The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-29


CT George Washington from the fast-deep-
ening mist OF legend. No previous bi-
ographer has made SO careful and candid
study of original document, including
especially the innumerable letters penned
by the subject himself. I he effect OF Gen.
Greeley's studies, while they reveal many
things which have been mistakenly sup
pressed, Is to enhance the respect aud
the affection with which the most illus
trious American Is regarded by his coun-
trymen.
The aim of these researches Is frankly
avowed to be, to depict Washington as
son, brother. guardian, neighoor', save ave
aspect OF soldier and statesman. The ne
cessity for such a. portraiture is demon
strated by the fact that when American
youths are questioned as TO their relative
interest in Napoleon and Washington,
many are apt to prefer the former, on the
by his biograpbers, is, although great
and good, devoid of the minor human de-
fects that would throw into relief his vi
rile and estimabie traits. Rightly To ap-
preciate Washington it Is indispensable
TO mark how he advanced from the en-
vironment OF tile first half OF the
eighteenth century toward the higher
standards OF the present age. In WORD,
as we ultimately know him, he Is
product, not OF birth or accident, but OF
growth.
To lose sight OF washington's early en-
vironment Is to overlook the force OF
character which ena abled him TO become
great and good man in spite OF II.
General Greeley recalls all that Is meaut
by the fact that his youth and early man.
hood were passed In tidewater Virginia,
the population OF which had for its sub
strata the debasing labor systems OF In
dentnred white servants and African
slaves. At the other extremes OF colonial
society was the ruling aristocracy, COM
posed OF royal officials, formalistic clergy"
men and planters possessed OF great
estates. Washington was born midway
between these extremes than
Patrick Henry, much lower than the
Randolphs and Lees. While his progeni-
tors did not rank among the great land
owners, they were not poor whites, they
might be claseed among the minor gentry.
IL was by marriage that Warrington be-
came what was for the eighteenth century
Virginia plutocrat.
From his boyhood Washington was
fond OF women, but every authentic letter
OF his shows that he placed them on the
highest plane. He was barely seventeen
when ne first suffered the pangs OF unre-
quilted love; he was but nineteen when
he courted Miss Betsy Fauntleroy and
was rejected by her; the passion OF his
lie came little later, and was inspired
by married woman, Sally Cary, the wife
OF his friend, George William Fairfax.
The lady must have rebuked him, yet his
last letter to her was penned only four
months before he became engaged to the
Widow Custis, the richest woman In the
colony. His marriage, which took place
three months later, gave him absolute Q
control Of one third of the Custis patri-
mony, and the remainder of the estate
came into his hands as guardian. Wash
ington, in other words, was one OF the
very few Americans who have neither
inherited Hor made money, but who have
married il.
At the time OF his union to Mrs. Custis,
Washington was an imposing example OF
physical manhooc,' but he was by no
means ideally perfect even from this
point of view. His feet were abnormally
large, his face bore the disfguring traces
Of small pox, and his teeth vera defec-
tive, owing apparently to fondness for
sweets. The lack of expression which
was noticed in his face during the latter
part OF his career was doubtless due to
his false teeth. 1t Is well known that he
smiled rarely, .st, when he did, his smile
gave an uncommon beauty to his count
enance.
Drinking, gambling and swearing were,
as Gea. Greedy reminds us, the vices of
eighteenth century Virginia, and the
wonder Is not that Washington was
sometimes chargeable with these vices,
but that he to large extent outgrew
them. To the last he had wine on his
table, yet, when in command of the Con-
tinentaI army, he applied a hundred
lashest every man found drunk, and in
advising his nephew he says: "kefrain
from drink, which Is a g urce OF ell evil
and the ruin of half the workmen of this
country" In the purchase OF lottery
tickets Washington INDUCED during the
-. I-S-
rangements made Tor the foundation OF
the city which bears his name. Gam bling
In general, however, he denolnoes In q
letter to Bushrod Washington, as ga vice
productive OF every possible i'll That
Lee was rebuked with an oath at Mon
mouth is uDquestionable,a and few other
lapses OF the kind may be found in WASH
ington's early letters, but Gen. Greedy
assures us that III his later writings 1t is
very seldom that any stronger phrase
than "would to God'' drops from his pen.
Washington was like many OF her men in
finding it difficult to live under the same
roof with a mother-in- law. At one time
be invited his wife's mother to ma';e
Mount Vernon her home. but In sui bse-
ouent letters quoted by General Greely,
he seys: 81 will never again have two
women in my house, when ! am there
myself" His own mother, also, was a
trial to him in more than one particular.
Ii will be remem bered that Washington
would accept no salary for his services to
his country during the Revolutionary
war. His mother, however, insisted that
the colony of Virginia should settle a
pension upon her for her sons services,
and it required Washington's direct in
terposition to thwart the unseemly move.
To make good the deficiencies In her
current accounts she continually drew on
him, until he was obliged to counsel her
TO lease her estate and live with one OF
her children, adding that she might stay
at Mount Vernon, provided she would
dress for dinner.
II love of ones fellow men constitutes
Christianity Washington had Il, but Gen.
eral Greedy can find no evidence that he
ever took communion In his own church,
the Episcopal, or any other. lie did not
hesitate to travel on Sunday, and on that
day made at least one contract. During
four months that he spent In Philadel-
phia i'm 1857 he attended church but six
times, once at Catholic mass, once at a
Quaker meeting house, once with Presby-
terians, and thrice with the Episcopal
ians. General Greeley vouches for the