The morning news., 1894-09-10
wAsHINaToN's MOTHER.
From Bright Young Girl She Game
to Be Perfect Shrew.
From the Chicago Rec

Although Mary Washington was plain
and austere woman, famous for her econ
omY, her thrift and her self-privation-
which was long ago demonstrated to have
been entirely unnecessary-he family
made many pret nsions. She was herself
a creature of fashion in her girlhood,
when she was known as "the belle of the
Northern Neck" of Virginia. Her family
had good blood, good breeding, a coat Of
arms and considerable property in lands
and houses and slaves, and her father
seems to have been considerable of a
swell
There is still preserved in the records
of st. Mary's parish an entry authorizi ng
him to construct a gallery in what is
known as 1.-The white chapel" at his own
expense for the use of his family and SER
wants 1t is shown, too, that he was
vestryman and gave els year toward
the salary of the rector. which was lib
eral contribution for those days. When
he died he bequeathed his daughter 800
acres of land in what he terms ''ye freches
of ye Rappahannock ~
There is an old autograph letter which
gives an exquisite glimpse Of her girlhood
1t was written by some person unknown
in October, 1722, ten years before her
famous son was born, and contains this
paragraph:
MADAME Ball Of Lancaster and her
sweet Molly have gone home Mamma
thinks Molly the comeliest maiden she
knows She is about l6, is taller han
me, is very, very sensible, modest and
loving. Her hair is like unto fax Her
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 college of William and Mary, and her
daughter broke hearts right and left
among the students. But it remained for
widower, ten years past her own age, to
win her in marriage There is good ma
! terlal for love story in the circum-
stances surrounding the marriage of
Washington's father and mother AL
though few of the facts are known, there
is plenty of room for conjecture 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 before he went to Europe
with her brother after her parents
death.
He seems to have crossed the ocean
about the same time, If he didn't 20 on
the same ship, and to have married her
shortly after his arrival The sedate
biographies say that he went to Cookham
to sell some property that was left him
by his smaternal grandfather, and that
she went TO Cookham 10 live with her
home was broken up. But their Journeys
happened about the same time, and in a
few months they returned TO Virginia
together, man and wife.
She was woman Of great energy and
independence, a strong willard an amazing
indifference 10 public opinion and in her
old age became the Xantippe of the town.
A private 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 nervous affection result
ing from a terrible shock she received
when her son George was about wears
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 50 great as TO
melt the knife and fork which she held
in her hand. Nine Washington never
recovered from the prostration that fol-
lowed the tragedy.
A descendant of a brother OF Mrs
Washington keeps the news stand in the
pension Office az Washington. He is an
old man OF simple mind wears his hair
and beard long. and before he got this
place used 10 peddle his own photographs
IN the street.