Evening star., 1938-02-20
By JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

aWaTeneSS OF the VlclSSlCuoeS OF tlme
and fate which for 50 many years
prevented its construction and de-
layed its ultimate completion for over
$50 years.
One of Maj. Pierre Charles lEn-
fant's first steps in connection with
the planning OF our Nations Capital
was the designation of a site for q
monument to the first President very
nearly coincident with the one which
1t now occupies upon the western axis
Of the Mall at the intersection Of
the first American meridian.
President Asked Delay.
In difference to President WASH
ington's expressed wish. nothing was
done about the matter until after his
death.
The day following the announce
ment of his passing to Congress John
Marshall, then a Representative in
Congress from Virginia. introduced
the original motion for honoring the
memory of his great fellow virginian
in the city which bears his name.
An orphan upon the doorstep of
each succeeding Congress. pushed in
this direction and that by public opin-
ion. plah for a monument to the
Father of His Country 100 years after
his burial seemed little nearer realiza-
ton than it had in the Republics in
fancy.
Finally. in 1888, a group of patriotic
citizens organized themselves as the
Washington Monument Society in the
basement of the District of Columbia s
City Hail. John Marshall, then past
80 and famed as Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court, was chosen president
of this organization.
Some one on the Chief Justices
committee, it would appear, had the
making of a modern publicity man.
Not only was the United States charted
OF into geographical districts for So
licitation of subscriptions for the
Washington Monument fund with
out regard to party, sect or color" but
three ladies of national prominence,
because Of the service Of their hus-
bands to the American people, were
pressed into the campaign for such
influence as their names and person.
alities might exert. They were Mrs.
Alexander Hamilton, Mrs. James
Dolly Madison and Mrs. John
Quincy Adams.
Capitalized Appeal.
Various appeals for subscriptions Of
funds to the cause went out over
the names of these patronesses of the
movement to Sunday schools, churches
rural fairs and other agencies of q
similar nature. where it was thought
their feminine influence might be a
potent one.
That the response to the appeals
OF these distinguished, early feminine
1und raisers must have been gratify-
ing, and their cooperative labors con-
tinuingly agreeable to their masculine
associates. is evidenced by the fact
that each Of these venerable ladies
was formally requested to be present
at the corner stone laying of the Wash
lngton Monument on July 4, 184s,
some Is years later.
Their very individual responses to
their invitations are interesting.
Mrs. Adams is couched with New
England brevity. She, it will be re-
membered. had been made a widow
the February before, whe- her hus.
band. John Quincy Adams, former
President, succumbed to a heart attack
IN the House Of Representatives
chamber, now in use as Statuary Hall.
To Gen. Arch Henderson, in charge of
arrangements, she wrote: "The In
flrmities of health and the great dis
abilities under which I labor make it
impossible for me to undertake so
long journey in the heat of sum-
mer, and will, know, plead my cause
for declining the honor you have
done me the honor to send me.
Permit me. dear General, to assure
you and your committee Of the high
sense of esteem and considera ton
which I have of your kind Offices"
Mrs. Hamilton Then 81.
Mrs. Alexander Hamilton. at 81.
had been widow for more than half
a century, but to the day Of her death
at 81 she always proudly referred to
her husband a. MY Hamilton" Once
the fair" Betsy Schuyler, daughter of
the Revolutionary Gen. Philip schuy-
Ter, she purchased at whatever price
was demanded any floating copies of
the celebrated pamphlet in which
Alexander Hamilton professed his in
fidelity to her rather than expose him
self to the charge of official mis-
conduct. ..
For her own civic achievements
she is likewise entitled to go down to
posterity as the founder OF the first
orphan asylum in the State Of New
York.
The application to Congress-" to
which her letter just below refers, has
to do with the subsequent passage
on the part of this body Of an appro-
priation for the purchase and publica-
ton Of her husbands papers which
she had 1ealously preserved in 81
folio volumes with unerrinp fnstinct