Evening star., 1932-05-15

to come to this obscure corner of Vir-
ginia.
So Mrs Harry Lee Rust of Washing
ton, distant kinswoman of the first
President, organized the Wakefield Ma
tional Memorial Association. 1t was
/ composed largely of patriotic women
Funds were raised among the people.
congressional appropriation was secured
Archaeological and historical research
was financed. The extent of the old
estate was determined and the land pur-
| chased-356 acres in all to be added to
the II acres already owned by the Gov
ernment. The bones Of the old Wash
ingtons were found mouldering under
their fallen tomb stones. Part of the
foundations of the old mansion were
| eXcavated, and as the zoologiSt recon-
StructS an ancient animal from a few
scattered bones so did the architects re-
construct Wakefield
1t turned out to be bigger job than
even Mrs. Rust had im2 gined. The old
Washingtons had been folks of quality,
carrying out in the New World within a
few miles of the unexplored wilderness
to the westward the aristocratic tradi-
tions of seventeenth century England.
The Washingtons CT today hardly could
believe that their ancestors had lived in
so grand a style. Old wills and bills of
sale were found in the musty county
records. They made it possible to de-
termine approximately what had been
in the house when Washington was
born. Mrs. Rust saw that it was refur-
nished in that manner. From the
neighborhood she secured what may
have been duplicates Of many of the
original articles
From the first the intent had been
to turn the property over to the Gov
eminent as gift to the American peo-
pie as soon as the restoration was COM
pleted. Every effort was made to get
it done in time for the 200th annf-
versary. Mrs. Rust saw the brush
cleared away, the scattered bones rever-
emily gathered and reburied, and the
mansion house, which had been de-
stroyed by fire in 1700, rebuilt pre-
cisely as it had been when George
Washington was baby there.
Given to Government.
Then, almost at the moment of the
realization of her vision, she died The
memorial association she had founded
provided revently the finishing touches
for her work. Everything was ready to
present the completed work to the Gov
ernment.
Mrs. Rust's place in the ceremony
yesterday was taken by Mrs Anthony
Wayne Cook, former president of the
D. A. R., and an enthusiastic member
of the Wakefield Memorial Association.
With touching references to the work
of the dead Washington woman, she
formally turned over the property
where the first President was born and
spent the first three years Of his life
to Secretary Wilbur, who represented
the Government, and who, as head of
the National Park Service, will have
custody of it. 1t will be known as
the George Washington Birthplace Ma
spoke of the influences which must
have played a prominent part in Shap-
ing the life of the first President which
arose from the peaceful Lower Potomac
environment from which he came The
countryside itself, he said, breathed an
atmosphere of dignity, self control and
strength which must have impregnated
the spirit of the baby who crawled
there and of the little boy who prob
ably returned there often from Mount
Vernon up the river to visit his half
brother.
Altogether it was only small group
assembled there-almost family group.
Besides the country people there were
relatives of Washington among the
ladies of the Wakefield Memorial As
sociation, dressed in Colonial costumes,
who aided at the ceremony. The din
ner was served by women of the neigh
borhood Probably the scene was little
changed from Washington's boyhood.
Even then there was probably much the
same thinned grove of red cedars COW
ering the Popes Creek bluff. The baby
had probably crawled over a green lawn
scattered in May with the same yellow
wood sorrels bright stars of Bethle-
hem and purple betony Even then
there we're probably well grown box
bushes on the lawn and along the
garden walk, fragrant with the dew of
the Spring mornings.
Peace Pervades Scene.
Far away seemed the military glory
Of George Washington, far away the
call of bugles or the glamor of state
craft, far away the affairs of armies
and nations. Over the lawns and the
low roof of the brick mansion was the
drowsy peace of the cedars.
Mrs. Cook turned over to Secretary
Wilbur bit of infancy-the tender
vision of a little boy romping on a
great lawn above the eternally flowing
river
1t became today, as Secretary Will
bur said, "one of the most valuable and
sacred possessions of the people"