M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-07-06

WIN hNOh INV pNCNiiaA uluuc
him his hunting compinion; and il
was probably under the tuition of this
; hard riding old nobIeman that the } outh
. imbibed that fondnesS for the chase f5i
$ which he was afterwards remarked,
e
Tradition gives very different mott
YES from those Of business for his two
soiourns in the latter city. lie found
> there an early friend and schoolmate.
Beverly Robinson. son of John Robin :
sou, Speaker Of the Virginia house Of
Burgesses. He was living happily and
prosperously with a young and happy
bride, having married one of the neices
snd heiresses Of Mr.. Adolphus Philipse,
rich landhoder, whose MAJOR house
is still to be seen on the banks of the
Hudson. At the house of Mr.. Be verify
Robinson. where Washington was an
honored guest, he met Miss Mary Phil
lipse, sister to and co.heireS Of Mrs.
Robinson, young lady whose personal
attractions are said 10 have rivaled her
reputed wealth.
We have already given an instance
Of Washington's early sensibility to fe.
male charms. A life, however, OF con.
stsnt activity and care, passed for the
most part in the wilderness and on tho
frontier, far from female socety-aud
left lit,Ie mood or leisure for The indul-
gence of the tender sentiment, but rem
dered him more sensible in the present
brief inter val of gay and social life, to
the attractions Of an elegant woman.
brought up in the polite csTcH OF New
York.
That he was open admirer Of Miss
Phillipse is q historical fact that he
sought her hand, but was refused. 10
traditional, and not very probable. His
military rank, his early lautels and dis
tinguished pre'ence were all calculated
to find favor in female eyes but his
sojourn in New York was brief. he may
have been dilIident in urging his suit
with lady accustomed to the homage
of society and surrounded by admirers.
The most probable version Of the story
is that he was called away by his pub
lie duties before he had made sufficient
approaches in his siege of the ladys
heart 10 warrant a summons to surren.
| der.
Washington was now ordered by Sir
John s.. Clair, the quartermaster gene
raj OF the forces under Gen. Forbes. to
repair TO Williamsburg, aud lay the
state OF the case before the council. He
set of promptly on horseback, attended
by Bishop, the we'll trained military
servant who had serle ed the late general
Braddock. Itproved an eventful jour
ney, though not in military point OF
view. In crossing a ferry Of the Pa
muuky, a branch OF the York river. he
fell in company with Mr.. Chamber
layue. who lived in the neighborhood.
and who in the spirit Of Virginia hos
pi,alily. claimed him as guest. 1t
was with difficulty that Washington
cosld be prevailed on to bait for dim
ner. so impatient was he to arrive at
Williamsburg and accomplish his mis-
sion.
Among the guests at MIR. Chamber
layne'S was d young ana blooming wild
ow, Mrs. Martha Custis, daughter Of
MIR. John Danbridge, both patrician ma
mes in the province. Her husband,
John Park Custis had been dead about
three wears, leaving her with two young
children and large fortune. She is
represented as being rather below the
middle size, but extremely we'll shaped.
with an agreeable countenance, dark
hazel eyes and hair, and those frank.
engaging manners SO captivating in
southern women.
We are not Informed whether Was
hington had met her before probably
not during her widJwhood, as during
that time he had been almost continu.
ally on the frontier. We have shown
that with all this gravity and reserve.
he was quickly susceptible to female
charms ind they may have had grea-
ter effect upon him when thus casually
encountered in eting moments snatch~
ed ftom the cares and petplexities
and rude scenes Of frontier life. AZ
any rate his heart appears to have been
taken by surprise.
The dinner, which in those days was
earlier than at PRESENT, seemed all too
short. Afternoon passed away like
dream. Bishop was punctual to ths
orders he received on hating; the hoI.
ses paved at the door, but for once
Washington loitered in the path OF du'
| ty. The horses were counter manded.
and it was not until the nsxt morning
;hat he was Sgain in the saddle, spur
ring for Williamsburg. Happily the
White House. the residence Of Mr. Gu.
sits, was in Kent county, at no great
distance from that city, SO that he had
opportunity Of visiting her in the inter.
walls OF business.
His time FOR couttship, however, ives
brief Military duties called him al
most Immediately to Winchester but
he feared, should he leave the matter
in suspense, some more enierprizins
rival might supplant him during his
absence. as in the case Of Miss Phil
iiose at tNewYork.-He improved, thee-
fore, his brief opportunity TO the ut
most. The blooming widow had many
sui,ors. but Washington was gracsd
with that renown SO ennobling in the
eyes of woman. Ia word. before they
separated they mutually plighted their
faith, and the marriage was to take
| nlace as soon as the canuaipn against