Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-09-03
WASHINGTON'S LETTERS.
WRITINGS WHICH SHOW THE MAN
IN A VERY PLEASING LIGHT.

Gvorthimwton G. Ford's work-A SAM
PIE OF the "Father's" Hospitality.
Advice ThrOwn Away-.'A Little Nom.
sense Now and Then"
The writings of George Washington,
collected and edited :by Worthington C.
Ford, and published by Messrs. G. p.
Putnam's Sons, New York, have now
been brought down to 1885, and the lat
est volume is largely made up Of busi-
ness letters, which show how keenly alive
Washington was to the practical matters
of life. and how he never missed an OPP
portunity to condemn extravaganza or
mismanagement, or to inculcate the
value Of industry, manliness, and integ-
Tity. Some of the letters serve also to
show the delight which he felt at being
free from the responsibilities of office.
Writing from Mount Vernon to the wife
of Lafayette, he says; Mrs. Washing
ton is highly favored by your participa-
tions, and feel very sensibly the favor Of
your polite invitation TO Paris, but she
is too far advanced in life and is to inn
merssd in the care of her little progeny
20 cross the Atlantic. This, my dear
DOM, is not the case with you. You
have youth (and if you should not incline
to bring your children. can leave them
with all the advantages to education), and
must have curiosity to see the country,
young, rude, and uncultivated as it is,
for the liberties of which your husband
has. fought, bled, and acquired much
glory, where everybody admires, every
body loves him. Come, then, let me en-.
treat you, and call my cottage your home; |;
for your own doors do not open to you
with more readiness than mine would.
You will see the plain manner in which
we live, and meet the rustic civility, and
you shall taste the simplicity of rural life.
It will diversity the scene, and may give
you higher relish for the gayeties Of the
court when you return to Versailles. In
these wishes and in most respectful COM
pliments Mrs. Washington joins me.
With sentiments of strong attachment
and very great regard / have the honor to
be, Madam, etc.
To Lafayette himself he writes from
the same place: AT length, my dear
marquis, am become private citizen
on the banks of the Potomac, and ur der
the shadow of my own vine and my own
fig tree, free from the hustle of camp and
the busy scenes Of public life, l am
solacing myself with those tranquil en-
joyments of which the soldier who is
ever in pursuit of fame, the statesman
whose watchful days and sleepless nights
are spent in devising schemes to promote
the welfare of his own, perhaps the ruin
of other countries, as if the globe were
insufficient for us all, and the courtier,
who is always watching the countenance
of his prince, in hopes of catching a
gracious smile, can have very little con-
ception. have not only retired from
all public employments, but l am retir-
ing within myself, and shall be able to
view the solitary walk and tread the
paths of private life with heartfelt salts
faction. Envious of none, / am deter.
mined to be pleased with all; and this.
dear friend, being the order of my march,
i will move gently down the stream of
life until l sleep with my fathers.
The quality of humor is not absent
from Washington's writings. Lund
Washington had written to him to the
effect that 1t was probable Mrs. Custis,
widow of John Parke Custis, would marry
again if he Washington would give her
some advice on the subject. To this he
replied that he never would undertake to
advise woman in such matter; first,
because he never could advise one to
marry without her own consent; and
secondly, because he knows 1t to be no
use to advise her to refrain when she has
obtained it, "A woman, he says, "very
rarely asks an opinion or requires advice
on such an occasion till her resolution is
formed" But he adds that If his advice
should ever be asked by the lady in ques-
ton he would say to her: II never ex-
pected you would spend the residue Of
your days in widowhood but in a mat
ter so important and so interesting to
yourself, children, and connections wish
you would make a prudent choice; to do
which many considerations are necessary,
such as the family and connections Of
the man, his fortune (which is not the
most essential in my eye), the line Of con-
duct he has observed, and disposition and
frame Of mind. You should consider
what prospect there is of his proving kind
and affectionate to you; just, generous,
and attentive to your children, and how
far his connections viii be agreeable to
you; for when they are once formed,
agreeable OF not, the die being cast. your
fate is fixed Thus far, and no further,
should go in my opinion"