Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-02-23

"Plunderer of Villages and wanted
him to marry one of their maidens anu
settle down among them.
He did better. Three years after
! ward he went to New York on bust
ness. extending his journey as far
north as Boston. But while resting
from the fatigues of travel in the old
Dutch town he spent week or two
visiting Beverley Robinson, formerly
of Virginia. Through him he met his
sister-in-law, Mary Phillipse, whose
father was one of the ''solid men" of
Gotham. She took a certain fancy to
the tall young southerner who had
been fighting on the frontier and
boasted a military title. He took
something more than a fancy to her,
though she was his elder, better edu-
Gated and more accustomed to polite
society. So, on that very brief ac-
duaintance, he proposed, only to be
taught the difference between a fancy
and a matrimonial engagement
Two years afterward she was mar
ried to a colonel in the British service
Roger Norris-a man of distinction
in his day. Washington always blamed
himself for being in too great haste
in the matter, so he bore no grudge If
he had, revenge was on the knees of
the gods; for they had not been mar
ried quite eighteen months before they
were fugitives, while Mary's "old
fame" the newly chosen commander
in-chief of the continental army, made
his headquarters in their home.
If Washington thought he lost Mary
Phillipse by the precipitancy with
which he urged his suit, ne did not
abide by the teachings of experience.
About the time the New York beauty
was welded to her tory colonel
Washington had occasion to go to Will
liamsburg to consult physician in
regard to an ailment which did not
prove serious in the least. His road
took him to the house of sprightly
widow, only seven months in mourn
ing. She was rs, just three months
his junior. She owned $4,000 acres of
land, 200 slaves, large amount of i'm
proved property in the city of Will
liamsburg, and she had some money
out at interest. The young man
hitched his horse, received an invita-
ton to stay to supper. accepted 1t, and
as soon as the meal was over. pro-
posed. following, it would seem, an old
proverb in regard to suing for a
widows hand.
q r~fh n1of nn TO Pat
little later that her property was get
ting into confusion and badly needed
a man to look after it, Possibly, too,
her two children required fathers
care. Whatever the reason, she &C
cepted him as promptly as he had pro-
posed. The engagement ring cost him
e2 and 16 shillings, but it must be re-
membered, as was remarked when
Washington's feat of throwing a dol
lar across the Potomac was unsuccess-
fully attempted, that money went
farther in those days. Eight months
afterward the happy twain were mar
ried. With her money Washington
rebuilt the mansion he had inherited
at Mount Vernon, and it was her prop
erty which made him the wealthiest
man in. the thirteen colonies. But
Martha Washington was not Mary. She
knew so little about domestic cares
that he had to hire housekeeper. And
Washington also wrote her letters for
her.
Though Washington's mother was a
stronger character than his father,
there was but one other of their chill
dren who resembled both the mother
and her eldest boy. This was Betty
Washington. She had the same broad
face. thin lips, large nose and partially
closed eyes. That little protuberance
beside the jaw, which some irreverent
Americans have attributed to the use
OF chewing tobacco. really was due 4
the spring which kept George WASH
ington's set of boxwocd teeth open
when he opened his mouth. Those
the worlds fair. Thisfifp law d(e?ht |
teeth, by the way, were exhibited az
the worlds fair. This Betty did not {