The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-16
TILE WASHINGTONS.
In Spite of All His Great
ness, George Was Very
Human.
MARTHA'SFINGER In THEPIE
A Boy of Today on the Cherry
Tree Story-Lafayette's Visit
to Mary Washington.

There has been some newspaper dis
cussion within the past year on the
subject of a letter written by George
Washington to his mother, in response
to one from her, stating that her roof
leaked and that she had the rheuma-
tisin. The letter, as first quoted. GER
tainly left the Father OF his Country
in a most unenviable position as a son..
Every patriotic American could not
but regret that his ideal had been
shattered by reading this almost cruel
letter of a son to his mother. The
members of the New York Chapter of
the Daughters of the Revolution were
SO indignant over the letter that they
investigated the correspondence de-
posted in the National museum, and
lound the authentic letter, the gist OF
which is that Washington regretted
that the life which his family was
compelled to live would make it i'm
possible for his mother, at her time of
life, to be happy with them. He de-
plored her having to live alone. and
urged hat which was finally accom-
plished, her removal to Fredericks-
burg. The authentic letter was given
in full in a letter from Mrs. Roger A.
Pryor, recently published. Shortly
after the appearance OF this letter, a
croup of women were lunching to-
gether, one of them a very practical
and very bright woman, a close stud
ent of human nature. The subject of
this letter caine up, and one woman
quoted or gave the gist of the letter
published by Mrs. Pryor. When she
got through, her bright companion
looked at her and said, Don't you
see through that letter 7"
See through it; what do you
mean?"
why can't you read between the
lines of that letter? ?"
"Vhy, no. I simply see that a son
with deep and reverent love for his
mother, and having her happiness
first in his consideration, tells her
that his family is compelled, because
of his position, to live such a life as
would prevent her being happy were
she with them; hal unhappiness at
her age certainly would react on her
health, and thence upon the health
and happiness of others. He is care
ful to express his regrets that his po-
SillOu OIllDC III ~ q Chi ooSA
state in his home life as wonld be I'M
conseuial to his mother"
The bright roman looked at her
companion with almost a look OF con-
tempt, and said:
Sometimes | think o are the
greenest woman / ever met Do you
p that n of my boys would
write such a letter as that to me2"
..Well l hope he would. If you had
lived the greater part OF your life in a
petticoat and short gown, and your
son was President of the United
States, and knew you to be conserva-
tive, accepting no standard but your
own, | hope he would write you such
a letter. His position would compel
you. while a member of his family, to
live in q u u-ncongenial to you.
Aud | hope be would write it in just
the tone of that letter of Washing
toms. Surely he would not expose
YOU to criticism. knowing how far
above petty standards your character
placed YOU"
Putting her elbows on the table,
and clasping her fingers under her
chin, the bright woman looked at her
companion and said:
DO you know what Mary said
when she got that letter from George?
'Phuhl l wonder If he thinks Pm
such a fool that | don't see Martha's
finger in the pier"
First there was a thrill of rebellion
at the second SCATTERING of an idol,
but it was followed by laughter louder
and longer than cOnyentionallty
would approve. And afterwards there
came such q comfortable feeling be-
cause this Interpretation showed the
whole family in such a human light
GEORGE WASN'T PERFECT.
The constant attempts TO prove the
character of Washington perfect, de-
tract from, instead of adding to, its
originality. The perfection that has
been commended for by his adorers re-
moves him from human sympathy. 1t
was just that little touch that made
IL see the whole family in a new
light. 1.-The Story of Mary Washing
ton,gives n little incident which
proves how difficult it would have
been for her to have adjusted herself
to the life her sons family was ON
PEELED to lead. Every reader of that
delightful book will recall the incl
dent of the grandson of Mary Wash
ington guiding Lafayette to the
home of his grandmother at
Fredericksburg. The childish act
which led the grandson to for
get the dignity of the nan
in his delight of companionship by
taking his friend through the side
gate into the garden where Mrs. Wash
ington, in linsey-woolsey skirt and
short gown and sun-bonnet, was at
tending to her flowers, shows us the
grandmother. OF our there is a
moral dignity in the entire absence of
self-consciousness in the cordial,
womanly way in which she ignores
Lafayette's sudden appearance, by
taking him into the living room and
scarcely referring to the fact that she
Is not in attire BETTING her position
as her sons mother. And yet n
can well understand that it was this
quality of independence of conven-
tionalities that would have made 1T
impossible for that strong-headed.
stroue-hearted woman to have yielded
her personal comfort to the habits of
life made necessary in her sons
family by his position and the
tastes of his wife. And 1T was