Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-05


strictly Just; sharp in reprimand: quick to
anger, and not always pIenteous in mercy
perhaps. for her religious belief was Of the
Puritanical sort She was kind to the poor
ana the deserving unfortunate but cold
and unresponsive to the calls OF the shift
less and improvident.
After her children were all married Mrs
Washington lived her life alone with two
realized that it was better SO, for she was
used to ruling with a rod OF iron and knew
that In another's house she would be sec
end. That would have been intensely dis
pleasing to her. She did not care for COM
pany. Much entertaining was expensive
and troublesome, and she liked neither
George Washington Parke Custis said Of
her, that though hosptta bic. she was al
ways ready to speed the parting guest.
Few were asked TO come. and no one was
urged to stay" Her own children dreaded
her critical eve, and one OF her infrequent
visits was the signal for grand house
cleaning. Then, as she approached, the
little pickaninnies, who were stationed 10
herald her, ran TO the house with the news
and final busting and brushing ensued.
This remarkable woman seems to have had
but one weakness-she was terrorized by
lightning. Betty. her daughter. found her
one day with her head buried in the bed
clothes. II have been striving against this
weakness for years" she said. for you
know, Betty, my trust is in God, but some
times my fears are stronger than my
faith" 1t is almost a relief to find that
this truly good woman had at least one
human failing.
the earnest solicitation Of Washington. she
left the Ferry farm, and made a home for
herself In Fredericksburg. In the heart of
the town this house still stands well pre-
served and unalte-ed but for the raising
of the roof. She still managed her own
plantation. The tenacious old lady had no
mind to give UP her freedom to live with
her daughter Betty. as that lady desired.
Noy, tvr1r, ne-I n a chn
my wants are few, and / feel perfectly
competent to take care of myself" To her
son-in-law, Colonel Lewis. who proposed TO
relieve her of the care Of her plantation.
oversee II daily, she said Just as firmly:
You can keep my books. for your eyesight
Is better than mine. but leave the manage
ment OF the farm to me- To the very end
she was jealous OF interference with her
rights, and there were times when she
made things generally uncomfortable for
those who tried to manage for her. She
was close In money dealings. and every
penny had to be accounted for. Just why
with her splendid management and wide
spread acres. che should have got into
Strengthened circumstances. and Washing
ton as well, It is not easy to explain. In a
letter written by Washington to his mother
I'm 1857 It appears that for a time at least
she gave into his hands the management of
her plantation. He was not able to do
much with 1t evidently, and the revenues
were not satisfactory to her. Her frequent
and urgent calls for money irritated
him, and ne finally wrote her that
up the management Of the farm. as 1t had
been q constant drain on his funds, and
that she had got all the money from the
produce. which he did not consider quite
that # was all he had. and that he really
owed 1t to some one else. but that as long
as he had dollar she should share IL with
him. He said that he was owing nearly q
fhn,nG ND dnll a So
know where a penny of II was to come
from, He suggested that she break I'D
housekeeping and go to live with one of
her children. but very plainly pointed out
that his house was totally unsuited to one
Of her quiet tastes and advanced years. as
he entertained large numbers of distin-
eOished guests. and that his house was as
noisy as hotel. As she disliked the style
which she considered necessary TO the sup
port Of his position in the world, II seemed
to him that a home with Betty was the
best for her 1t is more than likely that
the desire Of her old heart was to spend
her declining years with her best beloved
child, but the boon was denied her. There
Is no data to show IL, but there seems to be
q disposition to believe that she went Just
before the end, to live with the daughter
at Kenmore
During the seven or more years Of the
war she did not once see her son, who was
absent from his own home nearly Zine
years. He wrote to her occasionally and
his letters always began "Honored Madam"
and usually ended II am, honored madam.
your most dutiful son." Stilted, formal and
cold! Yet, II WAS the fashion Of the Cay.
Self repression was the great aim of the
hour!
Her Self Poise.
When the news came to her. after years
Of prayerful anxiety. of the victories at
Trenton and Princeton. she received 1t
without emotion. and when a friend con-
graduated her on the brilliant achieve
ments Of Washington. she replied with calm