The National tribune., 1882-06-17
4 REMARKABLE WOMAN.
The Last Living Human Being Who Saw and Talked
with Washington,

The Last Living Human Being Who Saw and Talked
with Washington,
4 remarkable woman has just died at
Richmond Virginia, and correspondent
writing from that city says: She was, per-
haps, the last living human being who had
seen and talked with Washington, notwith-
standing the number of struggling pretenders
who occasionally appear before the public as
claimants for this honor. Mrs. Young, the
person to whom reference is made was the
last surviving child of Gen. WashingtOn's
steward Anderson, the honest and frugal
Scotchman who for so many years had control
of his domestic affairs at ut. Vernon. Her
maiden sister, Miss Nellie Anderson, died in
Richmond more than fifteen years ago at the
advanced age Of 50. and now the venerable
survivor departs this life after having lived
exactly the same length OF time. She was
born at Mt. Vernon in 1877. For more than
go years she had resided in Richmond Re-
markabe for strength Of body rs well as
vigor of mind, she had perfectly retained
recollections OF the early part OF her life at
the home OF Washington. She was Il years
OF age when the head OF that bereaved house
hold and the Nation died, and, Of course,
could recall many incidents Of her childhood.
The account she gave OF what she insisted
was the real cause Of Washingtons death,
differs much FROM that given by historians
generally. Although all agree that the at
tack which carried off the illustrious man
was brought on by his exposure on q cold
December day, while taking his usual ride
on horseback, yet even this might have been
averted had not the incident occurred which
is now given as it came from the lips Of
Mrs. Young: The General had returned
from his ride cold and shivering, had retired
to the house. and was actually about TO take
his dinner, when - message came to him
from 2 cartwright whom he had employed,
and VINO desired immediate instructions be-
fore he could finish the boat upon which he
was at work. Washington, probably some
what fretted at the untimely interference
hurried down to the river bank without
hat or Overcoat, and stood exposed to the
chilling blasts that blew over the Potomac.
His anxiety to finish the business kept him
there too long. The consequence was a
violent accession to the cold he had already
taken, which during the following night
eliminated in the attack which so soon
proved fatal" Mrs. y oung always took great
pleasure in dwelling upon the goodness and
uniform kindness of General and Mrs. Wash
ington TO all connected with their establish
ment. 1t must be remembered that at that
time the relative social positions of depend
ents, domestics, and the great proprietOrs
were stongly cOntrasted. The aristocratic
sentiment prevailed, and about the great
house, as it was called more than ordinary
sense of awe presided. With this were con-
nected the strctest rules of dec0rum, against
which it was more than treason to err. Not
withstanding this the children of all the
| adjoining households were free to. go and
come, and Mrs. Young and her sister often
romped on the porticOs and through the
hall of the stately mansion with the children
of the Fairfaxes, Custises, and Lewises, some
of whom were constant guests of General
and Mrs. Washington. Indeed she and her
sister were rarely permitted to retire from
/ the presence of Mrs. Washington before
having received some token of Kindness in
the way of fruit, cake, and such like, and
on no occasion did the General pass them
without kindly greeting. She took special
pleasure in referring 10 an incident in which
! Washington's stepsOn, young Custis, and
Rawlins, one of his managers, met with a
! sore discontinue. The two were induiging
in their favOrite pastime of dancing and
! fiddling, Custis being the dancer and Raw
Inns the fiddler, when, to their surprise and
dismay, the General stepped suddenly upon
Of so august a presence at such moment.