Washington's Home

To the Editor: Perhaps it is uot generally known t( the readers of tliis paper tliut au attempt is heilig madu to ratündle in tlic peoplc o; Michigan the interest formerly feit In the work of restoring and preserving Mt Vernon, the old home of Washington. A wonl of explanation in this conneetion mav not be amiss. In 18.')6 the owner of the place, a descendant of Washington, feeling that he was unable to incur the expenses oE keeping it up, triad to prevail npon coimress to buy it for the government, hut his offer was refused. The state of Virginia also declined to purchose it, and then the woinen of the United States formeel an association, whlcu bought the property, incliuling land, liouse and buildings, for the sum of $220,000, and tliis association has ever since had the charge of the place. As uiay be readily understood the expense of keeping in constant repair so large a property is by no means èuiall, and to ihis is added the cost of restoring the house and fnrniture as nearly as possible to it8 conditioii when Wasliington occupled it. The restorations are effooted by allowlng each state to select a particular room or portion of the estáte whlch it furnishes or adorns In such a manner as seems suitable to the viceregents of that state. The current expenses of repairs, aalary of superintendent, etc., are met by subscriptions and the fee charged for admission to the gronnds. The association feels very ¦trongl; that ihis fee should beabolished, and tliat the spot in whlch the most prominent uctor in the early scènes of the history of our llepublic llved for many years, and especially where his body rests, should be f ree to all. But until the endowment fund reaches the sum of $250,000 the income will be insuffleient to meet the demands, and at present thlt fund is only about $30,000. Is it unreasonable to ask our citizens to come to our assistance in this matter and enable us to throw open this fine old colonial home, with all its historie associations aud tender memories of hún whom Edward Everett bui litly called " the g reatest of men and the best of greit men," to i public who will appreciate the benefit we bestow f The amount coutribuíed by Michigan lurin; the year ending in May, 1886, was f202.20, but we hope this is oiily a begitinlngof the good work. It has been decided that the work nndertaken by our state sball be the restoration of the old tomb of Washington, where his body ¦ested from the day of his funeral till 1831, wheu it was removed lo the sarcophagus piepared lor It. When this is acomplished we shall be able to turn over the mui u part of our receipts to the endownment found, and thu- hasten the .ime when admission to Mt. Vernon shall be free to all. We appeal for assistance lot only to the older people, but to the boys and girls as well. I am sure that any une who has been so fortúnate as to read Mr. Scudder's "Life of Washing:on" which has appeiired in the pages of the " 8t. Nicholas " during the past year, will foei anxious to assist in the good work of keeping in order the old place, he centre of that home life which Mr. Scud 'er so delighttully describes. We should be glad if on Washington's liiithday the children in the various chools of this country could have some exercises which would remind themafresh of what we owe to our great leader, which would give them an opportuuity ;o cou tribute to the work of the associa;ion. The fee for life raembership is il. 00. Anv Olie wishinc tn heranif n neniber can do so by the payraent of tiiis suin elther to Mrs. E. A. Rathbone, of Ann Arbor, vice resfent for Michigan, or to the couuty manager. Wlille we natumlly are anxious to increase the membership of the association uní thus the interest feit in it, we snall ladly receive any gifts large or small 'rom those who are not entitled to membersh ip.