Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-05-31


rare works of art plate, china, furni-
ture ornaments, and large quantity OF
valuable manuscripts. On the walls
hung Kit Kat portrait, life size, OF
Colonel Daniel Parke, the ancestor OF
Mr.. Gusts, who carried to Queen Annie
the news of Marlborough victory al
Blenhe,m. 1t was painted bySir Godfrey
Kneller. Near it hung a picture of an
old Reformer, painted by Van Dyke.
There also were the "a length
portraits of Daniel Parke and Martha
Gusts by Woolaston. There were
other portraits of the Washington and
| Custis families. One Of these was the
portrait of Washington in the costume
of Virginia colonel at the age of forty
years, painted by Charles Watson Peale.
Near this picture, suspended from the
ceiling, was lantern, formerly the
property of Lawrence Washington,
which hung in the great passage at
Mount Vernon fully eighty years.
There was also the black-walnut side
board used in the dining room at Mount
Vernon, of elegant workmanship; Wash
ngton's massive silver tea-service, made
at New York In 1889 of the old family
plat; also pieces of theiSevers porcelain
dinner and tea-set called "Cincinnati
china because they were presented to
General and Madam Washington, with
the elegant jeweled Order of the Gin
cinnati by French officers, and bore
pictures Of the order delicately painted.
In all the rooms were pieces of furni
ture..and many other objects which were
once at Mount Vernon. In an upper
chamber was the bed on which Wash
ington died, held too sacred for use; and
in another room was the large war-tent
or marquee of the General which was
used at Yorktown. 1t was incased in
two large leather pouches.
On my first visit at Arlington
House, in 1913, | saw living relic of
the Washington family more interest
ing than all the rest Mrs. Gusts nee
Fitzhugh, charming woman, Christ.
like in character and disposition, and
saintlike in her works of benevo
lence and her perennial goodness, then
presiding over the household at Airing
ton. She was like mother and guar
dian angle in her care for the physical
and spiritual comfort of their slaves. and
was a blessing to the poor far and near.
She was a most gentle creature-slight
in frame, sweet in the expression of
her fair face; her voice was soft and
musical, and she retained much of her
early personal beauty. Her piety was
fervd but transformations, and her
presence was like sunlight in a room.
She conducted family worship morning
and evening, while her husband invok-
ed blessing at every meal.
On the morning after my arrival at
Arlington House in 1913, Mrs. Gusts,
when ready to read the Scriptures,
stepped to room near by and led out
a very aged colored woman, not of
pure African blood, who was much
3 filicted with rheumatism. Mrs. Gusts
helped her to kneel by her side during
prayer, and then assisted her to rise and
to return to her room. After the door
was closed | made inquiries concern
ing the old woman.
"She is the last survivor of the bond |
of the Washington family at
Mount Vernon, Mrs. Gusts remark
ID. 81 do not know her age precisely,
,ut [ think she must be nearly ninety |
years old. She remembers the hunt
ng- parties at Mount Vernon before |
he Revolution. She was such good |
ARE taker of children that she became
he nurse of Mr.. Gusts and his sisters
n their infancy. On the death of Mrs.
Washington she remained at Mount
ernon in the family of Judge Wash
ngton, who inherited the estate, until
We were married, in 1904, when at
Ter earnest request she came to live
With us and became the nurse of our
our daughters, only one of whom
May, the wife of Colonel Lee) grew
o womanhood. Eleanor, who lives
With me, was Mays nurse or care-taker
rom her fourth year to her twelfth
ear, Westford. Judge Washington
ervant, is her nephew and is yet at
Iount Vernon. They much resemble
ach other
els she intelligent and is her memory
rustworthy?" Inquired.
4" She is remarkably intelligent, and
er memory of events in her earlier
ears seems nerfe ntlv c1oor''