The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-16
AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER FROM
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON.
Written to Wis N.ics Nellie Custis and
Discussing Love.
WASHI MOTION ON "LOyE."

| ECopied from the MS. In the possession of the
| late Mrs. Gen. X. E Lee, and published In the
Philadelphia Weekly Timesl
WASHINGTON ON LOVE"
PHILADELPHIA, January 16, 1896.
Your letter, the receipt of which am now
acknowledging, is written correctly and in
fair characters, which Is an evidence that
you command, when you please, fair hand.
| Possessed Of these advantages, 1t will be
your fault IL you do not avail yourself of
them, and attention being paid to the choice
| OF your subjects, you can have nothing to
| fear from the malignancy of criticism, as
your ideas are lively and your descriptions
| agreeable.
Let me touch little now on your George
town ball, and happy. thrice happy, for the
fair who were assembled on the occasion, that
there was man to spare; for had there been
seventy nine ladies and only seventy-eight
gentlemen, there might, In the course Of the
evening, have been some disorder among the
caps; Notwithstanding the apathy which one
of the company entertains for the youth" of
the present day, and her determination
snever to give herself moments uneasiness
on account Of any Of them," a hint here; |;
men and women feel the same inclination to
each other now that they have always done,
and which they will do until there is a
new order OF things. and you, as others
have done, may find. perhaps, that the pas
SOns OF your sex are easier raised than
allayed Do not, therefore, boast too soon or
too strongly OF your insensibility to or resist
ance Of its powers. In the composition Of the
human frame there Is a good deal OF in
flammable matter. however dormant 1t may
lie for time; and, like an intimate acquaint-
ance OF yours Ia sister just married), when
the torch is put to 1t, that which Is within you
may burst into a blaze; for which reason,
and especially, too, as l have entered upon
the chapter OF adviees, | will read you lee
ture drawn from this text.
Love is said to be an involuntary passion,
and it is therefore, contended that it cannot
be resisted. This is true In part only. for,
like all things else, when nourished and sup
piled plentifully with sliment it is rapid In
its progress but let these be Withdrawn and
it may be stified in its birth or much stiHed
in its growth. For example, a woman (the
same may be said of the other SEX, all beauti-
full and accomplished, will, while her hand
Is undisposed OF, turn the head and set the
circle in which she moves on fire. Let her
marry and what Is the consequence? The
madness ceases and all Is quiet again. Why?
Not because there Is any diminution In the
charms OF the lady, but because there Is
an end OF hope. Hence, 1t follows that love
may, and therefore ought to be, under the
guidance OF reason, for although we cannot
avoid Impressions, we may assuredly place
them under guard; and my motives for treat
ing on this subject are to show YOU: while
you remain Eleanor Parke Custis spinster,
and retain the resolution to love with mode
ration, the propriety Of adhering to the latter
resolution, at least until you have secured
your game, and the way by which 1t may be
accomplished. When the fire Is beginning to
kindle and your heart grows warm, PROFOUND
these questions to it: Who Is the invader?
Have competent knowledge of him? Is he
man OF good character, a man Of sense?
For, be assured, sensible woman can
never be happy with fool. What has been
his walk in life? Is he gambler. a spend
thrift or drunkard? Is his fortune sufficient
to maintain me Ia the manner have been ac-
customed to live and my sisters do live? And
is he one to whom my friends can have no
reasonable objection? II these interrogatories
can be satisfactorily answered there will re-
main but one more to be asked. That, now
ever, Is an important one. Have sumclehb
ground to conclude that his affections are en-
gagged by me? Without this the heart OF SEN
sibility will struggle against passion tnaI
is not reciprocated- -delicacy, custom, or Gaii
it by what epithet you will, having preciuoeo
all advances on your part. .,a,.o.
The declaration, without tne lnost HUI ~ ~
invitation of yours, must proceed from lhe
man to render it permanent ana vaiuapie,
and nothing short of good sense ana an easy,
unaffected conduct can draw tne line between
prudery and coquetry. IL wouia oe no great
departure from truth to say that 1t rarely
hapDens otherwise than that a thorough
naced coouette dies in celbacy as punish
ment for her attempts to lead others, by
encouraging looks, words or actions, given
for no other purpose than to draw men on to
make overtures that they may be rejected.
Best regards are presented to your man.
ma. DR.. Stuart and family, and every bless
ino' among which good husband, when Won
want and deserve one, Is bestowed on YOU bv
yours, afactionately, q. WAsHINGroS.