The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-04-14

Washington, however, two years
after the Mary Philips incident, met al
a country house, Mrs. Martha Dan.
bridge Gusts. She was widow twenty.
six years of age and seven months OF
sorrow. She not only belonged to one
of The most distinguished families, but
she was the wealthiest woman in the
colony of Virginia. Her sorrow was
allevated by the presence of two little
angel Custises, Jack and Patsy. Wash
ipgton wrote to his physician before ar
irving at this country house in vely
bad health that he considered himself
a doomed man, and that he was ex-
pecting very soon bis " decay" This
was on March 5, 1858. But the sick
man left this hospitable home at
Williamsburg on April l entirely re-
covered in health and engaged to the
beautiful widow. We know very little
of Mrs. Washington except that che
was petite, brunette, very pretty, and
could not spell. Washington destroyed
all her letters to him on this account.
Most of her letters which are in exist
ence were written by Washington and
copied by her. But she proved good
wife. She was born lady and had all
the high instincts of thoroughbred.
Jefferson and Madison and Hamilton,
who had met her, all seemed to be i'm
pressed with her limited intellectual
attainments, and equally impresse with
her perfect good breeding. Washing
ton never wandered in his affection for
her and always alluded to her as the
partner of all his domestic enjoym ents.
They lived happily together for forty
years. In his last illness he lay for
four hours at night with that chill
which killed him, because he would
not wake his wife and have her get up
in the cold. This consideration for her
put him almost beyond help when
morning came.
He was the most attentive of hus-
bands. Fearing she might overwork
herself with the multitude of guests
that thronged Mt. Vernon he secured a
housekeeper. He saved her the trouble
of ordering her own clothes to large
extent. He was martinez on appear
ances, and extremely particular both as
to his own clothes and as to hers. White
satin and black velvet were his favorite
materials for his own coats. He seems
to have had some doubt as to the
widows fidelity when they were first
engaged, for he records in that account
book, in which, during his whole life,
he put very scrupulously every ex-
penditure, that he sent to Philadelphia
for the ring, and that it cost only two
pounds, sixteen shilings. In the same
book we find among his orders to Lon
don for her were salmon. cOlOred
tabby of the enclosed pattern, with
satin flowers, to be made in sacque;
one cap, handkerchief, tucker, and
ruff1es, to be made of Brussels lace or
point, proper to wear with the above
negligee, and to cost twenty pounds;
one pair of black and one pair of white
satin shoes of the smallest, and one
his London agent: "Mrs. Washington
sends home a green sacque to get
cleaned or fresh dyed of the same color,
made up into handsome sacque again
would be her choice, but if the cloth
won't afford that, then to be thrown
into gentle nightgown."
When Washington became General
of the army, and the army went into
winter quarters, this good woman made
the long and perilous journeys from her
home in Mt. Vernon and spent every
winter in camp with her husband. At
Valley Forge they lived in hut. She
not only looked after him, but presided
with grace and dignity at the headquar-
ters' table, where his staff and every
general officer were welcome every day.
By her kindness and attention to the
sick soldiers she did much to prevent
IF
great hardships which endured, and to
alleviate the sufferings of the i'll and
wounded. Both she and the General
were passionately fond of dancing.
During the war, at winter headquarters
they arranged assemblies on the SUBJ
scription pattern the same as those of
Delmonico's, the Waldorf, and Sher-
RVS, and they were called "assem-
blies." They had especially notable
assemblies at Germantown, at Norris
town, and at Philadelphia. The WASH
ingtons always arranged winter as
sembly at Alexandria for the families
of the country. Mrs. Washington did
not care much for these festivities, but
she sacrificed herself because the par
ties relieved her husband from the tre-
mendous strain to which he was subject
both as General of the armies during
the Revolution and as President of the
United States during the formative pc
riod of the republic. 1t was not I'M
common with Washington at these as
semblies to dance from ten O'Clock un-
til daylight. He was impartial, and
tried TO secure each lady in the room
for partner.
The one function which the man of
to-day avoids is the afternoon tea. But
Washington took great pleasure in this
form of entertainment. He frequently
had teas at his quarters in camp, and
while President was often at such par
ties both in New York and Philadel-
phia. His diary and letters refer to
the delightful teas at this or the other
home, where he met twenty, or at one
time seventy charming ladies'. There
is something in the adulation of women
for great man to which the GOODNESS
have not been insensible, and Wash
ington was very susceptible. With
these attractive and brilliant colonial
danes pressing him 10 take another
and just one more cup of tea, it is q