The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-07-04

DuIlnS tHlS dHlul SSttSOh lHc aug boI AZ
male sought out the most distressed Of
the soldiers, and alleviated their suffer
ings, as far as possible, out OF her private
purse Such was a lady of the olden
time! Instead of lounging idly at home
in luxury, she shared fully her husbands
trials instead Of exhasting her wealth on
selfish indulgences, she divided it with the
hungry and the sick.
The Marquis dc Chastellux, who visit
the United States after the alliance with
France thus describes the camp LIFE Of
General and Lady Washington ''The
headquarters at Newburg consist Of sin
gle house, built in the Dutch fashion, and
neither large nor commodious. The tar
gest,room IN it, which General Washing
ton has converted into his dining room, is
tolerably spacious, but it has seven doors
and only one window. The chimney is
against the wall so there is, in fact, but
one vent for the smoke, and the fire is in
the room itself. l found the company
assembled in long room which served as
parior. Atnine, supper was served, and
when bed tiue came | found that the
chamber to which the General conducted
me was the very parlor spoken of, wherein
he had made them place camp-bed-
We assembled at the breakfast next morn
ing at ten, during which interval my bed
was folded up and my chamber became
the sitting room for the whole afternoon :;
for American manners do not admit Of a
bed in the room IN which company is re-
ceiyed, especially women. The smalluess
of the house, and the inconvenience TO
which | saw that General and Mrs. Wash
ington had put themselves to receive me,
made me apprehensive least NJ. Rocham-
beau might arrive on the same day.
The day [ remained at headquarters
WAS passed either at table or in conversa-
ton"
When at Mount Vernon, before and
after the war, Lady Washington, like a
wise household wife busted herself in su-
perintending personally, her domestic
affairs. As that was a day when cotton
factories were as yet unknown, every
household had to do most Of its own
spinning; and Lady Washington kept
sixteen spinning wheels constantly 60
ing. She was accustomed frequently to
wear fabrics thus made.
One of her fal orite dresses of this home
manufacture was cotton, striped, with silk,
weighing not quite pound and a half
Her coachman, foOtman and waiting g-maid
were all dressed in domestic cloth She
was economical without being niggardly
and this from principle. She knew that
in consequence OF her station, she was
looked up to to be initiated and she wished
to show an example Of moderation. Even
when Washington was President, she con-
tinued this praiseworthy conduct As
late as 1890, Mrs. Wilson, inquiring for
pocket handkerchiefs at fashionable store
in Philadelphia, was shown some pieces
of lawn, of which Lady Washington had
iust purchased and the information was
added, that she paid six shillings for
handkerchiefs for her own use, but went
as high as seven shillings for the Presi-
dent.
Her ease and elegance of manner, join
ed to her affability, rendered her, when the
wife of the Chief Magistrate, beloved by
all. Mrs Ellet says Of this period Of her
life:
"The establishment of the President
and Mrs. Washington was formed at the
seat of government The levces had more
of courtly ceremonial than has been known
since; but it was necessary to maintain
the dignity of Office by ferns that should
inspire respect. Special regard was paid
to the wives Of men who had deserved
much of their country. Mrs Rober Nor
ris was accustomed to sit at the right of
the lady Of the President, at the drawing
room; and the widows of Greene and
Montgomery were always handed from
their carriages by the President himself,
the Secretaries and gentlemen ofhis house
hold performing those services for the
other ladies In this elevated station
Mrs Washington, unspoiled by distinc-
ton, still leaned on the kindness Of hel
friends, and cultivated cheerfulncss as q
DUTY She was beloved as few are in su-
perior condition. Mrs. Warren says, in
reply to one Of her letters, "Your obser
walton may be true, that many younger
and graver ladies consider your situation
as enviable yet [ know not one, who, By
general consent, would be more likely tt
obtain the suffrages Of the sex, even were
they to canvass at election for the eleva
ted station, than the lady who holds thC
first rank in the United States"
She did not long survive her angus
husband Less than two years after hi
death, she was attacked by fatal illness
and feeling her end approaching, she call
ed her grandchildren around her, dis