Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-01
WARRINGTON AND HIS MOTHER,

40 tne Eoftor OF Inc Evening Star:
In your issue of February 10, 1892. you pub
lished an item accredited to the New York Times,
without date, headed ''wsshington was Too
Truthful" The paragraph given below Il by
suggestion q willful il not malicious perver-
sion of the commsndable fact Of George WASH
ingtons high regard and dutiful respect ex-
hibitsd on all proper occasions for his noble
mother. A pretty general familiarity with
Wsshington's letters justifes me in affirming
that there Is none which gives q warrant even TO
reckless imagination for the sentiments here at
triouted to him. The paragraph, however, has
gone the round OF the papers and gives evidence
OF purpose to malign the good name Of Wash
ington by polishing up the false accusations and
giving them moro venom.
The clipping has been sent to me in Its diff
ferent forms by seven distinct parties, with the
expressed or implied desire that / would take
some public notice Of the statement. The last
has been sent to me by an esteemed friend and
an historical writer Of some repute. His note
accompanying IL is as follows.
ALLEaHrsr, Sept. II. 1892
Dear Doctor: 1nclosed l send you slip from
todays Pittsburg Commercial Gazette. 1t is
your notice ere this, but want to mnke sure
that you will see ii.
Yours very sincerely, Isaac CRAro.
me iolowing Is tho clipping, dressed up
someWnat from what 1t was when it started,
out retaining all the falsity Of the original:
There was read recently ut woman's club
. letter written by George Washington which
casts slight reflection upon the flial qualities
OF the father Of his country. 1t would seem
!nat NINE: Washington had suggested spend
Ing the winter with her distinguished sor, be-
cause she was afflicted with the rheumatism and
the roof of her house leaked
10 which the son, who has been held up as q
model for all sons. replied that as for her room
ne would have 1t shingled, and for her rheuma-
tism he would send a doctor, but that il would
be impossible to receive her ut his home for
three reasons: First, she could not eat at the
liable with his guests without causing remarks
from them; second, il her meals were sent TO
ner room IL would Inconvenience his wife; and,
third. II she were to eat with the servants il
would cause soandalous talk. II the document
IL genuine-and Its veracity has not been cues
tioned-it would appear that the hero of the
sons" 20
1t is hardly possible that the frank, deeply re-
spectful, sympathetic and well-expressed letter
OF feoruary Is, 1857, Of George Washington to
ms mother land the last one to her which has
been preserved) on family affairs could have
been so perverted, which if viewed in the
proper spirit and with judicious reflection
SHOWS how earnestly solicitous he was to secure
peace of mind and greater comforts to his
readera
may Judge for themselves of his filial respect
the letter is given in full from a transcript of
the original, preserved among the Washington
papers in the Department Of State
The author Of this disreputable philippine is
unknown to me, and whether the squib origi-
mated in desire to produce a specimen of
grabbed smartness or with intent to manufac-
ture and foist false picture of the personal
appearance and habits of Mary Washington or
to lower the character of the general in public
estimation by exhibiting him as wanting in FL
TAI respect for his aged mother is uncertain,
but, whatever the motive, the publication is de-
serving Of the most hearty condemnation, and
Is as false In suggestion it is despicable in its
intention.
The following is a literal copy of the gen.
erals letter referred to. ]. NJ. T.
THE TEXT OF THE LETTER.
To Mrs. Mary Washington:
Hon'd Madam: In consequence Of your COM
munication to George Washington. of your want
of money, take the (frst safe) conveyance by
Mr.. John cambridge to send you Is Guineas
which believe Inc is all have and which indeed
ought to have been paid many days ago to an
other agreeable to my own assurances.-I have
now demands upon me for more than 5000 three
hundred and forty odd which is due for the tax
OF l!s6; and know not where or when, l shall
receive one shilling with which to paw it, In
the last two years made no Crops. In the first
l was obliged to buy Corn and this year have
none to sell, and my wheat is SO bad cannot
neither eat it myself nor sell 1t to Others
and Tobacco l make none. Those who
owe me money cannot or will not paw il with
out Suits, and to sue is like doing nothing,
whilst my expenses, not from any extravaganza,
or inclination on my part to live splendidly
but for the absolute support of my family and
the visitors who are constantly here, are exceed
ingly high: higher, indeed, than can support.
without selling part of my estate, which 1 am
disposed to do rather than run in debt or con-
tinue to be SO, bnt this I cannot do without
taking much less than the lands have offered for
sale are worth. This is really and truly my sit
uation. do not, however, offer il as any ex-
cuse for not paying you what may really be due,
for let this be little or much l am willing how
ever unable, to pay to the utmost farthing; but
i. is really hard upon me when you have taken
everything you wanted from the Plantation by
which money could be raised-when l have
not received one farthing, directly nor indirectly,
from the place for more than twelve years, if
ever, and when in that time have paid, as APP
pears by Mr.. Luna Washington's account
against me during my absence), two hun
dred and sixty odd pounds and by my
own account 80 odd pounds out of nv own
Pocket to you. besides Of am rightly in
formed) everything that has been raised by the
Crops on the Plantation. Who to blame or
whether anybody is to blame for these things /
know not, but these are facts And as the pur-
poses for which took the estate are not an
swered. nor likely to be so, but dissatisfaction
on all sides have taken place, do not mean to
have anything more to say TO your Plantation
or negroes since the LIST Of January except the
fellow who is here, and who will not, as he has
formed connections in this neighborhood. leave
it; as experience has proved him l will hire.
or this my inte1Dion informed my brother
John some time ago, whose death l sincerely
lament on many accounts, and on this painful
event condole with you most sincerely. do
not mean by this declaration to withhold any
aid or support can give from you for while 1
have shilling left you shall have part, If il is
wanted, whatever my own distresses may be-
What l shall then give shall have credit for
now have not, for though 1 have received
nothing from your quarter, am told that every
farthing goes to you, and have moreover paid
between three and four hundred pounds besides
out Of my own pocket, am viewed as a delin-
quent and considered perhaps by the world as
unjust and undutiful son. My advice to you,
therefore, is to do one of two things with the
plantation, either let your grandson, Bushrod
Washington, to whom the land is given by
his father, have the whole interest there
that is, lands and negroes, at reasonable
rent-or next year (for presume
it Is too late this, as the overseer may be en-
gaged) to let him have the land at q certain
yearly rent during your life, and hire out the
negroes This would ease you OF all care and
trouble-make your income certain and your
support ample Further, my sincere and press
ing advice to Won is to break up housekeeping,
hire out all the rest Of your servants excepta man
and maid, and live with one OF your children
This would relieve you entirely from the cares