Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-01-29
3fiscellanu,
A Love Story of George Washing
ton.

Rev. Z. D. Neill, while residing near
Washington, was requested by the repre-
sentatives of the Fairfax family, to ex-
anime collection of Washington's let
tiers with dates ranging from 1886 to
1893. As the dates progressed, the cor
respondence beceme more and more
American, or rather Virginian, until
their chief interest relates to the young
surveyor of the Fairfax estate in the
Shenandoah valley.
We have no space for the many refer
ences to business, local politics, or the
western campaign under Braddock, scat
tered through the publication in connec-
ton with Washington, and which have
become familiar to the readers of Sparks
and Irving but Mr.. Neill brings to
light pleasant episode--nothing less
than love letter Of the young Virgin
ION and the editsr.s i8duoe-,. helms ne To
the appreciation of its full significance.
The Fairfaxes had wealth, title, dis
tinguished ancestry = accessories no
where held in a greater estimation than
in the Old Dominion. George William
Fairfax had married Cary, and at his
residence young Washington met a
younger sister, Miss Mary Cary. Bishop
Meade, in the History of Old Churches
in Virginia, says that Washington asked
permission of old Mr.. Cary to address
the daughter before he ventured to speak
to herself.
The reply of the old gentleman was,
"If that is your business here, sir, wish
you to leave the house, for my daughter
has been accustomed to ride in her,
COACH" The Bishop speaks of rejec-
ton by the young lady but there is evi-
dence that the somewhat insolent rebuff
of wealthy colonial aristocrat was the
real obstacle to successful suit.
In 1857, when Washington, with the
rank of Colonel, was absent upon the ex-
pedition against the French post of
Duquesne, since Pittsburg, we find him
addressing letter to Miss Mary Gary,
which Edward Everett has Incorporated
in his article in Appleton's Cyclopedia
on Washington, but erroneously suppos-
ed by him to be addressed to Martha
Gusts, whom he afterwards married.
Mr.. Neill has established that the letter
was written to the lady whom he calls
'the first love of Washington" Mary
Cary. 1t commences thus:
DEAR MADAM-Do we still misun-
derstand the true meaning of each 9TH
er's letters2 / think it must appear so,
though / would fain hope the contrary,
as cannot speak palmer without,
but I'll say no more, and leave you to
guess the rest.
Then followed the general news ofthe
campaign, given with much detail, and
including the particulars of a disastrous
repulsc of Major Grant on the 10th of
September, 1903. The letter then re-
sumes its personal interest:
81 should think our times more agree
ably spent, believe me, in playing a part
in Cato with the company you mention,
and myself doabiy happy IN being the Juba
to such Marcia as you must make"
We place sentence in Italics which
might pass unnoticed by the reader, ex-
cept for the research of Mr.. Neill. At
this point the editor appends the follow
ing note:
Addison's tragedy OF Cato must have
been full of interest to the young mill
tary officer in love with a fair maiden,
and yet debarred from being her hus-
band because her father looked upon
him as without fortune and without
fame.
Many passages in the play are exceed
ingly appropriate to one in his position,
but only few can be given
| AcrI. SCENES.
| JUBA-0 Marcia. let me hope thy kind concerns
( And gentle wishes follow me to battle.
M.Rea- My prayer and wishes shall always at
The friends of Rome. the glorious cause of virtue
| And men approved Of the gods and Cato.
Jvnam Thou yirtuous. maid; III hasten to my
\ And in the shock Of charging hosts remember
That glorious deeds should the man who hopes
| For Mareias love.
| ACT ". ScESKl. t--f
| MARcIA-Juba to all the bravery Of a hero
| Adds softest love and more than female sweetness
| Juba might make the proudest of our sex
Any Of woman kind but Marcia happy.
LrcIA-And why not Msrcisy