Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-03

tion OF Mrs. Washington corresponds perfectly
with that in her portrait by Trumbull, painted
the previous year, and now in the Trumbull
Gallery at New Haven.
Mr.. Wansey says her drawing-rooms were
objected to by the democrats, aas tending to
give her supereminency, and as Introductory
TO the paraphernalia Of courts With what
feelings the excellent woman regarded those
democrats is shown by an anecdote of the same
period. She was a severe disciplinarian, and
Nelly Gusts was not often permitted by her to
be idle, or to follow her own caprices. The
young girl was compelled to practice at the
harpsichord four or five hours every day, and
one morning, when she should have been play
ing, her grandmother entered the room, re-
marking that she had not heard her music, and
also that she had observed some person going
ont, whose name she would very much like to
know. Nelly was silent, and suddenly her at.
tention was arrested by blemish on the wall,
which had been newly painted delicate cream
color. "Ahl it was no federalistl" she ex-
claimed, looking at the spot, just above a set
tee, none but filthy democrat would mark a
place with his good-iornothing head in that
manner!"
The public business so entirely occupied his
time that Washington had few opportunities of
visiting Mount Vernon. In 1898, however, he
was there nearly three months, during the ter
rible period of the prevalence of the yellow
fever in Philadelphia The disease broke out
some time in August, but he continued at his
post until the 10th of September. He wished
to stay longer, but Mrs. Washington was un-
willing to leave him exposed in such danger,
and he could not think of hazarding her life
and the lives of the children by remaining
the house in which we lived, )" he says, "being
in manner blockaded by the disorder, which
was every day becoming more and more fatal"
Two days after Washington left, Mr.. Wolcott
wrote to his father "The apprehension of the
citizens cannot be increased; business is in
great measure abandoned, the true character
Of man is disclosed, and he shows himself q
weak, timid, Responding, and selfish being
The ravages of the dreadful sickness are ex-
tending, with added circumstances of terror
and distress; many now die without attend
ance. The kind attention, the tears Of condo
lence and sympathy, which alleviate pain and
in some degree reconcile the dying to their
fate, are frequently omitted by the nearest
friends and relatives; when generously be-
slowed, they are too often the price Of life.n
Among the public characters attacked by the
fever were Mr.. Willing and Colonel Hamilton,
but they both recovered. The officers of gov
eminent were dispersed, and the President
even deliberated on the propriety of converting
Congress elsewhere; but the abatement of the
disease rendered this measure unnecessary, and
near the close of November the scattered in
habitants returned to their homes, and Con-
gress re-assembled on the second of December.
In 1874, his official duties not permitting
him to make more than flying visit to Mount
Vernon, and Mrs. Washing deciding against a
summer residence in the city, the President
took a house in Germantown, where, with his
family, he remained during the months of July
and August.