The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-06-11
Fom lrving's life Of Washington
Washing toms Love Affairs

Washing toms Love Affairs
In one of these manuscrip, memorials of
his practical studies and exercises, we have
come upon some documents singularly in
contrast with all that We have Just cited
and with his apparently uuromattic char
&C or. In word. there ere evidences in
his own handwriting, that before he was
fifteen years OF age. he had conceis ed
passion for some unknown beauty. so Sc
rieus as to disturb bis otherwise well reg
ulated mind aud to make him really un
happy Why Ills juvenile attachment
was source of unhappiness We have no
positive means of asccr aiming. Perhaps
the object OF it may have considered him
mere school-boy and treated him as such !;
or his own shyness may have been in his
way. and his rules for behavior and con
versa.ion. may as ret have sat awkward
~ on him and rendered him forma and un
calmly when be most ought 10 please -
Evrn in lar years be was apt 10 be silent
and embarrassed In fen,le society. He
was very tashiul young mar" sad an
old lady whom he used 10 visit when they
were both in their homage. II used often
To wish that he would talk more"
Whatever may have been the reason.
this early attachment seems 10 have been
a source Of poignant discomfort TO Kim.
1t chung TO him after he took final have
OF school IN the autumn OF i747, and went
T. reside with his brother Lawrence At
Mount Vernon. Here lie continued BIZ
mathematical studies and his practice in
surveying. disturbed at times by tccurren-
Cos Of his unluoky passion.
Though by 10 means OF a poe'ic al TEN
permanent. the waste pages Of his jan-nel
.betray' d Sc sral attempts to pour forth his
amorous sorrows in verse. They are
mere common place rhymes. such as low
ers At bis age are apt TO write, in whieh be
bewaiis his Up or restless heart, woun led
by Cupid's dart, end bleeding fr one
who remains piliiess Of his griefs and
woes"
The tenor Of some OF his verses induces
US 10 believe that he never told his love.
but, as we have already surmised, was
prevented by lis beshfulness.
s.Ah wee Is me, that should love and conceal;
4 Long have wished and never dare reveal"
It is difficult TO reconcile els self to
thoqdea OF the cool and sedate Washington,
ths great champion OF American liberty.
j voc worn lover in his youthful days,
ssighing like furnace and indlting pla n
live verses abb at the groves Of Mount Yer.
aon. We are glad Of an opportunity, how
sver, Of penetrating to his native feelings,
and finding that under his studied dscorum
and reserve he had heart Of flesh, throb-
,iDg with the warm impu ses OF human ma
ure.
The merits Of Washington were known
"a appreciated by the Fairfax family
though not quite sixteen years of age h.
20 longer seemed boy. nor was he treate
d as such. Tall, athletic, and manly
u his years his early self-'raining and
he code of conduct he had devised, gave
Irayity and decision to his conduct; his
70 kness and modesty inspired cordial
egard, and the melancholy of which he
peaks may have produced softncss in
IS manner calculated to win favor n la
Les eyes. According to his own account.
Ne female society by which he was sur
FUNDED had soothing effect on that mel
lcholy.
The charms Of Miss Carey, the sister Of
e bride. seem even TO have used q
ghl futtering in his bosom; which, how
Ger. was constantly rebuked by the re-
embrancc of his former passion-so at
last We Judge from letters 10 his youthful
n6danis, rough drafts of which are still
Be seen in his tell-tale journal.
tTo one whom he addresses as his dear
lend Robin. he writes: Ny residence is
lpresent at his lordship's. where might,
Is my heart dis ngaged, pass my time
Pry pleasantly. as there's very agreea-
young lady lives in the same house
tol. George Fairfax's wifs's ssler;) but
dthat's only adding fuel to the fire. it
likes me the more uneasy, for by often
= unAvoidsbly being in company with
!, revives my former passion for your
Eland Beauty; whereas, was to live
Re retired from young women. ! might
home measure alleviate my sorrows BY
ying that ehastc and troublesome pa
! in the grave Of oblivion. Dc.