The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-26
MARY WASHINGTON.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE MOTHER OF
THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY.
A Woman Fitted to Rear q Hero-The
Dignity of Her Bearing-Her Trust In
Her Son Tributes Paid Her.

From the Pittsburg Post
What more fitting TO commemorate on
washington's birthday than the great
qualities OF Mary BallY Tradition says that
the character OF Washington was strength
ened, il not formed by the care and pre-
cepts Of his mother. II has been 80 with
many Of the great names in the worlds
history, and IL was clearly the fact as TO
Washington. II is true that he developed
early, and was an actor in great events be-
fore he was twenty-five; but he always
counseled with his mother. When Brad
dock offered the young provincial colonel
OF twenty-thrce the same rank on his stall
his mother was urgent he should not &c
cept. Filial obedience was one OF thestrong-
est qualities OF his character, and, TO gain
his mothers free consent, he kept his de-
csion IN abeyancc for two days in the in
terval pressing his strongest arguments
thai duty demanded he should sacrifice
private Interests TO the public welfare
Such were the relations OF mother and son
when he was in his twenty-third year.
Nine DAYS after Braddock's defeat Wash
. ingion wrote from Cumberland, first 10 his
mother giving an account of the battle on
the Monongahcla, and assurances OF his
own safety During the revolution, when
she had moved from her plantation on the
Rappahannock to the town OF Frcderlcls-
burg ON the direct line OF communication
between the eastern aud southern colonies,
Washington communicated 10 her, as
opportunities offered, tidings Of tho
progress OF the struggle. Says her biogra-
pher ''Courier after courier would APP
pear at The door Of her dwelling with dis
patches which told alternately Of victory
and Of defeat she received all messages
with equanimity, and never betrayed any
uncommon emotion. When the cheering
news OF the victory OF Trenton and Prince
ton reached fredericksburg, several OF her
friends congratulated her upon the bril-
liant achievements Of her son, when she
simply replied, George seems TO have de-
served wellof his country and when some
Of thcm read paragraphs OF letters they had
received, in which the skill and bravery
Of Washington were applaudcd; she said,
Gentlemen, hero In too much flatlery;
still George will not forget the lessons
have taught him--he viii not forget him
seithough he's lob ctof much:praise
As the war went ON, this noble matron
might have been seen every day in her
modest dwelling in fredcrcksburgin plain
attire the industrious, prudent aud thrifty
housewife, or driving ont 81 her plantation
In an old.fashioncd two-wheclcd chaise,
going from field TO field, directing the Ia
borcrs at work. "She was rigid discip-
linaijan IN business m In tho domestic
circle and her word WIS law. On ono
occasion her agent departed from her in
structions She quickly called him TO ac-
count. Madam, said the ovcrsccr, in my
Judgment the work has been done 10 bet.
ter advantage than II had followed your
directions Aud pray, who gave you the
right 10 exercise any judgment in the mat
tcrg asked the now venerable matron. 4
command YOU, sir there is nothing left
for you bui 10 obey"
There is n suggestion hero OF n very
strong minded woman; and at this time
when she was over seventy years Of age,
We have this account Of her personal APP
pcannce;
"rhc stature Of Madam Washington
was Of the full average hight Of women,
and IN pcrson she wns compactly built
and well proportional. She possessed
great physical strength and powers OF en-.
durncc, aud enjoyed through life robust
health. Her features wcp strongly
MARKED, but pleasing In expression at
the same time there was dignity In her
manner that was nj inst somewhat rcpcl.
liant 10 q stranger, hut u always com.
mandcd The most thorough respect Of her
friends aud acquaintance. Her voice
WIS sweet. almost musical IN It's cadcnocs,
yet II was hrm and decided. and she was
always cheerful In spirit"
But little II known OF the youth and
early womanhood Of Mary lBnll, the mother
OF Washington. Mr.. Losing claims she
was a lineal descendant Of that famous
John Ball, Who with Wat Tyler and Jack
Straw, led the great Kcntish rebellion
which ret England ablaze against icudal
tyranny In the fourteenth century. John
Hall lost his head with Wat Tyler, aud Il
was displayed upon a pike on London
bridge ut was In the preaching Of John
Ball. says Green, the historian Of the I'm.
glsh people, that England ilrst listened
10 the kneli Of feudalism and tho dccla
ration Of the rights OF man." Col
William Ball, q royalist refugee, cam'
20 Virginia about 1000. lie had Tough
Tor the King nj Msnton Moor and Nascby
lie was the great -grandiathcro Mary nall
the mother II Washington. 30, on botl
the maternal aud paiernal sides of his an
ccsiry, Washington was descendant q
the cavaliers that certain oliver Crom
well handled very effectively, eubduing q
driving them from England. Mary bal
was born in l70G. Tier father was we'll
fo-do planter on the Rappahannock Sh,
grew TO womanhood In the health
ful seclusion 81 wcllOrlcrc,
home. There woro no finishing
schools In those days, and wha
book learning SHE acquired must have
been under the parental roof. fngmcn
Of letter written by her when she wa
about seventeen, 20 her brother, JOSEPH
Ball. educated In England and settled IA
London ~ a lawyer, has been preserved
In which thc nays 1--WE have not had
schoolmastcr until now (January Ia, l723
In nearly four years. We have now
young minister living with us who wn
educated nj Oxiorl. lie teaches achoo
Tor his board. lie teaches sister Susie an
me and Madam CarterH boy and two girl,
] am now learning pretty fast" Oihc
leften 20 her brother, heiore us In n
smile, show that whilc her writing va
plain and business like, her orlho.
faphy and grammar were yer
defective. From her mother, VIA
died when she was twenty-five. Mary Ia
inherited the nohlcsi Qualities OF mind an
heart, aud was taught those domestic vii
tues Of which she was all her life a brigli
ercmplar-indusiry, frugnlity, integrity
strength OF will and purpose, modcsty AM
deem rplirioua con vlcfion Mr Ioaain