The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-14
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ing the records of that period, one won
ders, not that Washington was sometimes
chargeable with these offenses, but that
he to large extent outgrew them. As
we ultimately know him, he is a product,
not of birth or accident, but of growth
Lafayette, with a Frenchman's knack
for making pretty phrases once said of
the mother of Washington that he had
seen the only Roman matron living in his
day, and there can be no question that from
Mary Ball her son inherited many of his
strongest and most admirable qualities.
However, people of strong characters are
not always pleasant ones to live with,
and, while no doubt exists that the out
ward Difference Washington invariably
showed his mother was prompted by deep
and sincere affection, his letters prove
that his patience was often sorely tried
| by her eccentricities, which grew more in
sistent as age crept upon her The self
willed and independent old lady. until long
past the age of 3d. persisted in maintains
ing an establishment and in conducting
| a plantation of which she was sole mis-
! tress, and which she could not herself
manage. At the same time she consid-
cred that her son was a banker VINO could
| be drawn on to make good all deficiencies,
no matter what their cause.
If mans relations toward his wife and
/ ilONJitI Nc Il tCHl Oh MS IUdBiOOu anu lO-
bility the test is one splendidly sustained
! by Washington. 1t has just been shown
| that he was a dutiful, considerate and low
ing son; his union with Martha Gusts
! proved a wise and happy one. Their mar
! rage was probably not an affair of the
heart with either of them. When they
| met the days of romance were over for
both, but they were fitted for one another,
and, although Washington's letters TO his
wife were destroyed by her, there is not
lacking abundant proof that they grew to-
gether as time went on, and that each
never failed to show for the other that
| consideration and respect which are the
best guarantee of marital happiness Mrs.
! Washington had always at heart the hap
! piness and comfort of her husband, while,
of the many recorded instances of his ten
der solichude for her there Is none more
touching than that connected with his
| last illness. Attacked suddenly and Sc
riousy after midnight, Washington's NAL
ady was at least hastened by his unwil-
| lingness that his wife should incur the
| risk of a cold by rising during the bitter
| winter night to relieve his sufferings How
ever, it may be noted in passing that
| Washington, like many other men, found
! it difficult to live under the same roof
! with mother-in-laW At one time he in
vited his wifes mother to make Mount
| Vernon her home, but in a subsequent let
| ter declared that he would never again
have two women in his house, when he
was there himself
"You are the only human being for
| whom / ever felt an awful reverence"
| Lord Erskine, the great English barris-
| ter once wrote TO Washington, and con-
| temporary accounts agree that from youth
to old age he was hedged about with a
| dignity that no mortal ever broke
through. This, however, was not stiff
ness nor hauteur, and it did not prevent
| him from being a generous and helpful
| neighbor, kindly and considerate mas
ter. and a loyal and sympathetic lend.
| His hospitality was open-handed and law
! ish. and his acts of charity wise, generous
| and unceasng. He kept one crib of corn
| on each of his plantations for the poo 4,
| and during one year Of scarcity he actu-
ally bought corn for 81 a bushel for free
| distribution. He also maintained a boat
| and seine for the use of his neighbors,
and sent a market cart to Alexandra
| three times a week to get money for his
| charities. However, Washington brooke |
no interference with his private plans AMI
| permitted no interference with his rights.
| be they of person or property On the
other hand he gave equal consideration
| to the rights of others, and, when he
! found himself in the wrong, was always
brave enough to make acknowledgment OF
| the fact.
Washington was once asked If the report
was true that one of his slaves had run
away, taking with him certain important
! papers Sir" said he sternly, II never
| had a slave run away" and that, judged
by the standard Of his time, he was a most
humane master, is evident 70 any one who
| reads his many letters to the superintend-
ent of his estate during the years of his
| enforced absence. Food in plenty, good
clothing, care in illness. harvest rum, sea-
sonable gifts, with moderate tasks-all
/ ipc cd
! But he approved of the whip as a last
resort with an unruly slave. Gen. Henry
| A. Wise, when canvassiug Fairfax county
| against the Know Nothings, found two old
| negroes who had belonged to Washington.
| One, when a boy, had witnessed an Illus
| tration of his masters use Of the rod
/ when the occasion seemed to require II.
| It seemed that old Sam was a rough car
! penter, constantly engaged in building and
! repairing cabins Washington cautioned
| him in mortising logs for the cabins 20 cut
half through the log on one side, then turn
| Il over and cut through from the other
! side so the Joint would be in the middle
and the log less liable to decay. The Cen
eral rode ia the woods one day and asked
Sam II he had strictly followed his in
structions.
Eyes, Marse George" said he; Il tuns
'en over and mortises jes' as you tells
me-"
washington gave his horses reins to
his body servant, who always accomDan-
| led him got down, scratched under one
| OF the logs with his fingers and found
all the spllnters running downward.
Sam" said he, you have lied 10 me;
now take that" and whack went a stick
over his shoulders.
Ills bootback had similar experience.
II was his duty 10 polish the Generals
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