Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-09-08
Lady Washington.

Lady Washington.
In the year 1889, General Washington
yielded TO the call of his countrymen, and
his own conviction of duty to the new
born State, and was installed as President
Of the young Republic. His wife, Mrs
Martha Washington, generally called by
courtesy Lady Washington, OF course
went up with her husband to the Govern
ment House. She was a refined, thought
full woman, with great blending Of
strength, sweetness, and simplicity in hel
character. With the calm self possession
Of Christian lady, che entered on hel
duties as wife of the President, and, Off
cialiy, the first woman in the land, while
she continued to maintain in her habits
and department the simplicity of dr. IS
and the sincerity Of speech for which she
had always been remarked. At first, she
was almost overwhelmed with the hosts
Of visitors, many of them idle and frivo.
lOus, that she had to receive. This was
soon brought into rule. General Wash
ington had reception" on Wednesdays
from to 5o'clock, and his wife on Fri
days, for the same number Of hours, dis
pensing with as much OF mere ceremonial
and state as possible.
There We're, however, some ladies who
wanted more splendor, and they resolved
to ask special audience, and try TO alter
the plans Of the wife OF their illustrious
President.
One morning three fair danes appeared
at the Government House they wee
dressed out in the utmost gayety and
splendor, as IL nature had formed th.--
isysao1ly carry binary and trinketg Daa-
monds sparkled in tneir ears and glittered
on their necks. Their hair was pulled
out, frizzled, crimped and tortured in
every form but that OF natures tle-
gance. They wore also high had
dresses, adorned with artificial flowers
and nodding plumes, and futteHng
ribbons to crown the edifice OF lAir
which fashion then oecreed should EN-
cumber their heads and brains. Tier
hands were emblazoned with rings, their
wrists encountered with ruttles, claps,
and bracelets. Stiff muslin rose like fdm
around their chests and shoulders nd
though their rich brOcaded silks fell i'm
costly folds about them, and partially bid
the pressure that gripped in their waits,
yet the pent-up heart had to sympatf}ze
with the oppressed brain, overweightd
with fashions load. They came ruetli1g
and f1uttering into the presence Of the
lady they sought. She received themln
| plainly furnished room, In which sht
spent her morning.
With dignified courtesy the thoughtfn
| mstr0L rose to greet her visitors. He
| well. filled book case, made for use no
show, was behind her chair; her table
with her work basket and materials fOl
work before her and In her hand wa
her knitting needles, the useful compan
ions of many lonely hours. Grsvely, ye
most courteously, she heard the remarkl
which, with fsltering speech, they bat
come to make. For they did not find i
80 easy to speak Of luxury a1d display q,
| desirable when they were face TO face with
| the noble woman who, through years q
anxiety and privation, had ministered r
the wants and mitigatsd the sufferings O.
the soldiers during the terrible struggl,
| for Independence. Bomehow their face
| lost the defiant air and vain shipper the
had worn when they first entered he
presence, and had deepened into scrioul
ness and respectful attention as the vii,
of Washington, after hearing them. said;
| Ladies', you came TO advise me, ant,
sslw ~ Kindness prompted you, / O.
obliged for the motive, though canno,
act on your suggestions. You are in ths
bloom Of life. Many years, trust are be
fore you. Ny age, even more, far more
than my station, sanctions my giving yor
some advice. Dear ladies. suffer the wost
of exhortation. Should Christian women
honored wives and mothers, be content X
aim at no higher glory than that Of the il
sect that glitters in the sunbeam--to be q
the freely, or the humming -birdf 70,
spoke OF the greatness Of my husband
His dear mother ever looked well TO ID,
WAYS of her household. She taught hin
to be industrious by her example, for til
spinning wheel spun the clothes he won
from his earliest days; and she, like my
self, loved the knitting needles." (6b
looked, - she spoke, ct her knitting
Z" Ladies, during eight years Of ceaseles
struggle the women of America-th
mothers Of the land spent no money o.
nmeFy for themselves. They spent a
thsir available means In providing cloth
ing for the army, which, bnt for that suc
cor, must have persisted In our long an
bitter winters. do not wish to boast
did only my duty; nay, know Il Va
4 my privilege, q WashiDgton's wife, !
toll for the men under his command.
always went into winter quarters Wit
him. In summer time 4 and his smothe
and my friends were Ut our spinning
whesk Once, In the winter, had siI
teen looms under one ROOF al wooyir1
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