Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-20
GEN. AND MRS. WASHINGTON.
The Interesting Rocollections of q Wo-
man Who Knew Them in Her Youth.

An interesting view of the private life and
personal characteristics of Gen. and Mrs,
Washington is contained in q letter printed in
the New York Tribune of Sunday. The letter
was written in 1854 by Mrs. John NJ. Bowers to
Mrs. Edward Clarke, and is made public
through the courtesy Of Mrs. H. ]. Bowers, OF
Cooperstown, N. Y, and Vice-President-elect
Morton.
The letter is as follows: My earliest recol.
lection of General Washington was in the
spring of 1871, when a guest of my mother, at
Hackettstown, N J. Although but three years
of age at that time. distinctly remember the
grand appearance of that great and good man.
The brilliancy of his epaulettes, and his
peculiarly cooked hat and plume, made an i'm
preston my infant mind never to be effaced.
August and dignified as he was. however he
could condescend to amuse children. During
an interval of a few minutes absence of my
mother from the parlor, the general placed me
on his knee, and trotting me merrily thereon,
sang the following ludicrous lines
There old, old man, and an old, old woman,
They I lived dr. II vim, vinegar bottle together,
They lived in vinegar bottle together"
repeating the last line several times for a cho-
rus. When my mother returned to the parlor
the general alluded to what had occurred in
her absence, saying: THE little Jade wished to
know how the old people escaped from the
question she had anticipated me by saying, L
guess, general, they knocked off the neck"
We're any proof wanting to illustrate the
reverence inspired by the dignity and superb
ority of the presence OF the general 1 might
cite an anecdote of Mrs Graffe-an ignorant
woman. a foreigner by birth, an inveterate
tory. who resided near my mother. She had
been accustomed since the commencement of
the war to speak of George Washington as
George, the rebel" until at length curiosity,
don
catch glimpse of him as he passed through
our hail. when she burst into tears and ex-
claimed, invOluntarily: "Elealehl Elealehr'
meaning Godlike. and FROM that instant became
a confirmed whig.
When my mother resided at the Union. in
Hunterdon county, New Jersey, Mrs. Washing
ton was her guest two nights and day, while
on her way from New Windsor to Philadelphia
She came IN her chariot, attended by Colonel
Washington "a nephew of the generaD and two
servants-colored. a coachman and a waiting
maid. NV mother was greatly pleased with
the atfability and simplicity of the manners of
Mrs. Washington. from whom she learned much
of the economy and good management OF the
Virginia housewives. To show her own idea of
economy, Mrs. Washington remarked that in
view of the high price of the goods at that
time, she had raveled some old and almost
worn-out crimson satin damask chair covers.
which had descended to her: had caused the
same to be carded and spun, and by the addi-
ton OF cotton yarn, woven, with a narrow
stripe of silk and a wide one of cotton alter
nately, ont of this fabric she had two morning
dresses for herself, one of which she exhibited
to mamma. who thought it quite pretty.
In the year 1896, when myself on a visit to
Philadelphia, was presented TO Mrs. Washing
ton at her drawing-room, by Mrs. Jasper Moy-
Ian Ga sister-ln-law of General Moylan), a par
ticular friend of my mother, as also of Mrs
Washington. Mrs. Moylan called for me in her
carriage at about O'Clock p. m. Mrs. Wash
ington then resided in the house owned by
Robert Morris. On entering the room we we're
led to Mrs. Washington by Mr. Hamilton
grandson of Governor Hamilton, of Pennsyl-
vania). who was master of ceremonies that
evening. l distinctly remember seeing the
key of the Bastiie hanging over the mantel as
passed TO the far extremity of the apartment,
where Mrs. Washington sat and received us
very graclOusl V. She was still very attractive
although quite advanced in years. There was
something very sweet and feminine in
the cOuntenance. The dress was of black satin
with white Grape inside, handkerchief laid in
folds. cap of the same material with double
quilted borders, and tied under the chin with q
white satin bow. On the right of Mrs Wash
ingtOn sat Mrs. Robert Morris. a majestic-look-
ing woman, dressed in rich white satin. with
white Grape handkerchief and turban. Next to
Mrs. Morris was Mrs. Judge Peters, distin-
gulshed for her beauty and elegance of manner
and arrayed in pearl-colored satin, with Grape
handkerchief and head-dress. My friend Mrs.
Moylan was seated by Mrs. Peters, and was at
tired in white satin, with white Grape handker-
chief and turban. Most OF the young ladies,
both married and single, stood or prOmenaded
the room. Nearly all wore Grape or book-mus-
lin dressed over silk. some of them being en-
broldered with silver and others with gold
thread, the waist being short and the train long
and graceful. Grape cushions for the head
were much worn by married ladies. The young
ladies wore their hair frizZed and thrown into
curls, with black velvet bandeaux richly studded
with steel and paste, with gradu-
ated plumes (from three to five white
Ostrich), making a handsome head-dress when
tastefully managed. The silver flowers cover
ing the stems of the feathers added much to
their briIliancy. Powder was much used by
both ladies and gentlemen. l recollect the
dress of one young lady on that occasion. 1t
consisted of a very fine null muslin over white
mantua silk, moderate train trimmed with
broad white satin ribbon, ornamented with
black silk velvet waters, richly spangled.
Below this was a quilting of deep Brussels
lace, and a quilting of the same about the neck
and sleeves. white satin sash with long ends.
spangled. lOng-armed white kid gloves white
silk stockings and white satin shoes, brown
powdered hair with black bandeaux and white
plumes, prettily arranged. These, together
with a miniature, handsomely set and s1ls-
pended by gold chain from the neck, and
large gold watch, with a chatelaine on the side.
from which depended various rings and charms,
completed the toilette.
Among the distinguished guests l observed
Gov. Ross and wife, the latter magnificently
attired, also James A. Bayard and wife, of Del
aware, the latter a beautiful woman. Gen.
Harry Lee was one of the most fascinating
persons in attendance both in regard to ap-
pearance and colioquial powers. No one, how
ever, could vie with the President. who stood
unsurpassed in grandeur and dignity.
About fortnight after this Mrs Moylan
accompanied me in a morning call on Mrs.
Washington. then met Mrs Nightingale and
her sister, Miss Greene, daughter of Gen.
Greene. Mrs. Washington was very sociable;
said she had just been making purchases at
new English store in Market street; among
other articles she had bought one dozen pocket
handkerchiefs for the general and like num-
Der for herself. remarking, as she produced
them for our inspection, that she had paid 81
each for those of the general, but she would
not go higher for her own than S715 cents.
Although not the usual custom of Mrs Wash
ington to make calls on young ladies, she was
so kind as to make me an exception, probably
in grateful remembrance of my mothers hos
pitality to herself and the general during the
war of the revolution.
A Yankee Tar WEEDS Antipodal Royalty.