Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-02-26
WASHINGTON'S
LOVE :: STORY

S~~~~~~~~~e~~~~~~~~ e~%~~~s
The young people of the United
States have heard how in early child
hood our first President, George
Washington, when a small boy, cut
down his fathers young cherry e
much to the ~vexation of his father;
and when questioned about it how he
scorned to tell a lie. but admitted that
ne had done it. And all know what rea-
son We have to be proud of this great
man, true patriot and brave soldier.
who as a commander.in-chief Of our
army. led the people through the strug
gle with the odds against us. that
made this an Independent nation.
Both old and young know with what
ability, wisdom and prudence he filed
the office of President of the United
States, but there was a very impor-
tant event in his life, the details OF
which, interesting as they be. are NOT
generally known, that is, his wedding
at First Sight"
He fell in love at first sight with a
pretty young widow, named Martha
cambridge Gusts. She was rated as
one of the wealthiest, If not the
wealthiest, widow in Virginia, attrac-
tive and a good housewife. The Cen
eral was about 27 years old, she being
three months younger. She had two
children, a boy and a girl, to whom
the General was a very kind step
father and the children became much
attached to him. The girl died young
and the General grieved for her sin
cerely.
General Washington a a tall man,
between six feet two inches, and his
wife was short. During their court
ship Mrs. Gusts was living in her W
home on the banks of the York river,
Virginia, called white House" which
must not be COMPOUNDED with the Ex-
%ecutive Mansion at Washington, that
our late President Roosevelt preferred
should receive the name c%olloquially
given it. THE White House." in ad-
dressing his communications instead
of White House of the widow Gusts,
whom we know as Martha Washing
ton, was destroyed during the Civil
War.
Bridal Party.
The country at the time of Wash
ington's marriage was a province OF
Great Britain. The wedding took
place in 1853 in old st. Peters church
in New Kent county, Virginia. The
clergyman who oficiated was the Rev
erend Mr.. Mossom, a Cambridge
scholar. The bridal party were dress
ed gally and in great elegance, evil
IDENTIFY no expense was spared to mako
it n of The handsomest weddings Of
the day. The groom must have created
a stunning sensation, his commanding
figure clad in a suit of fine blue cloth,
the coat being lined with red silk and
trimmed with silver trimmings, his
waistcoate was white satin elaborate
ly embroidered. He wore gold knee
and shoe buckles. white kid gloves,
and his hair was powdered and done
up with a queu as was the fashion of
the day.
The bride was beeomingly gowned
in a white satin quilted %petticoat,
with a heavily corded white silk over
dress. Her ~high-heeled slippers were
fastened with bucles set with dia.
monds, pearl ornaments added to the
richness of her gown. and her whole
costume enhanced the beauty Of the
charming lady.
Washington, who was a colonel at
the time of his marriage, had a tall,
fine looking negro body-servant, nam
ed Bishop, who had accompanied him
on all his military campaigns and who
took as much interest in his masters
! affairs as the colonel himself. For the
wedding this servant was quite an at
tractive parsonage, dressed in a scar
let uniform of the royal army of Eng
lands King, George the Second, with
an air of dignity, awaiting the APP
| proach of the bridal party.
In a Coach With Six.
After the ceremony the bride and
her three attendants drove back to
white House" in fine style, in a
coach drawn by six horses, guided by
liveried black postillions, in red and
white, the colors OF the Washington
livery. The groom, who was a mag
n%ifcent horseman, with an escort OF
cavaliers, rode on his favorite horse
by the side of the coach.
The Governor of the State and
many other notable persons were at
the wedding, among them were nearly
all the prominent Virginia planters OF
their acquaintance. We can imagine
what a commotion this imposing col
onial wedding would make througout
the State in those early days where
the bridal party were OF much social
status. 1t is natural to infer the
feast was prepared in the kitchen OF
the bride according to custom, where
nothing would be omitted to make /.
a success, and served with that lavish
%genuine hospitality peculiar to the