The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-26
Two Views Of Washington.

Among the multitude of essays and
speeches delivered on W~AsHNGToN's Birth
day were two which were especially re-
markable, the ono for It's m%isapplied SEN
timentality, the other for Its inapplicable
philosophy.
Hero In New York Mr.. INaERsoLL LOCK-
WOOD described WASHINGTON as asentimen-
tai creature, who all his life %"hungered for
love-" but never was able to find it except in
horses and dogs, upon which "he lavished
affection" Even his mother, said Mr.. LOCK-
WOOD. she never learned to call by Affection
ate terms" ut was always, 'Honored
Madam in his letters" Tho wretched
WARRINGTON, too, "had no YOUTH" accord
ing to this sad authority. On the other
hand, In Brooklyn the young and brilliant
SETH Low described WASHINGTON as above
all things an idealist."
Now. In truth. WASHINGTON was neither
an idealist nor q sentimental fool. It Is q fact
that when he was o lad of fifteen he con-
oeived a hopeless passion for a"Lowland
Beauty young woman who was probably
his elder, though her identity has never been
satisfactorily established. But that is a
common experience with boys, who usually
IA ouC1A OooOo w "AdI "AbhlNdION ulu,
commit the agonies OF their hearts to q Jour-
nal, and pour them out in doggerel that
never reaches the eye Of tho object of the
%worshipful regard.
It seems that WASHINGTON, who twas a
very bashful young man." according to the
a~cqusintances of his youth. yet revealed his
passion for the "Lowland Beauty" to a
dear SALLY" to whom he wrote quite effu-
sively. II not indiscreetly, of his love-lorn
state. But he soon afterward 50 far recov-
cred as to be able to write to SALLY
that no found in the company Of the very
agreeable young lady, sister-in-law Of Col.
GEORGE FAIRFAX" q balm for his wounded
heart.
Yet Mr.. LOCKWOOD says that WASHINGTON
"had no youth" n that all the impuIsive
o v OF the boy was destroyed" by his
mothers course In imbuing his mind $50
thoroughly with the obligations of duty!'
Nor was 1t lowing to his shyness, his igno-
rance Of woman's nature" that this boy Of
fifteen failed to win the object of his I'M
revealed passion. OF course, he did not
know woman's nature. What boy does. or
what man, for the matter Of that2 But he
seems to have known enough to understand
that there was no chance of her seriously
falling In love with a boy. and therefore he
kept his alteration to himself, as boys COM
monty do under such circumstances, and did
not try to win her."
Whom In maturer life WASHINGTON set
aboutto find a wife, no may have "hungered
for love-" but he also, for he was q thrifty
man, looked out to improve his fortune by
marriage. He first paid suit to the rich
heiress, Miss PHTLIPsE Of New York, and
when she was carried of by Capt. MORRIS.
he waited three years. and then won In a
short and vigorous courtship the widow
CUsr1s. with her fortune Of over 500. 600.
As to his Of addressing his mother,
that was q usage OF the time In formal epis-
tolary correspondence even between neal
relatives. Her " misspelled letters show
her to have been a kind, good, affectionate
woman, pious, conscientious, and prudent.
That she was careful in tho training OF the
boy as to his manners-she had been q belle
In her day-is indicated by his having drawn
up at tho age Of thirteen his Rules Of Civil
ity and Decent Behaviour" He needed to
have such rules before him, for he had then
and aiterward . violent temper, and as a
10Y was OlbpOScu 10 mlocuIeI. Wn6l ne
married MARTHA GUSTS. of course he gave
her - pure, calm, dignifed Affection"
Wha. other sort Of Affection would Mr..
LOCKWOOD have had him give her? Yet,
being a man OF somewhat uncertain temper
under provocation, his dignity may occa-
slonally have given way in the strain of
conjugal Life.
In fine, WASHINGTON was neither a prig,
as he was formerly represented to be, nor a
sentimental ass, according to the portrait of
Mr.. LOCKWOOD. Nor was he in any respect
the idealist OF Mr.. Low, for he was, above
all things. a practical man, of q tempera-
ment at the furthest remove from the
poetic. even If at fifteen he manufactured
dosgerel to express the yearnings of his
soul In his first and hopeless boys passion
for the "Lowland Beauty" whom, in truth,
he preferred to worship as q divinity adora-
bic most Of al because she was absolutely
beyond his reach. But when no had become