Evening star., 1934-10-21
DODGE EXT0[LED
FOR PATRIOTISM
Saved Mt. Vernon for Pos
terity, Beck Tells Dinner
in His Honor.

of political and social life in the
Capital assembled in the Mayflower
Hotel to do him honor.
Unable to be present because Of an
engagement in Williamsburg, Va,
President Roosevelt wrote a personal
letter to Col. Dodge, thanking him for
his long personal service as superin-
tendent Of Mount Vernon.
"All our lives" the President wrote,
''Mrs. Roosevelt and will cherish the
close friendship we have had with you
these many years. You have been, in
deed, a good friend to us and to our
children, and we look forward to many
more visits to you at the home Of
Washington"
Mr. Roosevelt's letter was read by
r. Walton Moore, Assistant Secretary
Of State, who acted as POSTMASTER.
Praising the long service of Col.
Dodge, Representative James M. Beck
of Pennsylvania said he has brought
to the living generation and will bring
to all future generations of Americans
the ennobling inspirations of the i'm
mortal founder Of our country. This
Is life work, of which any man
could be justly proud, and any of us,
whatever public place we may have
held. could well envy a man whose
privilege it was to save Mount Vernon
for posterity."
Honor Guest Replies.
The S2-year- r-old guest of honor, in
replying to the speakers, said the great
est credit for the preservation and
restoration of Mount Vernon should
be given the Mount Vernon Ladies'
Association of the Union.
In 1883" he said, Mount Vernon
was in a shameful state Of disrepair.
Its sagging portico was braced with
poles chopped from the surrounding
woods. Rain poured through the leak
ing roof and threatened to damage
beyond repair the once beautiful
interior.
In this state of affairs. the then
owner, John A. washington, grand
nephew Of the first President, whose
financial condition would no longer
permit him to maintain the historic
home, appealed to the Federal Con-
gress for funds to restore Mount
Vernon. A bill to accomplish this
was introduced, but failed of passage.
An appeal to the Legislature Of Vir-
sinia was similarly rejected.
Mount Vernon, in all probability,
would now be but memory had not
Miss Ann Palmer Cunningham Of
South Carolina come forward with a
proposal that the women Of the
country organize to buy and preserve
the homestead. This was done and in
an incredibly short time the 100000
to purchase Mount Vernon had been
raised From that day to this the
task of preservation and restoration
has gone steadily forward until now
Mount Vernon stands as a striking
symbol Of the devotion of all genera
ttons of Americans to George Wash
ington."
The dinner was arranged by COM
mittee under the active direction OF
r. Regis Noel, president Of the Dis
trict Bar Association. Frederic A.
Delano was honorary chairman, while
other officers included Herbert Wright,
secretary; Bruce Baird, treasurer, and
Mrs. william Laird Dunlop. ir. d.
rectress.
Text OF Letter.
The text Of the letter from the
President follows:
my dear Col. Dodge:
Upon the occasion of the tender
Of a testimonial dinner to you as su-
perintendent of Mount Vernon, after
nearly so years in the performance
of your duties, I wish to express my
warm appreciation of your service in
the preservation Of the home and
tomb of the great American whose
name is an inspiration to all OF our
citizens.
Faithful to the high principle of
keeping definitely before his country
men a symbol of the life Of him who
80 largely aided in the establishment
Of the Republic and whose wisdom of
administration maintained it in the
early days, you have made a fine con-
tribution to the understanding and
appreciation of George Washington by
two generations of Americans. Such
a service richly merits recognition as
your 50th anniversary approaches.
1T is my hope that you will re-
main for many years more to see the
tide of visitors to the Mount Vernon
shrine increase in numbers and in
reverent recognition not only of
Washington, but Of the patriotism OF
the association of which for half a
century you have been the repre-
sentative and steward.
Yours has been a task of difficulty
requiring unflagging industry and
steady fidelity to the ideals upon
which the guardianship of Mount
Vernon is based, and you have per-
formed 1t In a most notable manner
and always with pride In the oppor-
tunity afforded you to promote the
csause Of American citizenship.
Extends Regrets.
81 want to add my personal regret
that because of my absence at Will
liamsburg I cannot come to the din
ner. All our lives Mrs. Roosevelt and
I will cherish the close friendship we
have had with you these many years.
You have been, indeed, a good friend
to us and to our children, and we look
forward to many more visits to you
at the home of Washington"
c. Powell Minnigerode, director of
the Corcoran Gallery of Art, was In
charge of decorations and arranged
for the placement at one end Of the
ball room copy Of the famous full
length portrait of Gen. Washington
painted by Gilbert Stuart.
The Minister of Albania, Faik
KOnitza, and the Attorney General and
Mrs. Homer S. Cummings were rank
ing guests of the evening, the latter
two being members of the party of Mr..
and Mrs. j. Bruce Kremer, who also
entertained william Stanley, assistant
to the Attorney General, and Mrs
Stanley.
Mrs. E. T. Stotesbury, who came to
Washington especially to attend the
dinner, had as guests at her table Mrs
Arthur Macarthur and Mrs. John j.
Hemphill.
Mrs. Harriet r. Davis, who was a
bridesmaid at Col and Mrs. Dodge's
wedding, had as her guests Mrs. F.
Regis Noel, DR.. Oliver j. Hart, rector
of st. Johns Church. and Mrs. Hart.