The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-02-27

them honor For fifteen successive years
Washington was member of the legislature
OF his state. His wife always accompanie
him to Williamsburg, then the capital of
Virginia. And so, tleatling on flowers, time
slipped away noiselessly for THESE happy peo-
pie. Then came time at last wh N for
Ell hit wears the oom OF cannon and the roar
musketry shook every home in the lani
The harpy family at Mt Vernon suffered
disruption with the rest, for IT'D head was
the leader Of the old Continentas, who fa.-
ter"d not
Every year in 0 ,tober Mrs Washington,
loaded with supplies, visited her husband in
camp and spent the winter with HIM. Fac!
year she hoped would end the war and con-
e4ude s :ong absence At last wren reac.
as declared and the country for which the
ia hers fought became really their own,
Washington was once more callei from his
home to assume the presidential chair which
he filled conscientiousIy for eight years and
then 70. used a third nomination
The seat Of government was then i'll New
York. The presidents house was elt CANT V
furnished, and almost as formally conducted
the home of king Mrs. Washington
was an arist ocrat by nature, and, in accord
ance with tho custom Of the times, con-
Quoted her receptions after the manner of
English and French drawing rooms. The
REPUBLICAN court, then located at No 3
Franklin square, New York, called together
the most elegant and estimable of the
country Very different from the present
method of receiving the pu olic were those
receptions. The most rigid rules governed
them and access was not easy. Dress, too
was consideration. Ger; ain requirements
in hot jc,,Ja tan oh
The second year Of Washlngtons admin
:stration the seat of government was re
moved TO Philadelphia, where The same
ceremony was observed in the Management
of the presidents household as at New York
The house chosen was Gu Market street, be
tween Fifth and Sixth, on The south side,
and it was handsomely furnished No house
was provided for the pl esident by the gov
ernment then, now. The first president
rented and furnished his own.
Mrs. Washington held her receptions or
drawing rooms, as they were called, on Fri
day evening of each week. The guests
assembled enrly, and left before 1880
These occasions are said to have been ex-
ceedingly sAff, so emn and awkward. The
atmo rhere of awful dignity that radiated
from Ire great Washington rather over.
powered the guests. 1t was an honor to be
admitted, but it was also fearful trial to
any addicted to naturalness of manner or
puoyancy OF spirits
he lady Of the mansion sat at the head
Of the room, and the guests were placed in a
circle around which the president passed,
speaking tremendously to each one. There
is nothing to tell US what Mrs Washington
wore on these occasions, or how she looked
The society reporter had not then been in
vented, as it was the age of bronze, nos
tinsel We know, however, that the presi-
dent powdered his hair and never offered
his hand to any of his guests and that he
wore the old Continental uniform.
At this time Mr.. Washington was IS years
old, as was the general, both having been
born in the same year. Mrs Washingtons
children, Martha and John Parke Custis,
were cherished and guided by Washington
as tenderly as il they had been his own
Both died after reaching maturity. The
son, who was a colonel in Washingtons
army, was married, and left widow and
four children. Washington adopted two Of
the most conscientious care
Washington died on Dec. Il, 1885, She
turned from the chamber that held his dead
form, never to enter it again This was the
last event of her life Thirty months later,
in the pring of 1901. at the aga Of 20, she,
90, slipped out Of lite. leaving look OF
i.eaee op her dead feature.