Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-30
WASHINGTON AS POET AND LOVER.
The Life Wound Inflicted by His 'L.owland
Beauty"

at it as rodomont de; possibly he had new
er known the bitterness of disappointed
love, the humilistions of poverty, the
longing of undeveloped power for adequate
action. "The very journey" says Ed
mund Randolph ms. History of Virginia)
through wilderness without a track
opened by civilized man, and infested by
Indians not friendly to the Engl SD, was
truly formidable from its danger and
fatigues. But the grandeur of the
J enterprise animated Washington to COM
mence it on the very day of receiving his
commission and instructions. Among the
lovers of ease, and those who in the lap of
luxury regarded the Western territory as
doomed to perpetual savage rudeness,
Washington was mentioned as an adven-
turer meritorious indeed, but below COM
petition or envy" But presently he was
the conquering hero, complimented by
Governor and burgesses 1t is said that
when he was riding at the head of his
escort through Williamsburg he saw his
former sweetheart-now married--at q
window, and saluted her with the wave OF
the sword. Whereupon che tainted.
A TORY SWEETHEART.
Washington passed his twenty-fourth
birthday in New York. being for week
the guest of CoIenel Beverly Robinson
He spent one pound four shillings "treat-
satisfactorily treated, it is said, by one OF the
Undetermined Mary Phillipse, Mrs Robin
sons sister, his next charmer. 1t is also
said that long after she had become Mrs.
Roger Morris little niece said: ''Mr.
Washington wouldn't be a rebel if he'd
married aunty." Perhaps, indeed, we
have to thank this Tory dame for not smil-
ing on the young Colonel's suit.
Reference has been made TO letters ad-
dressed to Mrs. Fairfax sally Cary, aud
found in her desk after her death. These
letters, unknown to Sparks, have only in
recent years become known to a small
circle. The most mysterious of them will
appear, l am told, in the second
volume of Washington Ford's "Writ-
ings of Washington" Sally Cary was
famons beauty. 1t is said that
once when she was entering Williamsburg
the sentinels demanded of her driver the
password. Not hearing what was wanted,
she leaned out of the window and said,
sally Cary" pass onW cried the SEN
tinels; for that indeed was the days pass
word. When and where she first me-
Washington is unknown. On her marriage
with G.. w. Fairfax, Washington's early
cOmrsde, she became the mistress of Bel
voir, near Mount Vernon. A number o
! brilliant ladies frequented BelvOir-Mrs
Fsirfax's sisters, Mrs. Spesring, Miss Ann,
Gist, and ethers-All of whom were natu
rally interested in the now famous young
bachelor at Mount Vernon. Mrs. Fairfax
became his sympathetic confidante, and
softened the wound which Betsy had il
inflicted. When he was starting off witt
Braddock, Sally sewed and mended hi
clothes, packed his trunk, and he rode
away on her finest horse.
Writing from the Camp at Rays Town
% Sept. 1855" Washington says: 90
should think our time more agreeably
spent, believe me, in playing a part o
Cato with the company you mention, and
myself doubly happy by being the Jubf
to such Marcia as you must make. You
agreeable lettsr contained these words
My sisters and Nancy Gist, who neither
OF them expect to be here after our return
from town, desire you to accept their com
plliImTYssntLSS;b, P[ay are these ladies upon &
] hlhtIlHOuihl cIbO.a4~s III tsts r. .
be transformed into that charming DOmes
tick a Martin? and Miss Cary to a Fare
What does Miss Gist turn to-A Cooke
that can't be; we have him here. One
thing more, and then have done. You
ask if am not tired Of your letters. No
Madam l am not, nor never can be while
the lines are an inch ssunder to bring you
in haste to the end of the paper. You may
be tired of mine by this. Adieu, dear
Madam yon will possibly hear something
of me before we shall meet. 1 must bel
the favor Of you to make my compliments
to Colonel Cary and the Ladies with you
and believe me that am most unslterably
your most ob't and oblig'd, G. Washing
tom