The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-06
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
George Washington and
Martha Gusts
Copyright, ~ the Author.l
By Albert Payson Terhune

Z5-yeaf-OlQ Virginia militia COLO
nel-tall, bony and heavy of build
was carrying dispatches one day in
17SS to his British commander The
ride was long and the dinner hour
was near. There was no particular
haste about the delivery OF his dis
patches, so he turned aside to dine at
the house of friend. For Virginia
planters in those days kept open
house" to all their passing friends,
and it was no uncommon thing to see
a dozen guests gathered around such
a mans table. The young colonel
found, that day, among other diners
at his friends home, pretty, plump
young widow, Martha Curtis.
Mrs. Curtis husband had died a
year earlier. leaving her one OF the
wealthiest women in America and
mistress Of fine old mansion, which,
strangely enough, was known as the
White House" Mrs. Curtis was as
attractive as she was rich. The young
militia colonel, too, was somewhat of a
celebrity, even in that early time. He
was George Washington, owner Of the
Mount Vernon plantation and hero Of
series Of daring Indian campaigns
Indeed, his majesty, George Ill, had
The Colonel and not a PRAYER
~. Milan. more capable mi
litia of. GER in all
his American colonies
Thus it was not unnatural that
Washington and Mrs. Curtis should oft
en- have heard of each other They
fell into talk at the dinner table, and
so engrossing did the colonel find the
pretty widows conversation that,
when 1t was time for him to start
once more on his ride, he could not
summon the courage to leave her. His
horse was brought to the door at the
hour he had appointed. The negro
groom walked the animal I'D and
down for an hour or two; then took
1t back to the stable. And still Wash
ington and Mrs. Curtis talked on. 1t
is the only known occasion when the
future Father of His Country turned
his back on duty and let womans
smiles lure him away from his mill
tary labors.
Yet Washington, if all reports be
true. had, up to that time, been more
or less of a ladies man" For in
stance, as a mere lad, he had fallen
madly in love with the daughter of a
neighboring planter - Mary Bland.
whom he used to call the "Lowland
Beauty" But he was then poor and
with scant prospects, and had, more
over, a mother to support. So his
suit came to nothing. Next he is said
to have paid violent court to a Miss
Sally Carey. He begged her to marry
him, but she had other ideas, and the
future president was rejected
After his afternoon and evening
with Mrs. Curtis Washington belated-
ly delivered his dispatches. then rode
back with all speed to the widows
own home to renew his wooing. So
successful was he that before the end
of the first call he won her promise
to be his wife. 1t was a "whirlwind
courtship,' and the fair widows heart
was fairly carried by storm. The
wedding was delayed for some months,
as Washington was obliged to go
north on a campaign against the
French and Indians. During his alb
sence he wrote Mrs. Curtis a letter,
saying: 81 embrace this opportunity
to send few words to one whose life
Is now inseparable from mine Since
that happy hour when we made our
pledges to each other my thoughts
have been continually going to you as
to another self"
In January, 1859, the two were mar
ried. Washington was a month less
that p, Mrs. Curtis two months
younger than he. At the wedding the
A.. bridegroom wore
,,.'.: blue suit lined
with red silk, a
white satin waistcoat and gold knee
buckles. The bride was clad in a
white silk overdress with quilted
white satin skirt and wore diamond
and pearl clasps and brooches. For
many years the couple enjoyed the
peaceful seclusion of a rich Virginia
planters life. They had no children,
but their mutual devotion was held up
as model to young lovers. Then the
revolutionary war broke out and the
quiet home life ended. Of this trou-
blous time Mrs. Washington wrote:
Il foresee dark days and domestic
happiness suspended. But my
heart is in the cause. George is
right. He is always right
She shared her husbands headquar-
tiers during the hard winters of the
war. dressing as plainly as farmers
wife ami ever toiling to help the sick
and wounded soldiers. After the war.
WTo hi