The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-06
Gen. Greely's Washington.

W uds uUueItdkeu u rescue Tue per
sonality of George Washington from
the fast-deepeniug mist of legend. No
previous biographer has made SO care
ful and candid a study of original docu-
ments. including especially the iunu-
merable letters penned by the subject
himself. The effect of Gen. Greely's
studies, while they reveal many things
which have been mistakenly suppressed,
is to enhance the respect and the afec-
tiop with which the most illustrious
American is regarded by his country
men.
The aim of these researches is fraok.
ly avowed to be to depict Washington
as son, brother, guardian, neigbbor,
slave-master, and citizen, rather than
in the aspect of soldier aad statesman.
The necessity for such a portraiture is
demonstrated 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 ground that the lat
ter, as be is described by his biogra-
piers, is, although great and good, de-
void Of the minor human defects that
would throw ioto relief his virile and
estimable traits. Rightly to appreciate
Washington, it is indispensable to mark
how be edvanced from the environment
of the first half Of the eighteenth cen-
tury toward the higher standards Of the
prescn; age In word, as we uti-
masely kpow him, he is product, rot
OF birth or accident, but Of growth
70 lose sight of WashiDgtou's early
environment is to overlook the force OF
character which enabled him to become
a great and good man in spite Of it.
Gen. Greely recalls all that is meant
by the fact that his youth and early
manhood we're passed in tidewater Vir-
gioia, the population of which had for
its substrata the debasing labor systems
OF lndentared white servants and Afri-
can slaves. At the other extreme of
colonial social was the ruling aristo-
cracy, composed of royal officials, for
malistic clergymeD, aud planters pos
sessed Of great estates. Washington
was born midway between these ex-
tremes-higher than Patrick Henry,
much lower than the Randolpbs and
the Lees. While his progenitors did
not rank among the great land owners,
they were not poor whites; they might
be classed among the minor gentry. It
was by marriage that Washington be-
came what was for eighteen centuries
Virginia plutocrat
From bis boyhood Washington vas
fond of woman. but every autbentc
letter of his shows that be placed them
on the highest plane. ae was barely
II when be Grss Suffered the pangs of
uurequited love be was bet 10 when
he courted Hiss Betsy Fauntleroy and
was rejected by her; the passion of bis
life came little la:er. and vas inspired
by married woman, Sally Gary, the
wife CT his frIeod, George William
Fairfax. The lady mus; have rebuked
him, yet his last letter to her vas pen.
ned only four u;orths before he became
engaged TO the Widow Cussis, she
richest woman 10 the colony His
marriage, which took place three
montbs later, gave him absolute con-
troll of ope-third of the Curtis patri-
mony, End the remainder Of the estate
came into bis hands as guardian.
Washington, in other words, was ore
of the very few Americans who have
neither inherited nor made money, but
who have married it.
a. tie time of his union 10 Mrs.
Gust s Washington was al imposing
example of physical manhood. but he
was by no means ideally perfect even
from this point Of view His feet were
abnormally large; bis face bore the dis
figuring traces of smallpox, and his
teeth we're defective, owiag apparently
to fondness for sweets The lack Of
expression which was noticed in bis
face during the later part OF o;s career
was doubtless due to his false teeth. 1t
is we'll known that be smiled rarely,
but, when he Gid, his smile gave an
uncommon beauty to bis coupteraace
Drinking, gambling and swearing
were as Genera! Grec!y reminds US,
the vices OF eighteenth century Vir-
ginia, and the wonder is. not chat
Washington vas sometimes cbargeab!e
with these vices. but that he to large
extent outgrew them. To the last he
he had wine on his table, whea in cou,-
mand Of the Continental army, be
applied hundred lashes to every man
found drunk. and 10 advising his neph
ew he says: "Refraiu from drink. |
which is source of all evil aod the
ruin Of half the workmen of this COUP
try In the purchase of lottery tick
cts Washington INDUCED during the
Revolutionary war. and as late as the |