Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-05-01
WASHINGTON'S LOVE AFFAIRS.


ception of the Original Society of Co.
lonial Danes of America, the follow
ing account is noted of Washington's
social life:
Washington was intensely human as
he was supremely great. He loved
women, he was fond of sport, he was
great hunter, he was the best horse
man of his age, he delighted in balls
and parties and was a gallant dancer,
he travelled hundreds of miles to wit
ness q trial of speed between famous
horses, and in common with the uni
versal habit of his time took his chances
in the lottery. While never drunk
ard or Incorporate in any way, he was
a free liver and generous and jovial
host. He seems to have been unhap-
by in his earlier love scrapes. He was
6 feet 2 inches high, straight as an ar.
row, perfectly formed, except that be
had phenomenally large hands and
feet, and his face was pockmarked with
the smallpox which he caught at the
Barbados. The Colonial girl flirted
recklessly with him, but never seemed
to fall in love with him. He writes to
one of his correspondents letter from
Lord Fairfax's in which he says:
my place of residence is at present
at his lordship's, where might, were
my heart disengaged, pass my time
very pleasantly, as there is very
agreeable young lady lives in the same
house, but as that is only adding fuel
to the fire, it makes me the more un-
easy, for by often and unavoidably
being in company with her revives my
former passion for your lowland beauty,
whereas were I to live more retired
from young women 1 might in some
measure alleviate my sorrows by bury
ing that which is a troublesome passion
in the grave of oblivion or eternal for
getfulness, for, as 1 am very we'll
assured, that is the only antidote or
remedy that 1 shall be relieved by or
only recess that can administer any
cure or help to me-"
Who was this "lowland beauty ?" is
a mooted question which probably can
never be decided. 1t has been discov-
cred that he paid earnest attention TO
and his heart was deeply touched by
Lucy Grymes, Mary Bland, Betsy
Fauntleroy and Alice Fairfax. Of all
these he was absorbed in and devoted
to Betsy Fauntleroy. He worshiped
at her shrine for several years, until a
rival carried her off.
Washington was the most industrious
of correspondents, and in his letters
revealed his most secret passions and
desires. But, though We know how
tenderly he loved and how long he
grieved over the loss of Betsy Faun-
tleroy, we are still in doubt as to who
was the lowland beauty who seemed
to take possession of his heart as soon
as the charmer of the house was driven
or retired from its portals.
Alas for Betsy. She failed to fore
cast the future, and as the wife of a
Virginia planter lived to see her re-
jected lover become the greatest man
of that or any other age. Washington
became more popular with the ladies
after his return from Braddock's de-
feat and the massacre. In that battle
he had two horses shot under him, and
four bullets through his uniform, and
had held his Virginia regiment steady
when the veteran relocated British
soldiers had all run away. When he
returned, the hero of the hour, every
Virginia house sent invitations to the
gallant young soldier to come and Wis
it. He was here and there, and every
where, but his heart was mortgaged
beyond redemption to the proud beau
ty who would not smile upon him.
One of these letters Of welcome to him
is from the Fairfax home. Three
young ladies in the house party write
him this letter, which shows his new
born popularity from Braddock's
bloody field:
"Dear Sir-After thanking heaven
for your safe return, I must accuse
you of great unkindness in refusing us
the pleasure of seeing you this night.
do assure you that nothing but our
being satisfied that our company would
be disagreeable should prevent US from
trying if our legs would not carry us
to Mount Vernon this night. But if
you will not come to US tomorrow
morning very early, we shall be at
Mount Vernon. Sally Fairfax, Ann
Elizabeth Dent"
From the home of the Randolphs
came another invitation, closing with
the message that "Mrs. Cary and Miss
Randolph join in wishing you that sort
of glory which will most endear you
to the fair SEX"
In order to settle the question of the
regularity of his commission as colo
mel, Washington made journey to
Boston. Beverly Robinson, Virgin
ian, had married susanna Phillips, a
daughter of Frederick Phillips, the
patron of the great manor by the Gro
ton. Robinson entertained his friend,
now famous because of his gallantry
at Fort Duquesne, at his house, and
induced his wife to have her sister,
Mary Phillips, as guest at the same
time. Here Washington's susceptible
heart was subject to an entirely diff
ferent charm from the English ladies
in the Barbados, or the lovely Vir-
ginians of his native state. 1t was the
metropolitan girl-the New Yorker
as typical then as now-self-possessed,
travelled, with the experience of sew
eral seasons in the society of the larg-
est city of the country, familiar with
the attention of British officers and IT,
tlod fort,pa bnptors a hoautv and an