New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
WASHLNGTON'.S HOME LIFE.


THE FIRsT AMERIGAN M An His Homes and His
Crown svo PIP. l4o. Harper & Bros
In George Washington's own day the vulgar
and mean spirited sought by unwarranted accu-
sations to bring him to their level: it was even
said that he q thief, and for a sum con-
temptibly small. Later critics of the same cali
bre. animated by the same motives have flung
cheap sneers at a greatness they could not
understand. Such moral greatness it is more or
less the uneasy tendency of mankind to mini
miZe. and welcome, therefore, any sincere
effort TO portray for the general reader the real
Washington. 1t is the man at home with whom
the late Leila Herbert has dealt, and truthful
and attractive drawing she has made Her
studies We're careful and serious, and she used
her material with feminine practically, taste
and sense of the picturesque which merit high
praise. Her volume is, despite some faults Of
style a pleasant and entertaining one, and it
may well hold place beside the graver but
less intimate and humanity interesting histories
Of the whose noble and lovable character
il commentaries.
OF Washington a husband here are many
bright gllmpses We see the handsome bride
groom of twenty-seven beaming with happiness
at his little dark-eyed bride-a bride conquered
ii is hinted by "the quality which most quickly
makes woman love-masterfulness unmixed
a
gentleman in every fibre. he made Mrs Wash
ington a most contented wife He was some
times absent-minded, to be sure II have often
seen my grandmother" said Nelly Custis when
she had something to communicate or a request
to make, seize him by the buttonhole to COM
mand his attention. when he would look down
upon her with the most benignant smile and
become at once attentive to her and her wishes
which were never sighted" Careful to save her
att ha aII.-
ing from one house to another and the putting
up of the furniture. Her two little children
four and six years old at the time of the widows
marriage to the Virginia colonel he straight
way took into his kind heart his own, and
when the delicate little Patsy died the stately
stepfather, who tenderly loved her, knelt at her
bedside. praying for her recovery not perceiving
that the breath had already left her BODY To
her brother Jacky's children Washington was
a true parent in affection and care Those who
are accustomed to think OF him as the stiffest
most formal OF beings. will find 1, pleasanter
ideal in the white haired President laughing
merrily over saucy little Nelly Custis's very
small jokes. There must have been a pretty
scene when little Nelly, out Of her feminine
vanity besought grandpapa to wear TO her we'd
ding his gorgeous new uniform commander
in chief Of the provisional army, organized n
fight France. Not he: the old Continental unt
form. bun and blue, Which ought to have smelt
Of powder, for 1t had been in battle was the
costume he chose, and the bride had TO submit.
AS the decided master OF his own house Wash
ington generously hospitable but demanaoz
economy in details from his servants W. GA
retold here the anecdote of the shad which the
President sent away from the table IN ars.r
upon learning that ii cost So. large snn, IN
those days. But while he resented what ba ts,,
was undue extravagance, he liked a certs,,
measure OF stateliness and dignity. and ma6a 8,
his business TO that they were secured ~