The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-26

oAAN ~ ~ VII . JuukLuOht etCh ~
onces cannot be accepted rs correct and
adequate. Mr.. Balfour's assertion that
tho construction of strategic railways
by Russia In Afghanistan would provoke
Great Britain to war did not render the
character Of Anslo-Afghan policy more
Ineligible OF remove the disadvantages
inseparable from the existing state Of
things. On the contrary, the assertion Is
pronounced most misleading because nc
such contingency as the construction Of
Russian railways In ~Afghanistan itself
would be likely to occur until Russia was
prepared to strike with all her strength
in Persia and A~fghanistan. The question
Of Anglo-Afghan relations, therefore, re-
mains for solution. having given rise to a
situation which was regarded by the late
vioeroy, Lord Curzon, and every member
Of his council with the gravest appre-
hension.' M. W. H.
Letters and aecoIections Of George wash
ington.
In a volume OF nearly 800 pages Messrs.
Doubleday, Page q Co. have published a
collection Of letters addressed by George
Washington to Tobias Lear and others be-
tween 100 and 1890, together with q diary
of Washingt on's last days, kept by mir.
Lear. The compiler Of this book, Louisa
Lear Eyre, a granddaughter of Tobias Lear,
tells us in an introduction that she was
defrauded Of the originals Of most Of these
letters, which, accordingly, are reproduced
from copies made more than half a century
ago for Jared Sparks, when he was pre-
pairing his edition Of W%ashington's writ
ings for the press. Included in this volume
are several letters written by Washington
to William Pearce and originally brought
out by the Long Island Historical Society.
Who was Tobias Lear. and what were his
relations to George Washington? We learn
from his granddaughter that Tobias Lear
was born in 17oO at Portsmouth, N. H.,
and was graduated from Harvard College In
1888, thereafter entering at once Upon the
duties OF tutor to W~ashington's adopted
children and eventually becoming his pri-
vate secretary, In which capacity he re-
7nained for sixteen years, or until Wash
ington's death. He was also his military
aide, with the rank Of Colonel, when his
services in that way were needed, on
Washington's appointment to the command
Of the forces raised in contemplation Of q
wal with France. Besides his professional
relationship he had q higher standing in
Washington's family through marriage.
After the death OF his first wife, Mary Long
Of Portsmouth, N. H., he married Fannie
Washington; and after her deoease, Frances
cambridge Henley, a niece Of Martha
Washington. The miniature OF Washing
ton, reproduced as a fr~ontispiece In the
book before us, was presented, we learn. to
Tobias Lear by Martha Washington after
her husbands death. This miniature,
painted by Cottoni, an Italian, is remarkably
lifelike. At the back Of it there Is q large
lock Of the subjects hair. Tobias Lear
evidently had considerable influence over
Washington. His diary records the fact
of his moderating Washington's excite
ment-it Is we'll known that the Father OF
His Country was o oholerio man, though, as
a rule, he managed to keep his temper
under control-over something he was
reading in q newspaper. 1t was also
through the Seoretary's persuasion that
the Presidents New England trip was
undertaken. As regards the pervading
purport Of the letters here brought to-
rether, We should not, Of course, expect
them to throw much II n light on WASH
;npton's achievements as a soldier and
statesman. They deal almost exclusively
with his domestic life and thus disclose a
aide Of his character little known to the
public.
There is nothing more interesting In
this volume than an excerpt from Col.
Iear's diary which deals with the last
illness and death OF Washington, whereof
the diarist was a witness. 1t seems that
on Thursday, September IL. 17e9, the Gem
49, rI-t-- 80 Af1,,rk Uz~,o- k.l
ridden out to his farms about 10 o'clock
in the morning and did not return home
till half-past 3 in the afternoon. Soon after
he went out the weather became very bad.
rain, hail and snow falling alternately.
with a cold wind. When he came In Col.
Lear, his SECRETARY, took some letters for
him to frank, intending to send them to
the post Office in the evening. -. The letters
Washington franked, but. with character
istio consideration for others, remarked
that the weather was too bad to send any
one with them'to the post office that evening.
The secretary expressed a fear that he had
got wet ~ He replied sno, . for his great coat
had kept him dry his neck, however. ap-
reared to be wet, and the snow was hang
ing upon his hair. He did what was un-
usual for him. o., wen to dinner without
changing his dress. But this, Also, sooms
to have been out Of consideratiorfor others,
because the dinner had been kept waiting
for him. In the evening he appeared as
we'll as usual.
On the following day, Friday, there wa
a heavy fall Of snow, which prevented
the General from taking his customary
ride. He had taken a cold-evidently
from being 30 much exposed thu day before
and complained Of q sore throat. He went
out, however. in the afternoon, into the
grounds between the house and the Poto-
mao, to mark some trees which were to be
out downsfor the purpose Of improving the
appearance Of the locality. He exhibited
a h~oarseness, which increased Friday eve
ming, but he made Hight of it. In the course
Of that evening the newspapers were
brought from the post Office, and he sat In
the parlor, with Mrs. Washington and his
secretary, reading them till 0 o'clock. We
are told that he was very cheerful, and,
when he met with anything interesting or
entertaining, would read 1t aloud as we'll
as his hoarseness would permit. Accord
ing to the diarist, -he requested me to
x~.A a. ki~, kho Ank.t~~ - a. yyyu-s-t~