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Skriven 2006-04-24 23:33:14 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0604249) for Mon, 2006 Apr 24
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Mrs. Bush's Remarks at Preserve America Visit to the Mount Estate and
Gardens
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For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
April 24, 2006

Mrs. Bush's Remarks at Preserve America Visit to the Mount Estate and
Gardens
The Mount Estate and Gardens
Lenox, Massachusetts



4:07 P.M. EDT

MRS. BUSH: Thanks, everyone, and thank you, Barbara, for the very kind
introduction and for everything you, and Stephanie and everyone with Edith
Wharton Restoration has done for this historic estate.

Lord Tugendhat, thank you, and George Ramsden, thank you both very, very
both for your contributions to The Mount. And thank you for traveling to
join us here today.

I'd like to thank Janet Pumphrey, the chairman of your Board of Selectmen,
for welcoming me here to Lenox.

I'm so happy to be here in the Berkshires, which really are breathtaking.
Your town is blessed with both the beauty of God's creation and man's,
because in addition to being a mountain retreat, Lenox is also a beacon of
culture --literature, art, theater, and music.

Now, I'm told that another big attraction in Lenox is the Canyon Ranch Spa.
(Laughter.) When people heard I was coming to Lenox for "preservation," I
guess they thought maybe I was going there. (Laughter and applause.)

But today I'm here to congratulate Edith Wharton Restoration on the
terrific work you've done to rescue The Mount, and to talk about how we can
make sure our historical treasures, like Edith Wharton's home and library,
are preserved for future generations.

Last year at the White House, when The Mount won a Preserve America
Presidential Award, I was there to see Edith Wharton Restoration recognized
for the transformation of this historic home. And at that ceremony, I
determined that I wanted to see the home of one of my favorite writers
myself. As a librarian and a lover of literature, I believe it's important
for Americans to be able to visit the homes of our most renowned and
beloved authors.

Edith Wharton designed and built The Mount in 1902, but by 1980, this
once-beautiful estate had become an eyesore. Thanks to the dedication of
each one of you with Edith Wharton Restoration, The Mount is now as Edith
designed it. This is a very special place, and you've done a wonderful job
restoring this home to its former glory.

The Mount is where Edith completed her first novel, "The Valley of
Decision." She wrote one of her most famous books, "The House of Mirth,"
here. The Mount was her refuge and inspiration. This is where she formed
some of her closest friendships, and where she met with those friends to
discuss literature -- conversations that she treasured.

The physical structure of The Mount also offers us a window into Edith's
mind, and reflects her interest in interior design. When Edith designed The
Mount, she followed the principles she had developed in "The Decoration of
Houses," rejecting the Victorian clutter of her day in favor of the elegant
simplicity that's here in this house now.

When we read Edith's work, we understand how important it is to preserve
this monument to her views on design. In Edith's chronicles of New York
society -- like "The Age of Innocence" -- we come to know the people who
populate her novels through the descriptions of their homes and
furnishings. Design is as much a character of Edith Wharton's as Newland
Archer, Lily Bart, or Ethan Frome.

The Mount is also a reminder of why it's so important to protect America's
historical treasures. In 2003, President Bush announced the Preserve
America Initiative, to encourage communities to preserve and care for our
priceless cultural and natural heritage. Preserve America can help boost
local economies, because recognized historical landmarks attract visitors
and businesses to communities.

Since President Bush announced the initiative, we've honored historical
organizations, history teachers, and entire communities for their
commitment to preservation. In fact, 410 American communities have applied
and then been accepted to be Preserve America communities. Next week, we'll
recognize four more Preserve America Presidential winners, like The Mount
was last year.

The Mount's restoration has been recognized with this Preserve America
Presidential Award. You've received many other awards for your work,
including a more than

$2.8 million grant from Save America's Treasures. Save America's Treasures,
which works to help rescue the enduring physical monuments to America's
tradition, has been very enthusiastic about The Mount, and I want to thank
them for their very generous support for Edith Wharton's home.

I know that all of you are very happy to receive every one of these awards.
But in December, you acquired something that I suspect you may have wanted
a little bit

more: Edith Wharton's personal library. This is an amazing collection that
contains 2,600 volumes -- the books Edith collected, read, and cherished
throughout her life.

Edith was self-educated. When she was 10 years old, she was first allowed
to enter her father's library, and on that day, her life changed forever.
During her childhood, that library was one of her favorite places.

And now you have her own collection, which documents Edith's personal and
intellectual growth, and her development as a writer.

Many of these books contain notes and editorial changes that Edith made in
her early editions of her own works. Several books have inscriptions from
her close friends, who were historical figures in their own right -- people
like President Theodore Roosevelt and Henry James.

This collection would not be here at the Mount without the help of Lord
Tugendhat and George Ramsden, so thank you both very, very much for
bringing Edith's library from England. And, of course, a special thanks to
Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers for your generous gift that made the
acquisition of this collection possible.

Congratulations to each and every one of you.

Thank you for showing me this beautiful estate and Edith's magnificent
library. And thank you for your devotion to preserving America's literacy
and historical treasures.

Thank you all and congratulations. (Applause.)

END 4:14 P.M. EDT
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