New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-22
WASHINGTON ASAFATHER
Details as to Home Life and Up
bringing of Has Stepchaidr-en.

Under the title George Washington as
Father a writer in the current issue OF 'Har-
per's Weekly discusses interesting phase of
the character Of the. Father OF His Country"
The article says that several writers have an
nounced that Providence denied children to
George Washington in order that he might become
the father of his country. This dlvination of the
counsels of Heaven is original with many that
it may be esteemed the general judgment Yet
neither the General nor Mrs. Washington expected
their marriage TO be chdless; for the hopes of
lady who loves her lord may be plainly read be-
tween the lines Of a letter, dated June l, 1860,
from the mistress of Mount Vernon TO her sister
Anna Mrs Burwell Bassett:
II think myself in a better state Of health than
1 have been for long time. don't doubt l
shall present you a fine healthy girl again when
I come down in the fall. which is Mr..
Washingtons business will suffer him to leave
here
Washington had known little of family life
when in 1853. he began his home at Mount Vernon.
Away at school, from home he did not the
death-bed Of his father He had mingled little
with his younger brothers and sisters. because he
was absent at school for most Of the year. His
latter youth had been occupied with distant sur
veys: and with his early manhood had come public
missions in the wilderness. Then on the and
in the West Indies with Lawrence Washington,
his sick half-brother; at Fort Duquesne; and
the ohio with Gist and Croghan-all his life had
been away from home. Even the home which he
had seen at Mount Vernon had been house OF
sorrow There three of the children of Lawrence
Washington had died. Lawrence himself
constant invalid, and when he died the only
daughter he left behind soon followed him to the
grave: and then apparently weary of such scenes.
his widow married again and went TO live else
where.
Five wears afterward the fruit trees were in
bud and the fields green. and George Wash
ington brought his wife and children to make
Mount Vernon e happy home. Almost as soon as
they arrived. May covered the hills with iowersA
His affection for the children a fathers true
love His agony of prayer beside the dying bed
Of Patsy Gusts though unanswered, turned him
for a while TO religion. He kept his sagacty busy
whenever the interests of Jonn Parke were con
cerned and mis- conduct in the upbrfng1ng OF that
somewhat wayward youth developed lessenlng OF
rein and softness Of disposition that were never
shown elsewhere than at home John Parke was
led with a tender hand through youth to marriage,
and beyond and had firm support on the path Of
honor and the ascent toward fame tutors at
tended him at home until he was over fifteen years
Of age and then the Rev. Mr.. Boucher instructed,
If not trained him at his boarding school in An
ma polls When home for the holidays Washington
gave him abundant sport in fox hunting and the
other manly athletics of the day. but insisted that
when at school he should study with something
like thorourbness Instead of this John Parke's
''only books were woman's looks The first news
Washington had of him was that the youth not
then nineteen years of age had courted, won and
was engaged to be married to the belle of Annapo-
iis-the first risen star of the splendid Maryland
galaxy that yet lights the ball of the Naval Acad
envy. He had won the heart and hand of Miss
Nellie Calvert the second daughter of Mr.. Benedict
Calvert descendant of Lord Baltimore.
1t was a trying situation A lad with the finest
prospects OF any boy in America might be ruined
by a nisstep. 1t is said in Alexandria that in his
early manhood Washington never saw colt that
he was not able control Now he needed all his
horse sense 10 break in and guide the boy he loved
best Of all the sons of men He mistrusted his own
capacity in affairs OF literature and scholarship.
but he knew life. and he knew that his stepson
would need for prosperous career all the supple
strength that training gives; that he was not yet
trained, and was disposed to resent training.
Washington never failed to ask advice when in
doubt, and he asked the opinion OF John Parke's
teacher, DIR. Boucher DIR. Boucher seems to have
advised that the ocean be placed between the
lovers, and that he be allowed to carry the young
gentleman to Europe tour of education The
teacher believed that absence conquers love: but
Washin gton saw in this plan a proposal to break
the engagement: and for this homage was not a
valid plea in his code OF honor So he dismissed
Mr.. Boucher's plan with curt reminder that John
Parke by means ripe for of travel"
He knew that sometimes a good method of train
ing a colt is drive him with a mate and he
wrote to the young lady's father.
he informed Mr.. Calvert that the match would