The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-19
THE WAY WASHINGTON CELEBRATED
The Father of His Country Enjoyed His Own
Birthday Parties as Much as
Any Guest.

, that day fitted that cap to her own
head, but it is generally known to have
been the lady (much his elder) who was
afterward the mother of his gallant
officer, Lighthouse Harry Lee. This was
difficult youth to provide with the
amusements one would consider nat
ura to his years.
He did not grieve long for the pitt
less one" In a few months he was
signing and moaning after young Miss
Mary Cary, the sister of Mrs. Fairfax
of Belvor. Although he could neither
spell nor punctuate, he wrote love
poems.
At this time Washington spent mudl
of his time at Belvoir, and it was they
who taught him how the birthday of a
young gentleman should be celebrated
1t may be that Lord Fairfax recog-
nized a kindred spirit in this stalwart
handsome boy who was in love before
he even owned pair of silk stockings
and who could break a meddlesome colt
and thrash an impudent man long be-
fore that. Lord Fairfax was a delight
full English gentleman who had come
away to Virginia because a lady had
broken his heart for one reason, and
for another because his mother, q
daughter of Lord Culpepper, had left
him a goodly portion of the state of
Virginia
He called himself a hermit, but there
was no such lavish entertainment or
magnificent gentleman in the colony
He kept great packs of hounds and
constantly hunted, and it was in this
way that he first met young Washing
ton and took him under his protection
and into his friendship.
To celebrate the 18th or 18th birthday
of his young friend he gave a great
party. The old letters which kept the
records of it are not particular about
the year, but they say that it was
great occasion. The invitations went
from the Potomac, up and down the
James and Belvoir was opened wide to
a house party Of young people and old.
and for days they had been coming.
Some came on horseback with negro
grooms and maids carrying bandboxes
on more horses behind them. and some
in great family coaches with the four
or six horses, which not only added to
the state Of the occasion. but were nee
eseary ITO drag the great, clumsy We
hicles through the Virginia mud of Feb
ruary.
AS soon as the young men and the
young ladies arrived they were taken
to their chambers. where they dressed
themselves in their holiday gear and
went down to stand. aud receive the
new arrivals who came, some to stay,
and near neighbars to offer their con-
gratulations to the young man whose
friends We're celebrating his birthday,
to drink a glass of punch or Madeira
and promise ITO come back for the dance
in the evening. 1t was with no idea of
honoring Washington particularly that
the party was given: He was friend
of the Fairfaxes. they wanted to give
gathering" and this was an excuse.
In that colony at that time nothing
was so general as house parties. When
ever family was atshome it had visit
. {fH% rsr1r hiatt, 13,,1r
and yellow and blue "tabbies" standing
in the light Of the great logs which
bazed up the chimney at Belvoir had
little idea that the tall, handsome boy
in the fine scarlet waistcoat, with the
straight legs in the 'marbled' silk
stockings was going to have his birth
day celebrated long after they We're
forgotten dust. They laughed and f1irt-
ed exactly after their kind. whether in
1894 or 1899 while Washington solemnly
drank toasts. These elegant young
ladies of his own age (grls We're in so
ciety at IS in the colony thought more
of the older men than of the widow
Washingtons son until the evening
came and the hour for dancing. Wash
ington had two passions all his life
One was for dancing and the other for
fox hunting. He never even in his last
years, tired of either.
We do not even know whether this
birthday was celebrated on the 18th or
the ed of February. There was doubt
about the proper date later. The first
public celebration of the birthday of
Washington was on the 18th of Febru-
ary, 1884. When he was 81 the custom
was inaugurated by the Wing club of
New York, who gave a dinner then.
One patriotic member wrote a song
which was sung year after year, and it
Is still preserved by the New York His
torical society. 1t was long and loyal.
and these are some of the verses:
Americans rejoice,
While songs employ each voice
Let trumpets sound,
The thirteen stripes display,
In flags and streamers gay
IT'S Washingtons birthday
| Let joy abound.
| From scenes of rural peace,
| From affluence and ease,
| At Freedoms call;
| A hero from his birth,
Great Washington stands forth
The scourge of George and North
| And Tyrants all!
Those mighty chiefs of old,
Caesars and heroes bold
Who realms have won;
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