Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-02-22

favo.ite story of his exploits at arms i
that OF fight he had during the Civil
War. in which he espoused the cause al
the South aud was a dashing lieatenan,
OF cavalry. Upon one occasion he was
iured from the Confederate lines by .
Federal officer upon preteus- of au ex
change of tobacco. Washington advap.
ced with his sword carelessly held in his
left hand. expecting almost ANYTHING but
feeling safe. because he was left hand.
ed swordsman and the best in his repi,
ment. The rival officer. not knowing he
was left handed and supposing thathe was
off his guard. set upon him, but he was not
as careless as he seemed to be and sue
ceeded IN defeating his opponent. leav-
ing him dead on the field. Despite his
ever readiness to do battle this WASHING.
ton of today is an ardent church worker
and exhorts as earnestly as he fights He
anticipates making his future home in
the State of Washington, where he will
take upon himself all the hardships OF
| frontier life despite his age of 81. But
today he is man of such physical prov.
ess that few younger men would dare
| face him.
There are Quantities of other Washing
ton blood about Charles Town. The
communities that most compete with it
are Westmoreland county. Virginia. and
Kankakee, Ohio, In Westmoreland
county dwells Robert j. Washington and
the numerous family that centers in him.
In Kankakee lives Spottswood Augustine
Washington. the father of many sons
and daughters. In the Civil War the
sons of this family espoused the cause OF
the North and fought vaiantly as mem
beers of the Federal Army. AS Wash.
ingtons they were in class by them.
selves, however, for all the other de-
scendahts of the family of the first Pres
ldent We're Southerners and fought for
the Confederaey. Likewise they have
all been Democrats since the war, and
this fact may explain the limited mum.
Der OF Washingtons in the Government
service today.
But coming back to Charles Town.
there is much of interest to be found
there in this connection Hardwood is.
next to Mount Vernon, the estate about
which hoyers much of early American
romance. 1t was in Irsa, IsS years ago.
that it was built. Samuel and George
were partners in its construction, and
George had actual charge He was the
architect The stone for the walls was
hewn from the limestone beds on the es-
tate, and the man who hauled 1t got an
acre of land team day, so cheap was
real estate. The walls are two feet thick
and SO well built that the house stands
today in a good condition of repair. and
has never been repaired except for the
rebuilding of small portico at the en-
trance. The same ancient shutters hang
at the windows that were made under the
direction Of Washington. The coat OF
arms of the Washingtons still holds place
over the door. and it is from its design
and colors that the Stars and Stripes
were taken, an important fact little
known.
| On the ancient walls still hangs the
painting of Col. Samuel Washington,
the dashing. rollicking, fox-hunting
squire, of the class that made early Viz
ginta famous by their entertaining The
easy stairs and baustrades are almost
| identical to those OF Mount Vernon and
were furnished by the same English firm.
crossing the ocean at Washingtons or
der. The mantel over the fireplace in
the parlor was given to Washington by
Lafayette. The latter visited here often
and after the great war his small son
also stayed here among American friends
who idolized him.
General Washington was in charge OF
Hardwood from 1881 to 1896 as guardian
OF his brothers. children, and spent much
time there. II was during Ibis time that
Dolly PAYNE Todd, the winsome widow
from Philadelphia. was married to 1.-THE
great little Madison. afterward twice
President. and became the most popular
mistress the White House has ever
known. Lucy Payne, sister of the
widow Todd had married a nephew of
Washington when they were but IS and
years Of age. respectively. This
niece by marriage was visiting the Wash
| ingtons in Philadelphia in 1894 and dis
closed to Martha the fact that the widow
and Madison we're betrothed. Martha
told the President. the President told
his nephew and all joined 10 demand
that the popular couple come down to
Hardwood to marry.
The trip was made in Jefferson's coach
and required week. All the elite in
national life including the President and
his wife, made the ljng trip in coaches
and on horseback Mr. Madison rode by
the door Of his fancee's carriage and q
party of his best friends on horseback
made up her guard and escort. but there
were none so gallant as Light Horse
Harry" Lee. who, il IS reported. Dolly
saw ride up on the day of the wedding
ION the finest horse in all Virginia
When the ceremony was finally perform
ed the mischievous girls Of the company
tut into little bits the fine Mechlin lace
of the groom's costume. indicating thai
the souvenir craze is not entirely new
and the future President retired much
disheveled to his fathef.s estate at Mont