Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-22

Unfortunately some OF
them have not survived the century
which has elapsed since the greatest OF
oil Americans Went the way OF all
flesh. Many Of them remain, however,
especially among those which Washing
ton used as headquarters during his
campaigns. Some Of them have been
borne away pisoemeal, lovingly and
With an almost Justlhable vandalism,
by those who value such mementoes as
mute witnesses of the former presence
OF one reverenced above all his fellows.
The house Ia which George Washing
ton was born burned 20 the ground
when the future first. president was
three years Of age and the family took
shelter IN rude cabin hastily erected
on tho site until a new home could be
selected, This earliest abiding place
OF the great VIrginian was at Wake
field. IN Westmorand county, and until
recent years the two brick chimneys---
nil that remained from the sudden con-
fagration which made tho Washing
TONS homeless Sun standing. Al
the present, however. hardly brick
can be found after dllgent searching
the relic hunter has been thorough and
the site has almost reverted TO its orig.
inal condition.
Fortunately for the Washingtons
they soon had another home. They
owned another estate, In Stafford coun-
ty, opposite Fredericksburg, and as
soon as they could right themselves
they removed to Il and lived In a house
which was the exact counterpart OF tho
one that burned, They lived there UNI
I'll the father, Augustine Washington
died, aud for some time afterward--un-
I'll George went TO live with his elder
half brother Lawrence. who had in
heritcd Mount Vernon from his father
and was living on that nne estate tho
happy go lucky life Of a Virginia
planter.
The Washingtons were not rich at
this time, but they were In very COM
Portable circumstances and had rich
friends Lawrence was great favor
lite, and Lord Fairfax was his constant
associate. The eccentric nooleman was
no attached to genial Larry" that he
went out OF his way, and gladly, to do
something for his young half brother.
George made his home at Mount YER
non and shared IN the general pros
perity which came through the friend
ship Of Fairfax. being employed to sur
vey the latter's estates and paid well
for doing It,
AT the death OF Lawrence Washing
Ing Mount Vernon became the proper
~ OF his younger brother. The latter
proceeded without delay to put the es-
tate In order and had just about done
so when the colony sent him TO ne
gotiate with the troublesome French
and Indians. When lie returned he was
appointed aid to Braddock and distln-
guished himself in that generals rather
disappointing campaign, Then he re-
turned 10 his estate, married Mrs
Martha custs and prepared TO settle
down for the remainder Of his life at
beautiful Mount Vernon.
but fate would not have II so. After
few years of happiness and great
prosperity, ut the close Of which he had
become the most conspicuous person In
the colony Of Virginia and also one OF
the richest. he was called to assume the
command OF the army with which the
colonies were about 10 begin the or
sanized struggle for freedom. Dur
ing the six years following he had more
temporary lodging places than any gen.
eral, ancient or modern, who has made
his way into history.
On Jan. 70, his. Washington left
Philadelphia on horseback and jour
neyed In that fashion to Cambridge
Mass. to join the patriot army. The