The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-12-30
The Anti-Monopolist.

tina Washington SO honorably filled.
In February, 1856, Col. George Wash
ington, accompanied by two aides-de-
camp, left his residence at Mount Ver-
non, on horseback, on a journey to Bos-
ton, to confer with Gen. Shirley, con-
corning some military matters.
On reaching New York, he called at
the house of Beverly Robinson, an cid
army friend, who had served with him
under Braddock. Col. Robinson, wishing
to make the visit pleasant to his guest
had invited a few friends to add to the
social attractions of his home. Among
the invited was Mary Phillips, sister
OF Mrs Robinson. She was then about
| eighteen years Of age, bewitchingly
| beautiful, with a form of rare grace and
perfection, brilliant accomplishments,
and lively and vivacious. She was
| likewise an heiress.
Tie young Virginia colonel. fresh
from the rural society Of Mount Vernon
and the tolls the backwoods campaign,
was Immediately charmed by this witch
ing vision of loveliness and gayety.
Turning away from every other attract
ions. he spent much of his time in her
society, and the walks, talks, and rides
in which they INDUCED brought upon
them the railerv Of their ass ciates In
this way the few days that Washington
had intended to remain passed. but still
he fingered chained by the magic spell
of the fair charmer
1t was the first time in the history OF
his life that the sly Cupid had hurled
his dart at the young colonel, and the
arrow had sunk deep into his heart.
Days went by almost unnoticed, until
a week had been wasted in these enjoy
ments, and the infatuated man was
forced to tear himself away and proceed
to Boston. They parted, with an en-
gagement on his part to call again on
his return; and it is scarcely necessary
to say that he was true to the promise.
Nearly another week was now passed
under the hospitable rG5f of his old
friend. and in the society of his charm
ing relative. But the urgency of mill
tary engagements forced his return to
Virginia, and George Washington and
Mary Phillips parted with mutual re-
grets, to meet no more for nearly 4
quater OF century, when one was the
great leader OF the patriot armies, and
the other the wife OF colonel, fighting
his own countrymen, in the service OF
his king.
There is nothing to prove that Wash
ington ever made a formal tender of
his hand, or that Miss Phillips ever re-
fused him. Letters and memorandums
found among Washington's private pa
pers, show that their intimacy had not
gone SO far as to call from him de-
claration of love, though they each un-
derstood that such an ayoWal was immi- |
nent. !
When Washington departed, he made
confident OF his old army friend. Col
onel Robinson, and he was directed to |
convey to his brilliant sister-in,law a |
hint OF the avowa!, which his extreme |
deIicacy, more than anything else, held |
back when he was in her society.
In the management Of his business |
Washington exhibited less than his usual |
sagacity. A young damsel, in the first
affair OF the heart, does not like to have
love made by proxy. SO she listened |
with Impotence and modification to |
the protestations uttered by her brother |
in law, when. had they been made by
her admirer in person, with the hesit. |
ancy and secrecy which usually attends |
sucn communications, she might have |
inclined a willing ear. Robinson made |
little progress and wrote to Washington
soon after urging him TO come on and
pres his suit in person. A reply was
sent. pleading urgent business as rea-
son for poetponement; but he soon re-
ceived another earnest letter from Rob |
lnson. stating that Roger Morris, a rich |
and accomplished gentleman, had OBJ
tanned the ear of the tickle girl, and was
filling it with tales OF romance, poetry |
and love. slowly and effectually effacing
the memory of the plain Virginian col |
onel. If any answer was returned to
this communication, its tenor is not
known. i; is propable. however, that
his own passion had begun to cool.
His pride N " have been touched by the |
preference SHOWN another. and he re-
solved no longer to dispute the prize.
SO Mary Phillips became Mrs. Roger
Morris. and the elegant mansion in
which she regned the beautious queen
OF fashion ana fortune is yet standing,
not lar from Croton Aqueduct
The unsuccessful sutton soon after
met the charming widow Parke, and
she became his wife and the mistress OF
NJ unit Vernon.
There vas no visible sign that either
Of the parties ever thought OF the pats
with regret; but in the tumult of war
which followed, when each took so
prominent q part in the struggle. there
must have been moments when memory
Went back to that brief courtship, and
they could not help thinking ''how it
might have BEEN"
Twenty years after the parting. Wash
ington again met Mary Phillips. then
Mrs. Morris. He was on his way to
assume command of the patriot army be-
fore Boston. and stopped at the Rogers
house. Morris was Royalist. but |
both be and his wife extended every |
courtesy to their guest. They never |
met again. for before the end OF the War |
OF Independence Mary Phillips (Mrs. |
Morris) accompanied her husband to |
England. There she lived to see the |
nan who had SO unsuccessfully sought |
- ,f tb.ar aI ~ 1