The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-02-18
WEDDING OF WASHINGTON.
Great Social Event n Century and n
Half Ago.

i0tI ago.
1t was just 80 years ago the 9th of
this month that Colonel George Wash
ington, dashng young officer In the
Colonial army, led to the altar Martha
Crstis, young matron whose fame Cor
beauty and charm and wit had made
her the pride of Kent and all the coun
ties round about In his MaIesty's pros
porous colony of Virginia. No phase of
life in America of the present can form
such setting for days of gGycty and
festival celebration as those that pre-
ccded and followed this wedding
Washington was clad in all the finery
that was affected by the young bloods
" the time. His suit was of blue cloth
lining Of red silk and boosted many sill
yer ornaments. while a white satin
waistcoat. gold knee buckles and pow
hered hair completed his costume The
bride Wore huge white satin petit
coat quilted and pleated beyond belief
Her heavily-corded white silk over
dress was the richest that the colony
had ever known. and why should Il not
be. for was she not one of the wealth
lest women in Virginia. and many peo-
pie there had by this time amassed con-
siderable fortunes? Diamonds blaZed
from her hands and braids of pearls
hung from her patrician neck Brides
maids and groomsmcn were correspond
lngly arrayed In the height of the latest
fashion that was brought over from
King Georges court.
After Rev. John Mossum had per
formed the ceremony that united the
pair the gay cavalcade formed that was
to wind its way back to the "White
House." where the feasting and merry
making was to take place. The newly
made Mrs. Martha Washington and her
three bridesmaids were placed by gal
liant hands i'm the finest chariot in Vir-
glnia drawn by six white horses. These
! were driven by positions in livery. each
man driving n span, one OF which he
rode. When, with much clanking of
chain and jingling of bells. thep roces-
sion started the groom and all his as
sistants and the gay company sprang
10 saddle and formed the escort with
outriders and followers and gallants
wing with one another for position by
the carriage door
The week of gayety that followed
eliminated with visit 10 the House of
BurgeSSes. then in session in Williams
port and member of which Colonel
Washington had recently been chosen.
The young officer was quite the hero
Of the hour, for he had returned from
the wars laden with honors and his
personal social conquests had been eli
NAKED by his marriage with Mrs. Gus
it's whose popularity was widespread
Then the bride and groom Travelled by
easy stage to Mount Vernon, making
several visits on the way.
The even tenor OF the life Of quiet
which filed the next seventeen years
at Mount Vernon is shown i'm the fire.
quent passages in the diary that Wash
inCton kept. beginning with the new
year following his marriage. In all
that grace and hospitality OF those
days Martha eXcelled and they said In
Virginia there was no place like the
Washingtons' as a social center Here
were almost always TO be found as
guests the Fairfaxes. the Lees. the Gus
tises the Fitzhughes and others whose
names live not only in the records of
those days. but also today as typical
of the old arlstocracy of the colony.
From this home on the Potomac and
from his wife's side Washington was
called TO become commander-in-chiefo of
the American army in the Revolution
TO this home he returned when the
struggle was won. and from this home
he was again called as the first Presi-
dent of the United States. Again he
returned TO this peaceful spot. forever
apart from public life. TO pass his few
remaining years in happiness with his
wife. never to leave ii until death
LecIsoned him away.
And from this home on the Potomac
where an obscure grave held the re
mains Of the greatest man OF his time
from amid the scenes of her happiesi
days. of days OF honeymooning and y
days Of strife. the spirit OF Martha
Washingtop was called.