Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-03-08
The Last Days at Mt. Vernon.

The Last Days at MI Vernon.
Our readers will perusc with pleasure
the following article from the National
MteLEgencer. 1t was published on the
anniversary of Washington's birthday,
and is an extract from the private me.
moirs of GEORGE WASHINGTON CusTIs,
General Washington's adopted son.
We make no excuse for dcvoting the col.
umn usually occupied by editorial ar,i.
cles TO it, since We are confident that
nothing more interesting could fill it.
The year 1893 was in its last month;
Washington had nearly completed his
sixty.eighth year: the century was fas!
drawing 10 a close, and with il this great
mans life. Yet the "wnter" of his age
had shed its SHOWS $50 kindly" upon him
as 10 mellow without impairing his fac.
ulties, both physical and mental, and TO
give fair promise Of additional length Of
days.
Nor was Washington unmindful of,h
sure progress Of time, and Of his liabili.
ty to be called at any moment to "that
bourne from which no traveller returns"
lie had for years kept a will by him, and
after maturc reflection had so disposed of
his large property as to be satisfactory to
the many who were SO fortunate and
happy as to share in his teslnmcntary re.
membrance.
The last days, like those that precclcI
them in the course of a long and well.
spent life, were devoted to constan, and
useful employment. After the active ex.
crcsc OF the morning in attention to a..
ricul,ural and rural affairs, in the even.
ing came the post bag, loaded with let.
ters, papers and pamphlets. His cores.
pondence both at home and abroad was
immense; yet was it promptly and
fully replied to. No letter was unan.
swcred. One of the best bred men of his
time, Washington deemed it grave Of.
fence against the rules of good manners
and propriety to leave letters unanswer.
ed. He wrote with great facility, and it
would be difficult matter to find anoth.
er, who had written so much, who has
written so we'll. His epistolary writings
will descend to posterity as models Of
good taste, as we'll as developing super.
ior powers Of mind.
General Henry Lee once observed to
the chief. ave are amazed, sir, at the
vast amount Of work that you accom-.
plish." Washington replied. "Sir rise
at four o'clock, and a great deal Of my
, work is done while others are asleep"
, So punctual man delighted in al.
ways having about him n good time.
f keeper. In Philadelphia the first Pres.
@ ident regularly walked up to his watch
makers (Clarkc in Second street to
G compare his watch with the regulator
AT Mt Vernon the active yet always
@ punctual farmer invariably consulted the
dial when returning from his morning
g ride and before entering his house.
r. The affairs Of the HOUSEHOLD took order
q from the masters accurate and method
i cal arrangement Of time. Even the fish
q crman on the river watched for the cook s
@ signal when to pull in shore, so as to
r. deliver his scaly products in time fo'
dinner.
The establishment Of Mount Vernon
t. employed perfect army of servants; ye
n to each was assigned certain special du
I. ties, and these were required to be strict
10 ly performed. Upon the extensive estate
"a there was rigid discipline, without sever
n ity. There could be no confusion where
IL all was order; and the affairs of thi
g vast concern, embracing thousands o
le acres and hundreds ofdependants, wer'
" conducted with as much ease, method
n and regularity as the affairs Of an ordi
10 nary homestead.
% Mrs. Washington, an accomplished
m Virginian housewife Of the olden time
of gave her constant attention to all mat
10 ters OF her domestic household, and b.
ID her skill and superior management great
ct ly contributed to the comfortable recep
ID ton and entertainment Of the crowds q
al guests always to be found in the hospi'
of able mansion Of Mount Vernon.
re Invariably neat and clean in his pei
re- son, with clothes Of the old fashione
i. cu., but made Of the best material'
n, Washington required less waiting upo
10 than any man Of bis age and eonditio