Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-15
"reminiscences OF Ex-senator FOOte


"reminiscences of Ex-senator FOOte.
Mr. Eoo,e in his "Reminiscences, publish
ed in the Washington Chronicle, gives an ac-
count of his presence at the delivery OF
treat speech by Mr.. Berren, OF Georgia, be-
fore the Supreme Court IN 1873, and then goes
When this speech was brought to close,
.,oked round upon that quiet and refined as.
.rmblage, aud saw uumistakable tokens of APP
proyal upon all faces. A gooky number Of
those present were then known to me. Among
the auditors we'll remember bevy of falr
Indies and handsome, well. dressed gentlemen,
who occupied a sofa to the left Of the bench up
on which the judges sat. | will mention one OF
two of them, beginning with William H. Ntz-
hugh, of Ravensworth, in Virginia. This
gentleman possessed noble and prcposscsslng
exterior. His face was marked alike with benc'
Violence aud intellect. tic was reputcd to be
wealthy and doubtless was 50. Tic was gel
orally looked upon as decidedly the most rlslnS
Young statesman iu the Old Dumlolon, now
,nat Arulstcad &. Mason was 10 the grave.
lie had for some years honorably occupied a
>eat in the Senate of Virginia, and stood high
both as a speaker and as a sound, practical
legislator. He was born and reared TO man
hood, as have learned, in noble mansion,
ve, standing upon the bank of the Rappahan.
n,,k lust opposite Fredericksburg, and in
>ipht OF the ueat aud comeIy dwelling in which
,Le childhood aud youth OF the great Washing
ION received that training and Durlure that
fitted him for the glorious part he was 10 take
in his country's history. Mr.. Fitzhugh was
limsclf possessed of as much Of the true Wash
inglouian spirit as any man then living. He
dicd very suddenly a year or two after the
scene which | have been describing, leaving
behind him wife, who rejoice to learn, is still
living. This lady was also present during the
speech of Mr. BcrricD, as was also Mrs Custis,
the wife of George Washington Parke Gusts,
formerly so well known 10 Washington, and so
much beloved and venerated
Seated uear these ladies was one whom am
tempted more particularly to describe. | al
ludc TO the ouly daughter of Mrs. Gusts, the
present Mrs lee She was then about sixteen
wears of age aud was indeed "the observed OF
all Observers" Her personal charms were
such as must inevitably have commanded ad-
miration and sympathy, independent OF the
adScittous advantages which so richly clustered
about her No one, am confident, has ever
bchcld a more placid and winning face than
that which was now presented to my gaze.
She was richly and plainly attired, as was her
mother, aud there was modest and reserved
dignity about both of them that Significantly
bespoke their rank and bringing up. Miss
Gusts was described to me by those who knew
her best as young lady Of sound and vigorous
Intellect iu which Judgment and discrimination
decidedly predomuaed Her education had
been in all respects such as was best calculated
to make our happy herself, and the source OF
abundant utility and happiness to others.
Those who had ever beheld her vencratcd
anccstress, the wife of Washington, often
pointed out the striking resemblance which
they supposed themselves to have dIScerucd
between this noblest Of American women and
the youthful representative Of her virtues and
her blood Miss Custis was the heircss expect
ant Of two of the largest estates that Virginia
could then boast and it is rather curious aud
interesting fact that her uncle, William H..
E,zhugh, already spoken OF, was one OF the
first large owners Of slaves in Virginia who pro-
yded for their emancipation by will, and pro-
yided literally for their future education and
support.
lhad not the honor of forming Mrs. Lee 5
personal acquaintance in 1925 aud the various
accidents of a vexcd and tumuituous life with
held me from the enjoyment of a blessing which
should always have so highly priced until the
lapse Of thirty seven hears had proved to both
Of how time steals on US and steals from u;
suatchug fire from the mind and vigor from
the limb" When | met her by accident in
KlchmODd one morniug in the year 1862 |
found her pale attenuated, and hobbll0g on
cruchcS! She was then the mother Of a
numerous aud worthy offspring, and the dutl--
iul aud loving wife of one of the most renowned
military commanders of the age. How my
heart sorrowed over the troubles and sutterlnes
which was told she had been compelled to
eadurc as the result OF most calamltous aud
Wasting war, 10 the bringing on OF which, per,
maps no two persons no this broad continent had
less par,icipaucy than her noble husband and
herset. was able to see but little Of this eX
ceIent lady atterward; but rejoice to learn
from The lips of many who held familiar inter
course with her that, though daily and hourly
eldurlng diScomforts and priyatious such as
war alone can iufict, though suffering under
The torlurcs of malady than which not one
e4n be mentioned more painful and hunliiat-
ing though agonizcd with sights OF desolallon
soo anguish which it IS not in the power OF
human language to describe, yet that she ever
maintained cheerful serenity Of temper; was
ne'er heard to utter the language Of complaint
SF OF decral; occupied herself night and day in
ueeuS OF charity and love, and up even to the
saa 1l OF that unhappy conflict SO demeaned her.
vi, VII as to show that in all things she was just
s1cn natron as either Greece or Rome would
nave been proud to recognize, and as all Amer
Nl might we'll admire and love-
lie RUSH LlBRARY.-The library building
" DC erected under the will of DIR. Rush will
cost 100000. 1t will be of Rockport (NIass.
stanlte, of the Greciau Doric order Of architec-
.9Ife' with the basement rising eight feet above
oas oai ground and colonnade Of sixteen Doric
sSv!ulns Ss on the front, each monolith Of about
ulty tons AS the front on Broad street is
1a 'nree hundred aud fifty feet and the depth Oh
II!itlstlan street five hundred and forty feet,
;n's will be by all odds the largest library build
dq, us ~ America, the largest and most complete,
sosA to the present time, being the public Ii
;sraly In Cincinnati. The facade will be more
Iupposng than the Girard College colouuade.
Ig,. I.ow much Of the lot is to be covered by the
;"ulalng is not stated, but from the description
fhn l. -. II