Evening star., 1939-06-05
mt. Vernon TRANQUILITY Awaits
Visit of Britoin's Monarch
King George, Queen
Elizabeth to Go There
OnGovernmentCutter
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

not in evidence or the public at
large is not hearing about them.
This is in line with the ideals
of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Asso-
citation, who saved Mount Vernon for
the Nation just prior to the Civil
War and who have preserved it for
posterity as the home of America S
first President.
The Mount Vernon Ladies' AS
sociation of the Union," to give its
exact title-and one that was
prophetic, when we think of the fact
that it was founded when the Ma
ton was about to be rent asunder
by the Civil Warts the oldest
women's patriotic organization in
the United States. Its Board OF
Lady Managers, composed of q
regent and representatives of vari-
GUS States. who are known as vice
regents, is appointed for life. 1t Is
therefore. not only continuous In
office, but immune to either external
or internal politics.
Mrs. TOwner Heads Association.
In its public relationships the as
sociation is also, by choice, one of
the least publicized.
Now at the head of the associa-
ton is Mrs. Horace Mann Towner
sixth regent in direct line from
public spirited Miss Ann Pamela
Cunningham of South Carolina, first
to hold this office, who served from
1853 to 1874
OF the associations policies Mrs
Towner says. in her calm, gracious
way, I'VE consider ourselves SIM
ply the instruments of destiny in
connection with Mount Vernon and
all the aspects of its management
Our desire is to stay just as much
in the background as is possible, SO
that visitors to Mount Vernon, upon
which the memory of Washington
sheds an eternal glory, are compara-
lively unaware of the details of its
administration. Our continuing
ideal is to preserve this peaceful
lovely spot, which was the dearest
place on earth to George and Mar
tina Washington, not only as a
shrine of American patriotism, but
as the home that it was in their
day and time"
The extraordinary success which
this patriotic group of women has
had in achieving this ideal is self
evident in the historical protection
of Mount Vernon today, now forever
memorable as the residence and
burial place of the Father of His
Country"
Open to Public Daily.
The magnitude of it is only to be
realized by remembering that Mount
Vernon is open to the public every
day in the year from o'clock to S
including Sundays and holidays, and
that during the height of America s
sightseeing season, from 1000 to
5000 persons visit its house and
grounds daily. Yet, because of the
Mount Vernon Ladies Association
Mount Vernon is first and foremost
the plantation home of George
Washington, who conducted his
farm here until he was called te
command the Continental Army
and returned to it after the Revo.
luton and again after his terms a.
President.
Mount Vernon, named by Wash.
ingtons brother Lawrence for Ad.
mlral Vernon of the British Navy
when the mansion was built in l743
will be closed to the public the day
| OF the King and Queens visit, az
a simple little notice posted upor
its gates indicates.
This is being done not only that
their majesties may pay their re-
spects to a great American leader
whose memory halloWs Mount Yer.
non for all time, but in order tha;
they may step back nearly 200 years
into the tranquility of manor life ir
Virginia, when it was still a colony
of the Crown.
The King and Queen will arrive at
Mount Vernon by Government cut
ter, as did Edward VII, when as
Prince of Wales he was England
first royal visitor to America.
Channel Recently Dredged.
They will land directly upon the
dock at Mount Vernon, the channe,
having been recently dredged to per-
NIT of it. In 1860 the Harriet Lane
had to anchor in midstream, and her
party came ashore in smaller boats
with the Prince of Wales handling
the tiller rope of the little craft
carrying President Buchanan and
himself to the landing place.
1t is impossible to imagine more
amazing Transformation than that
which has been achieved in the ac-
curate, painstaking restoration of the
Mount Vernon of today, in contrast
with its barren denuded aspect on
October 5, 1860, when it was visited
by the grandfather of the present
King.
In the possession of Leander Nc
Cormick- k-Goodhart, commercial Sec
retary of the British Embassy, is a
rare copy of the diary of Richard
Englehart, secretary to the Duke of
Newcastle, member of the Prince
of Wales suite, upon that earlier
historic occasion.
Privately printed by royal COM
mand, it comments upon, the dilap-
idated condition of Mount Vernon
and its recent purchase by the Mount
Vernon Ladies' Association" as it
does upon the beautiful view of the
river from the rocky and wooded
eminence upon which it stands. -
The distinguished diarist also refers
to Mrs. Francis Riggs, wife of one of
the partners of Riggs & Co., pred
ecessor to the Riggs National Bank
and first vice regent of the associ-
alton for the District. as, Mrs.
Riggs, the lady secretary who was
with us and did the honors Of the
place"
In Welcoming Group.
Mrs. Towner as regent of the
Mount Vernon Ladies Association
will be in the group that will well
come the King and Queen at the
dock when the cutter lands. She
will escort them to the mansion
who