Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1894 — TO WASHINGTON'S MOTHER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TO WASHINGTON'S MOTHER.

A Handsome Monument Dedicated atx Fredericksburg, Va. Tardy justice was recently done Mary, the mother of Washington, when a handsome monument to her fame was dedicated on the long-neg-

lected spot where her body lies buried. The ceremonieswere conducted under the auspices of the National Mary [Washington Memorial Association, by whom the marble shaft has been reared, the first instance in history

where a monument to a woman waserected by women. A most notable gathering was present on the occasion, including President Cleveland and his Cabinet, Vice President Stevenson, Chief Justice Fuller, Gov. O’Ferrall. of Virginia, and a host of other promi-

nent personages from all parts of the. country. Senator Daniel and Lawrence Washington, a lineal descendant of Washington’s mother, were the orators of the day. As early as 1830 the idea of erecting a monument to Washington’s motherwas made public and in 1833 the cor-

ner stone of a shait was laid. But the work progressed n o farther, the man who promised to furnish the means having failed. The structure, as it was left, crumbled with slow decay and gradually went to. pieces. Other movements of a similar nature were started", but

none of them took definite shape? until three years ago, when the National Mary Washington Memorial Association was formed. These patriotic? women immediate.y set out to collect, funds for a monument, and the success which followed their undertaking is. creditable alike to the distinguished woman whom they honored and tothemselves. It is a subject of gratification to all Americans that the motherof our first President should at length, 104 years after her death, have a sui.table token of respect raised above her unheeded grave. 'J he monument is a beautiful obelisk ofiplain white marble, fifty feet high and eleven feet, square at the base. It was executed in. Buffalo and cost SII,OOO.

MARY WASHINGTON.

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MARY WASHINGTON'S MONUMENT