The Washington times., 1894-05-20
wAsH1NcroN's MOTHER.
A Pen Portrait of the Belle Of the ''Northsr,
Neck" Of Virginia.

A PEN Portrait of the Belle of the Northern
Neck" of Virginia.
Although Mary Washington was q plain
her thrift, and her lf-privation-which was
long ago demonstrated to have been entirely
unnecessary-her family made many preten-
sions. She was herself creature of fashion
in her girlhood, when she was known as 1.-THE
belle OF the Northern Neck of Virginia. Her
family had good blood, says the Chicago Rec
ord, good breeding, a coat of arms, and con-
siderable property In lands and horses and
slaves and her father seems to have been
considerable of a swell. There is still pre-
served in the records Of st. Mary's parish an
entry authorizing him to construct gallery
, in what is known as "the white chapel at
his own expense for the use Of his family and
servants. 1t is shown, too, that he was a
vestryman and gave els year toward the
salary of the rector, which was u liberal con-
tribution for those days. When he died he
bequeathed his daughter 1.600 acres of land
in what he terms 'ye freshes OF ye Kappa
hammock"
There is an old autograph letter down here
which gives an excellent glimpse Of her girl
hood. 1t was written by some person IN
known in October, 1922, ten years before her
famous son was born, and contains this par,i-
graph:
Madame Ball, Of Lancaster, and her
sweet Molly have gone home. Mamma thinks
Molly the comeliest maiden she knows She
is about 16. is taller than me. is very sensible,
modest and loving. Her hair Is like unto
flax. He eyes are the color of yours, and her
cheeks are like May blossoms"
Madame Ball used to spend her Winters at
Williamsburg. where was the famous old col
lege of William and Mary. and her daughters
broke hearts right and left among the
students. But it remained for u widowsr, ten
years past her own age, to win her in mar
riage There is good material for a love
story In the circumstances surrounding the
marriage Of Washington's father and mother
Although few OF the facts are known there is
plenty OF room for con njecture. As their
families were neighbors, they must have been
acquainted before the death OF his first wife,
and he must have loved and sought her be-
fore she went to Europe with her brother
after her parents death. He seems to have
crossed the ocean about the same time, II he
didn't go on the same ship, and to have mar
ried her shortly after his arrival. The sedate
biographies say that he went to Coosham to
sell some property that was left him by his
maternal grandfather. and that she went to
Cookham to live with her brother Joseph
Ball, because the family home was broken up.
But their journeys happened about the same
time, and in few months they returned to
Virginia together man and wife.
She was a woman of great energy and in
dependence, strong will and an amazing in
difference to public opinion, and in her old
age became the Xantippe of the town. A pri-
vate letter written shortly after her death
naively remarks that Mime. Washington had
the sharpest tongue in two counties and
spared neither friend nor foe"
One of the traditions is that her temper was
soured by u nervous affection resulting from
terrible shock she received when her son
George was about 4 years old. During
thunderstorm the house at Wakefield was
struck by lightning. and young lady visitor,
who was sitting with her at the supper table,
was instantly killed. The shock was so great
as to melt the knife and fork which she held
in her hands. Nine. Washington never re-
covered from the prostration that followed
this tragedy.
A descendan. OF a brother of Mrs. Washing
ton keeps the news stand in the Pension Office
at Washington. He is an old man of simple
mind, wears his hair and beard long, and be-
fore he got this place he used to peddle his
own photographs in the street.