The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-02-10

back the finest rider in Virginia. His house was
filed with aristocratic visitors He had his stud
of the highest breed, his fox hounds, and all
the luxuries of prosperous country gentleman.
His Kitchens his smoke houses his stables, his
stewards, his tobacco sheds, his fields of wheat
and corn. his hundred cows, his vast poultry
yards, his barges, all indicated great wealth. and
that generous hospitality which is now tradi-
ton. His time was passed in overseeing his
large estate and in out-of-door sports following
the hounds or fishing, exchanging visits with
prominent Virginia families amusing himself
with card playing, dancing and the social fri
volites of the day."
But he neglected no serious affairs; his farm,
his stock, the sale of his produce, were all ad-
mirably conducted and on plane Of widely
recognized honor and integrity. He took great
interest in the state at large, explored on foot
the Dismal swamp and projected it's draining,
made several expeditions up the Potomac and
over the mountains, laying out routes for new
roads to the Ohio country, gained much infu-
ence in the house of burgesses. and was among
the foremost in discussing privately and publicly
the relations of the colonies with the mother
country. Thus nine years were passed, in lux
ury, in friendship and in the pleasures Of a
happy useful life"
It was this luxury which Washington was
willing to give up in response to the call Of
gan After he had successfully led that fight,
he retired to Mount Vernon only to be called
upon again in 1859 to exchange his role of Vir-
ginia planter for that of President of new
nation. When he was ready to lay down the
cares of state in 1897 and retire once more to
Mount Vernon, only two more years of life re-
manned for him, for he died on December
IA. 1899.
At his death Mount Vernon passed as a life
~ rr-;Ja Tn,
der the terms of Washngton's will some of his
effects had been disposed of and by his widows
will most of the household belongings passed
to her four grandchildren. Thus the original
furniture of Mount Vernon became scattered.
Mount Vernon, itself, passed In succession, to
Bushrod Washington, John Augustine Washing
ton and John A. Washington Jr, changes taking
place in the furnishings and interior decorations
of the house, as convenience or inclination
prompted the respective owners.
The Washington family. in the generation of
John A. Washington Jr. were DESTROYS that the
historic estate should. for better preservation.
pass into the possession of the nation. He Of
fered TO sell Mount Vernon to the United States,
and later to the commonwealth of Virginia.
Both projects failed.
But what legislatures could not accomplish
private patriotic agencies could achieve. Miss
Pamela Cunningham of South Carolina appealed
to American women, and in 1856 she able
to organize the Mount Vernon Ladies' Asso-
citation of the Union. One great American. Ed
ward Everett, took up the cause toured the
country, and gathered s6s29459 for the Mount
Vernon fund. In 1858. therefore. the ladies'
association was able to buy from John A. Wash
fngton Jr., 300 acres of the Mount Vernon es-
tate including the residence and attendant
buildings. the gardens. ETC., and also the tomb
of our revered first President The price paid
was 100000 and interest Subsequently.
through the generosity of Jay Gould, in 1887;
Christian Heinrich of Washington, D. C., in 1898.
and Hugh Mex Iandon, in 1925, the total area
owned by the association has been increased to
approximately go acres
&C by Western Newspaper Union,