New-York tribune., 1922-10-01
Monroe S Virginia Home
Fallen to Lowly Estate in Old, His.
toric Fredericksburg

toIlS I FREDERICKSBURG
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your Sunday issue, under the
heading "New York's Monroe Doctrine
Is Neglect" appeared one of the most
timely accounts of national defect in
character, an utter lack of appreciation
Of historical things and places which
serve as reminder to succeeding gem
erations Of a debt to those who have
gone before, their ideals, work and sac
| rifces.
The Sulgfave Institute is to be con-
gratulated on saving the house in
which James Monroe died. But what
about his home? In Virginia, half way
between Mount Vernon and Richmond,
on the west bank Of the Rappahannock,
the old town of Fredericksburg lies
hidden in natures verdure and en-
vironed with an atmosphere of it's past
association with great men whose ef-
forts and ideals were largely respon-
sible for our country's greatnebs.
On Princess Ann Street, here is the
home Of James Monroe, twice Presi-
dent of the United States and author
of the famous Monroe Doctrine. 1t
is tenanted by colored family who
charge ten cents admission. One Of
the members of the family, who eppar-
emily entertained some slight appre-
citation of it's historical association,
volunteered the statement that they
owned the building.
This was Monroe's home after his
return from Congress, when he began
the practice of law in an Office on
Charles Street, just off Commerce. No
American has ever held so many public
offices as James Monroe.
Fredericksburg possesses a charm
which transports one back to the
Colonial days. On Amelia Street, here
in store selling automobile accesso-
ries, is the old apothecary shop of Gen
killed in the Battle Of Princeton, 1777.
A monument erected to his memory is
located on Washington Avenue.
On Charles and Lewis streets is the
home Of Mary, the mother Of George
Washington, with its old lockwood
walks, and just back of her tomb are
the Meditation Rocks, where she read
her Bible and in the quiet twilight con-
templated the eternal truths.
The character of Washington, its
strength and greatness, cannot be un-
derstood without an appreciation OF his
mother. Lincoln, with Seward and
Stanton, had realizing sense Of her
greatness when they visited her favo-
rite retreat in 1861. How many mothers
and women of to-day find leisure for
similar meditation?
The Masonic Lodge in which George
Washington was initiated and raised as
Master Mason, November a, 1752, is
still standing, with it's priceless relics
of serious age, but this iconoclastic
generation is seriously discussing
wrecking the monument to great man
and the principles of Masonry which
he inculcated in his life for the erec-
ton Of modern building and lodge.
Fredericksburg possesses countless
other places Of interest associated with
| Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War
days, but thousands Of tourists rush
through this richly endowed town each
year with q cailous indifference, either
i insensible to or disinterested in its his
toric appeal, and the same apathy
which permitted the old dwelling on
| Lafayette and Prince streets to be used
as a rag-picker's shop, where an ex-
| President breathed his Last, is an indi-
1 cation that ths increased desire Tor
/ ephemsral pleasures has caused an in
creasing disregard for the only things
1 Of value--the association of religion,
4 home, family and historical ties.
GEORGE w. GERLACH.
& ossining. N. Y. sfSt. 27, 1922.