jan. 24.-When George
Washington died, in 1199, it was
found that the "Fathcr Of His Coua-
Try" left $4,000 for the purpose OF
founding Il national corseryatory
of music. This money has been
held IN trust for 12l years, draw
ing compound interest, forgotten by
all save d little circle Of musicians.
The principal has mounted to SONG
thing ike S2,5O0,000 untouched for
mere than l2O years.
II was left for a Denver wGr.an
Mrs. Flourney Rivers, teacher II
the Wolcott Conservatory of Music
to start tic ball rolling toward
utilizing this fund for the purpose
it was :ntcndci.
Last week Mrs. Rivers, in COM
pany with Walter Damrosch ard
Eugene Ysare, interviewed Frcs:-
ient-clcct Harding or thn sub
ie1t and Mrs. Harding has promised
to put the project throurh.
According 70 Mrs. Rivers. n"
main lnsti.st;>" viii be .,';"H N
Washington, with variouS subinsti-
tutes ttroupho i the, country. the
institute will provide for instruc-
tion in each of the fine arts-music,
painting and drama.
"Of course, I was acquainted with
the facts Of the fGnd wil!ed 10
music by the Father Of His Conn
try. To begin with Mrs. Rivers
said, 81 wrote Mr.. Harding, telling
.aim thar il seemed thai l20 YES
was aj,ut ~" enough 10 v'a;t for
George W4skngton's wishes :, hc
carried cut.
"Mr. Harding replied. saying h
was amazs;t to learn Of this fund.
He invited ne to confer with him.
In company with Walter Dam
roSch, Of New York, and the v;o-
!imst. Isaye. Mrs. Rivers made til"
trip to Mi,l;is. OHIO, few days
ago and met the Presidcnt-eieet.
YWe conferred with him for about
an hour Mrs. Rivers said. .'point-
ING out that, ina<much as cstao-
lishment of the conservatory was
provided for in this <peeia! fund, t
could not interfere with the Re-
publican policy Of retrerchmcnt.
He promised his support.
I'VE have made. arrangements
with Senator Rorah. Of Idaho, tn
introduce the bill at the next ses-
sion of Congress.
Strong support in Congress for
prcsidcnt-clect Harding's proiac: t.
institute a national conservator:" CT
music is forcshadowed By Senator
Duncan L. Fletcher. Of Florida, Be
fore the late war Senator Fetche,
introduced bill providing for the
establishment OF such an institution.
Washington heard yesterday with
lively interest that Mr.. Harding has
written to woman in Denver
promising to promote plan for es-
tabliShirg the naticna! conserva-
tory. with funds left in the will of
George Washington" and now be-
; lieved to be lodged in the United
States Treasury.
Il am somewhat mystifici." said
Senator Fletcher last night. ''bs
this reference 10 funds left b7
George Washington. | never heard
of su"Il bequest. Certainly no su@-
gest;on OF il came up when my bill
| was introduced. or al subsequent
hearings. Ny project, in a nutshell!
! IS 20 do for the people Of the un'tc1
! States, IN the realm OF music c1i.l'
vation. what European govcrnm ents
| lorg have done for their people. II
We had great national conserva'
tory. centered at Washington with
branches throughout the country q:
| the board Ct control in its wisdom
MIGHT deem prcrcr 10 establish, VIZ
would socn make it unnecessary foi
our young men ard women 70 e,
abroad for music cult2re''
1t was Impossible last night fc
secure from Treasury officials an
details ef the George Nashingtp'
fund" Speaking OF the JWRiar:
fund. Mrs Edausrd A!bien; wtu' j:
active in the nanasement OF tn