The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-02-21

| i
ham.
To preserve Mount Vernon perpet-
ually unchanged, in memory o. Wash
ington, is the sacred trust o. the
Mount Vernon association.
The nation ewes the rescue. restor-
alton and preservation of this conse-
Grated spot to South Carolina wom-
an, Ann Pamela Cunningham of
"Rosemont," Laurens county, who, in
1853, founded "The Mount Vernon
Ladies' Association"
Mr.. John Augustine Washington,
who inherited the estate from his un-
Gle, found himself without means to
keep up the property, and at last felt
forced to offer the historic place for
sale. He offered it to the United
States government for 100000, but
the government declined to purchase.
I He then offered it to the state of Vlr-
ginia at the same price. Virginia also
refused to buy. One of those cor
porations, which cater to the enter
tainment of the people, then proposed
to buy it for 100000, with the in
tention of turning it into a place of
amusement and public resort. John
Augustine Washington showed his no
/ bic patriotism by refusing this offer
peremptorily.
About this time a South Carolina
lady, Mrs. Cunningham, travelling by
steamboat down the beautiful Poto-
mac to Washington, passed by Mount
! Vernon and was much touched by the
solemn effect of the tolling Of the
steamers bell in reverent salutation
Of the spot. She was writing to her
daughter at the time, and continued
with this sentence, "What great des-
! tiny it would be if the women of Am
erica could buy this sacred spot and
preserve it as a shrine for the nation
: Her daughter, Ann Pamela Gun
'ngham, great sufferer from spinal
trouble, read the letter while in great
pain, but was so struck by the sug-
gestion that she Immediately said, II
will do itr' Her family and friends
tried to laugh her out of the idea
but in vain. She at once wrote rous-
ing appeal to the Southern Women Of
America signing it "The Southern
Matron," and sent it to the press.
There was prompt response, not
only from the South, but from women
all over the country, who were anX-
! ious to join in the endeavor. Miss
! Cunningham, whose vision and power
of organization were great. then
brought into being the first patriotic
association of women only, ever form
| ed in these United States of America.
From the moment the movement be-
gan, it never suffered a pause. The
enthusiasm grew steadily and rapidly,
and before the end of 1859 the huge
sum of 100000 was raised.
Now came an unexpected difficulty.
John Augustine Washington refused
to sell to a party of women. Miss
/ Cunningham then made the terrific
effort, for her, of journeying to Wash
ington, portion of the time on a
cot, and laid before the owner of
| Mount Vernon the plan and high
aims and ideals of the association.
He listened coldly at first, but later
became greatly impressed, and on the
next morning gave his full unqualified
consent to the SALE The 100000
was paid over in 1860 and Mount Yer
non became the property OF "The
; Mount Vernon Ladies Association" "
During the War Between the States
the association had to face terrible
difficulties. The soldiers of the two
armies, however, respected and pro-
tected the place equally. There could
not be paid greater tribute to the
universal love of Washington.
AS soon as normal conditions re-
turned after the war, people fiocked
to the revered spot. The constitution
of the association had provided that
an entrance fee of twenty-five cents
for the maintenance of the place,
should be charged at the gate. Owing
to the love and veneration of the
whole nation, so many individuals
sought Mount Vernon that in very
short time the gate receipts began to
enable the association to make the
necessary repairs, and then to buy
back gradually, piece by piece, the
original Washington furnishings.