Wilmington journal., 1876-02-25

withheld him from SO speedy q decla-
ration a. his time left him, or he failed |
70 make the necessary impression on |
the gay New Yorker, or else in his |
absence his hne figure and his brilliant |
name were effaced from her memory |
by the warm attentions OF his gallant |
comrade on Braddock's staff, Captsin |
Roger Morris. At all events he re-
surned to Virginia, and never saw her
again.
Il was, doubtless, bitter piec, of
news to Washington, when preparing
for the new campaign in Virginia. that
hia fourth sweethe srt had becom"
Mrs. Morris; but infinitely more bitter
to them, was an incident IN the far
distant future, when the great soldier.
just twenty years later, as leader of
the American army, occupied morris's
splendid mansion at Harlem as his
headquarters, his former Iady-lovs and
her husband, his once intimate friend,
themselves fugitives from their home
and prescribed enemies of America.
Perhaps we ought not to be sur
prised that Washington had such hard
luck with the ladies' We must not
forget that he was bashful men, not
fond of gay society and unused to
fashionable life; not wealthy. nor a.
yer connected with the rutins families
in Virginia. and had not received n
college education. or its equivalent a.
the English public schools. His out
door life had left no leisure for the
cultivation Of those winning manners
| that charm wome7, his mOdesty
| restrained him from those bold de
monstrations and impetuous solicita-
tions chat take female hearts by coup
| de main. We need not regret his de-
| feats; matrimoGy was to come and
| Tatrimony with it, TO give him the
necessary independence of the world
and to crown with the blessings of
wealth character that needed no
other auxiliary to happiness. And
this was to be with a woman inferior
to none of his youthful loves. and TO
be brought about by similar accident
to those which had introduced him to
Miss Cary and to Miss Phihpse.
VI. She, for whom lie was destined,
was, at the time he was vainly trying
to MOO a bride, happy wif' and
mother at the White House on the Pa
munkey. Martha Daniridge, ill her
seventeenth year. was married to Dan
iel Parke Custis (not John, as Irving
| gives the nsme,) and after a short mar
ried life was left fair, fascinating and
rich widow, in her twenty -fonrth year.
Let us see how the destined couple
were brought together. The acc dent
of the Virginia Councils failing TO
send supplies for Washington's two
regiments, which necessitased his hasty
visit to Williamsburg in the spring of
1888; the accident of his meeting An
old friend, Mr.. Ohamberiayne. as he
os.ed the Pamunkey ferry, and his
being detained foe dinner mnch
against his will, aud the accident of
the young widow Custis being then the
guest of the Chamberlaynes, are all
| the circumstances necessary TO bring
about a marriage which Providence
has designed. The two met Is vas a
case of mutual love on sight Perhaps
the Tradition is true that Mrs. Custis
wss in face and figure q fac simile-as
a contemporary, who knew both, says,
twin sister-of Mary Cary II so,
the sweet memories of the old love,
blended with the bright attractions of
tho new, the visit TO Williamsburg was
forgotten, the widows cha, ms and con-
! versntion prolonged tho dinner into
the afternoon, sn1 go, the night c-lm-
ing on, he made a willing virsue of ne
cesaity and stayed.
|
the hospitable mansion: bat ere hs /, tt,
as if remembering his expeiienee with
the maiden of Philipse meaor. he had
pressed his SUIT so successfully tlat
they had plighted mutual VOWS, the
narrige to take place on his return
from the Fort Duquesns expedition.
They we're separated till near the close
of the year. In ita last weeks the pre-
parations were made, and the graud
pageant y hich filled Sc. Peter. Church.
III New Kent, on the 9th of January,
1889, came to grace the bridar train of
George Washington and Martha Dan
bridge Cu-tis.
An elaborate painting OF the mar
riage sceHe still hangs in one of the
old mansions of Virginia, and I will
close this already long article with the
following description of 1t, byA more
eloquent pen than mine:
"The scene is laid in the ancient
parish church of st Peters county of
! New Kent, colony of Virginia, time
9th of Jenuary. 1859,
| "In the foreground, aud near the
alter, appears the Rev. DR.. Aossom,
the officiating clergymen. in full can
onicals; he is about to Present the
marriage ring. The bridegroom is in
silk, embroidered waistcoat, small
clothes, gold shoe and knee buckles,
| dress-sword, hair in full powder; the
| bride in a suit of white satin, rich
point-lace ruff1es, pearl ornaments in
her hair, pearl necklace, earrings and
| br -celeia, white satin high-heeled
shoes, with diamond buckles. She is
attended by group of ladies in the
| gorgeous costumes of that ancient pc
rod. Near to the bri iegroom is a
brilliant group comprising the vice
! regal Governor of Virginia. several
| English army and navy officers, then
| in colonial service, with the very elite
of Virginia ohivalry of III old regime
| The Governor is in suit of scarlet,
embroidered with old, with bag-wig
and sword-the gentleman in the fash
| ion of the time.
"But among the most interesting and
picturesque of the persopages in tire
various groups is Bishop, the ce ebra-
ted body servant of Breddock, and
then Washington, with whom he ended
his days, after service of more than
forty years. This veteran soldier of
the wars of George II. forms proper
stady in the picture. His tall, attenu
ated form and soIdierly bearing, as
with folded arms and cooked hat III
hand respectfully, he has approached
the bridal group, give q touching in
terest to the whole scene. He is in a
scarlet coat, and ia booted and spurred
having just di~mounted and relin-
qui.hed the favorite charger of his
chief to a groom.
Through the large folding doors of
the church is seen the old fashi ned
coach of the bride, drawn by ak
horses; also, the fine English charger
bequeathed to Washington by Brad
dock after the fatal field of the Mo
nDng ahela. From the account of the
marriage, handed down from those
who were present at it's celebration.
il appears that tht bride aud her ladies
occupied the coach; while the pro.
vincial colonel rode his spirited
char ger, attended by a splendid cortcge
of ths gay aud gallant of the land.
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