The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-18

TTTTTITTW-
ate and TO correct the spelling of the let
ters of Washington before giving them 20
the public. Mrs. Washington, toward the
close of her life, destroyed all of her hus--
bands letters TO her. This first diary and
memorandum book shows that the work OF
suppression has been applied to Washing
TONS early writings with free hand. In
one place part of an effort at blank verse
has been removed.
Perhaps the only poetry that George
Washington ever attempted is written in
his own hand and spelling in this book,
covering his life from 174S to 1850 Love
was the theme:
Oh Ye Gods why should my Poor Resist
less Heart
Stand to oppose thy might and Power
AT last surrender to Cupid's feather'd
Dart
And now lays Bleeding every Hour
For her that's Pityless of my grief and
Woes
And will not on my Pity take
He sleep among my most inveterate Foes
And with gladness never wish TO make
In deluding sleepings let my Eyelids close
That i'm an enraptured Dream l may
In soft lulling sleep and gentle repose
Possess those joys denied by Day
From your bright sparkling Eyes / was
undone;
Rays, you have; more transparent than
the Sun
Amidst its glory in the rising Day
None can you equal IN your bright array:
Constant in your calm and unspotted
Mind;
Equal to all, but will TO none Prove kind.
So knowing, seldom one so Young, youn
Find.
All! woes me that should Love and
conceal
Long have I wishd but never dare re-
veal
Even though surely Loves Pains I feel;
Xerxes that great, wasn't free from Gu
pid's Dart,
And all the greatest Heroes felt the smart.
Three letters, the rough drafts OF which
appear in the book, all relate 10 an affair
of the heart The first, in the order in
which they We're evidently written by
Washington, is this:
Dear Friend John-As its the greatest
mark of friendship and esteem you can
show to an absent Friend In often Writ
ing to him so hope you'll not deny me
that Favour as its so ardently wish'd and
desired by me its the greatest pleasure
l can forsee of having in fairfax to hear
from my friends Particularly yourself
was my affections disengaged / might
perhaps form some pleasure In the CONVEX
sasion or an agreeable Young Lady as
there's one now Lives In the same house
to my former affectn for by often see
ing her brings the other into my remem-
brance whereas perhaps was she not Of
ten and (unavoidably) presenting herself
to my view l might in some measure ell
eviate my sorrows by burying the other
in the grave of Oblivion l am we'll con-
WINGED my heart stands in defiance of all
others but only she that's given 1t cause
enough to dread second assault and
from different Quarter tho l well know
let 1t have as many attacks as it will
from others they can't be more fierce than
1t has been l could wish to know IL you
have taken your intended trip downwards
or not if you with what success as also
to know how my friend Lawrence drives
on with his art OF courtship as 1 fancy
you may both nearly guess how 1t viii
respectively go with each Of you.
The next letter Is addressed to Dear
Friend Robin" 1t is the letter which has
become famous for a mysterious reference
to the "Lowland Beauty" George Wash
ington wrote as follows;
Dear Friend Robin: AS It's the greatest
mark of friendship and esteem absent
friends can show each other in Writing
and often communicating their thoughts
to his fellow companions makes me en-
deavor to signaIize myself in acquainting
you from time to time and at an times nv
situation and employments of life and
could wish you would take half the Pains
of writing me a Letter by any opportunity
as you may be well assured of lis meeting
with very welcome reception my Place
of residence is at present at His Lordships
where l might were my heart disengaged
pass my time very pleasantly as there's a
very agreeable Young Lady lives In the
same house (Col. George Fairfax's Wife's
sister but as that's only adding FueI to
fire 1t makes me the more uneasy for bv
often and IIUaV0fdabtt baIpor In
with her revives my former Passion for
your Low Land Beauty whereas was / TO
live more retired from Young Women [
might in some measure enviate my sorrows
by burying that chast and troublesome
Passion In the grave of oblivion or eter-
nan forgetfuiness for as / am very well
assured that's the only antdaote or rene
dy that l ever snail be re leivd by or only
recess that can administer any cure or help
to me as / am well convinced was / ever TO
attempt anything / should only get a de-
niaI which would be adding grief to uneasi-
ness"
The third of these drafts of private cor
respondence follows so closely after the
others in the book that It seems to bear
a relationship TO the subject matter of
them. 1t Is given In fun.
Dear Sally: This con1e1 to Fredricks-
burg fair in hopes of meeting "a speedy
Passage to you If your not there which
hope your get shortly aItho l am almost
discouraged from writing TO you as this Is
my fourth to you since 1 received any
from yourself l hope you'll not make the
Old Proverb good out of sight out of Mind
as It's one of the greatest pleasures / can
yet foresee Of having In Fairfax in often
hearing from you hope youl not deny II
me.
"I Pass the time much more agreeab bier
than what l imagined / should as there j
a very agreeable Young Lady lives in the
said house whore / reside Colo George
Fairfax's Wife Sister, that IN a great
Measure cheats my sorrow and detected
ness tho not so as to draw my thoughts
altogether from your Parts / could wish
to be with you down there with ala my
heart but as It Is thing almost Imprac-
tkable shall rest myself where / am with
hopes of shortly having some Minutes of
your transactions In your Parts which Will
be weicomely received by Your"
That Washington was smitten is evil
dent. As to the identity of the lady there
is dispute even among those who are bio
graphers. The young lady to whom Wash
ipatOn refers as one who might have prov