Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-05
WORDS FIFTY SPOKEN.

1t 10 pleasant to turn from tina noisy fell Of
politics, TO q quis, retrospective view Of the great
aud good. Rarely have we derived more pure
satisfaction than from q perussl Of a beautiful aud
eloquent paper in the September number OF III"
"Crsyon," the excellent organ Of the Fine Arts I'D
this country. 1t is from the pen Of Thomas L. Rossiter'
The distinguished painter, and ia headed mount
Vernon, Past and Present. What shall be lite destinyi
We regret that we cannot iin! room for the whole OF
The interesting article, which CLOVIS with VIVID
pictures Of Washington sri hs homo. The foilowir g
ay.racts. taken fro. l, beginning and the end OF tho
Article, we heart = % rm.na 10 every one who 70
veres thu Sage Of Mount Vernon:
R.csninr tn. past history OF this most memorable
.,nt. what u flood Of a snria!iOn and memory Is sng-
y-.ted to tn" student or lover OF the great aud go'n
Washington. F.ncy runs back to 100 tiu,e when II
xas ~. e..a'. OF lIua.ing Creek, which AuSustii'r
Washington h.. an-ath.d TO his sun La. whose
admiration for Admiral Vernon. under whom he hsd
served, CAUSED him to nan- TIE p'scs after HIM; 10
tbs early years at G-org-, wien. 1T lae aes oil iiteen,
alter hie achoUl uayS weTs pact, h9 rcelued win his
Dro,her Lsw renee, and hunted in the surrounding
woods, aud fished or shot duck. OF tho river, and fol
lowed the hounds with the FaiIfaxes, with ali the
ardcr Of all ENTHUSIASTIC youth; or, wandering am'd
the gruves, and along The margin OF tue Potomac ht
lw hight, We picture him weaving verees inspired
by the Lowlsnd Beauty. We then think OF the
schemes and musings OF the boy, az he must often
haze lain on The grass uudrr the same June sun, with
nis eyes dreamily wandering over this same land
.cape, bis thoughts seeking q cue TO his destiny, aud
taking color from the turbulent eienent5 OF the co
lonisl period now with All inkhng for achievement
in border adventure, in which prowesd ~as associs-
led with the FreDchman aud ina Indian, VINO dwelt
or p-owled but q short way off in the wilderness
then, as ships from the old would came trading aioug
he shores of the Potomsc. or as he heard his bro
;her Lawrence Darrste bis sea adventures, We I'M
agine the longings for mysterious wanderings to 9th
NJ i'm thai yer nU IL AL. nnrt tnAsA Vlsiln
eliminated in u midshipnaa'a warrant, only aban-
doned by the eutr-htias at n tsnder mother. His in
uuscy with the Fairftxss shaping hs destiny, We
next think OF him departing on h,s surveying e1pe
d,,ion, aud of the Communion such an event would
bs likely to create a,u"ng the dependents as "Massa
G.orge'' says good bye, and turns his face towards
the urexpicred and almost unknown region OF toe
mountains, ever awe-irspirius und solemn 10 III.
dweller in the lowlands. After thres years devoted
TO this Service, We plcturs tho eadder sdieu when
he accompanies his now Invalid brother Lawrence
10 the Barbsdoes III search Of hsal'h; and then the
still ssdder return in the ensuing summer, without
hope of his brothers recovery The w%a'chings and
spxis,y until tie 10Th of July. when Lawrence is
gathered to his father. and, ar the age OF twenty, Tho
care of thu estate devolvea on him rs chief executor,
ior little jeans, tho only child.
Now came The F:ench and Indian encroschm-nts.
ADD the foger Of destiny points 10 the fierce pa'hs OF
war. HIS hears the genius o: his country FOR The h:st
rne csIiiag him to a place of pn6lic trust. and ~ ar
gent duty, TO wbose slightest murmurings he WIS
.ver alter scsupulously o5edieut and faithful. WIZ
the acknowledgements cummis-ion began u new l.t-
aud other thoughts: Jacob Van Braam is MI important
p-rsonsgs, giving lessons IN the broad.sword, hnl
Aaiu,an. Muse lectures elUGuently on the manual.
Then the clank of arms ~as heard IN tho cour: yard;
the war stsed neighed in tie stables, and the holsters
and plumee were hung 10 tha balls. tha presenrs or
absence Of which told thar the master was at home or
abroad. Soon, absence becomes ths rule, and presence
IN. excspliuu. Away on commissions and councils,
sway on perilous adventures and weary marches.
-.-,l naI,l. aauAUIa and flA lnfrI0apipa nf auy,.
forests, until various civil, "a We'll Is
military trusts. he is one o. the few saved in the me.
mo, able defeat OF Brsddock; after This he comes
home TO Mount Vernon. and a short SEASON oi r.
pose. But agaiu he responds 10 Il call from Yir.
yinia, and accepts the command Of her troops. A
new phase opens. and many armed messengers come
and 20 through the gates. And the master Is hiIh-r
aud ihither-now at Winchester. the head. quarters,
now at Boston, Williamsburg. Phiiadelphia, heaiu n
head quarters, antil worn down with fs.igIe OF
body and mind, his physicians insis, on hi. r--
firing from the army. From December. 1857
to March l75S, he is an invalid occupant to his home.
But the spring aces the young colonel again In active
service. The lilscs and dOgwo0d ARE left blooming.
and the full Potomac rushing 10 the SEA With iia Apri:
complement of watsra, when he joins the army al
Cumberland. November witnrssrs the successful
| close of the campaign; his duties are accomplished
and on the last of December, he resigns hs colonial
commission, and resumes his domestic life, cherishirg
pleasant hopes and gentle aspirations, az the previous
summer he had paid successful court TO Mira. Mar ha
Cbel9. ln6 sworn Uu1E WIN lTVpllss, Hltlb l'i'
wol lost in cInsumatingt heir union. Tor on the 9Th
of Jan. l1I3 they We're married at the brides house
and three months after, III the early apring, they took
possession of Mount Vernon which WAS now peopled
with besu.y aud talent, and musical with the voicct
of youth. Then it Was Washington wrote: II em
now. | believe, 6x-d in itis sat with an agreeable
partner for life. ard hops 20 6nd more %happines- in
retirement than | ever Experienced III tbs wide suj
busting world"
The period commences on which the mind delights
to ponder. Twenty seven years of age, with a fam.
already in full coruscstion, and houored aud reversd
by the chief percentages Of ihs colony elacted tn lhe
J House of Bargesses lin which cap ,city, he served
fifteen yeers); married 70 q beauiiiul, gifted woman,
whose character harinoniz.d with his own in all III.
relations Of life; Possessed ut an ample fortune, which
hs wite's portion greatly increaned; having an estate,
described in one his letters 'is ,nDst pleasantly eitGa
ted in u high, healthy country, in Il latitude between
The extremes of heat AMI cold, on cue of the finest
rivers in The world, lis borders washed by more than
feu mies %. tide water, and the wtiole shore all entire
fishery; - The two Casts children giving life and ami
nation TO the house etill within the enthusiastic pa
rod of youth, and in full health. with a passion tor
domestic and agricultural pursu;ta-what elements
Tor y thoroughly rounded existence!
We now follow him through his methodicsl HABITS.
In summer, rising with the dawn, working OF reading
till breakfast mounting his horse. and supervising
the labor of his immense ts.at-p, whose product is
noted for its quality Il lur bearing the Washington
brand being esteemed the beat in market hs frugal
dinner, with the two glase. 3 of cd Maisira; the Quiet
afternoons reading. and hs evening stole on, seated
beue8th the tail piazz9. in iow, gentle talk With Mfs.
Washington, willis the children r'mp on the lawn,
aud long shadows sirs! over III green ewhrd-,he
stIil PuromAc flowing calmly by, the shores OF Mary
land blazing in tn. sunset, bas wheeling and swoop
Ing around the tail Columns; insects ckirpiny and
birds singing iheir roundelsy, and black dependents
going aud coming. Or, ~ night approaches, and The
days laburs are about flushed, Mrs. Washing;ou'a
chariot aud iour. filed with lady visitors. ana -sc"r,.
ri by The Colonel on horseback, whirlI into the
court. The e~quiPages and black pcsfillions in
livery produce u sensation III the cabins. and a stir in
the little colony; Mr.. Steward moves to aud fro. keep
ing m administrative .ye on the lower officers aud
menisls; farm negroes cluster To see the cavslcad-
return, house servants assulne a pnnpous Importance,
stable boys comineIt Oh he horses. and Indulge III
professional criticisms on the hone or foreign breeds
Then coma the state dinners, with the elegant ger.
vice OF piats-whtn The Fair.aX-s and other dis:iu-
guishsd guests gather around the social board; they
adjourn for a Garlo-. In which the gallant colonel
performs Il stately tninuet with Mira. Martha or sUrns
favored gucst; or, 10 the river, where, in luXurioua
bArge5. they pass the evening. with music and merri
nent, Mr.. Digy-'s etylish establishment being rowed
by ak negroes, md conspicuous Tor It's tquafic stats
aud osienta.ion; We ericy The preparation for PFC
tdcs and days ia ~" woods when guests and neigh
bora sfa,t in thu -a-iy morning wish al the ~parspa-r.
nalis OF a days rustic apor,, elderly and Young ladies
on ponies, the ma:ni1as 10 scarlet ridiug-habifs, and
their daughters with THEN :n"ps arranged fore AMI
AIT Ike la,eon sails:' the prD.rnder hor,es and Ie
gro attendants follow; piscaiorial gentlemen geek
soiace with rOds aud Ilues; or those of stirring blnod
are en,iced 10 follow The hounds in a Wild Bcampe.
over a rough and varied country, when m. day tor
inmates with n couviviai banquet, which the colonel
greatly enjoyed. his reighbors, old companions in
arms, and cherished friends grazing the teasis.
Then VIZ have tho more serious avoca.ions
when, on rainy days, he was bu-y in the library viii,
papers sud accounts, ur paving Visits 10 tie sick and
luhrtn OF Tho piau'u Ion. than 10 whom n.v-r was
master more Affective AMI solicitous. The Sundays
ride to churrt: and, in winter, rising b fore dawn.
lighting he ii 9, and working Till breakfast; The duti -
Of the day over, t- re1n- aloud to Mr.. Wa.hing;on
and tbs household. while the good wife sat knitting
rtt-ntiV1iy by. H.ppy da,s-the l-as. memorable
bat most jo~yous-whcu hoIna pursuits ind civic du-
fiaa nccInI.l ga iLnli..h = sId IilL.. Ivhsn LIE LID LII