The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-02-25

| them honor For fifteen successive years
Washington was a member of the legislature
of his state His wife always accompanied
him to Williamsburg, then the capital Of
Virginia. And so, treading on flowers, time
slipped away noiselessly for these happy peo-
pie. Then came a time at last when for
eight years the DOM of cannon and the roar
of musketry shook every home In the land
The happy family at Mt Vernon suffered
disruption with the rest, for its head was
the leader of the old Continentals, who fall
tered not.
Every year in October Mrs Washington,
loaded with supplies visited her husband in
camp and spent the winter with him. Each
year she hoped would end the war and con-
clude his long absence At last when peace
was declared and the country for which the
fathers fought became really their own,
Washington was once more callel from his
home to assume the presidential chair, which
he filled conscientiously for eight years and
then refused third nomination.
The seat of government was then in New
York. The presidents house was elegantly
furnished, and almost as formally conducted
as the home of king. Mrs. Washington
was an aristocrat by nature, and, in accord
ance with tho custom Of the times, con-
| uuCUeu ueT TeCepJlOHS lu0 UluuHeT Oh
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 public were those
receptions. The most rigid rules governed
them, and access was not easy. Dress, too
vas consideration. Certain requirements
| A, hot ,ia,. bo OH
The second year of Washington's admin
istration the seat of government was re.
moved TO Philadelphia, where the same
ceremony was observed in the management
Of the pre- dents household as at New York.
The house chosen was on Market street. be.
tween Fifth and Sixth, on the south side,
and it was handsomely furnished. No house
was provided for the president by the gov.
eminent then, as 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 early. and left before 1890
These occasions are said to have been ex-
ceedingly stiff, soemn and awkward. The
atmosphere of awful dignity that radiated
from the great Washington rather over
|
admitted, but it was also fearful trial to
any addicted to naturalness Of manner or
buoyancy of spirits.
The 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, not
tinse. 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 Mrs. Washington was So years
old, as was the general, both having been
born in the same year. Mrs. Washington's
children, Martha and John Parke Gusts,
we're cherished and guided by Washington
as tenderly as il they had been his own.
Both died after reaching maturity. The
son, who was colonel in Washington's
army, was married, and left a widow and
four children. Washington adopted two Of
the children at once, and reared them with
the most conscientious care.
Washington died on Dec. A. 1799 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 spring of 1901, at the age of 70, she,
too, slipped out Of life leaving look OF
peace on her dead features.