The Van Buren press., 1912-02-17

women, known as the Society for the
Preservation Of Virginia Antiquities" D."
In spite of the terrible shot and shell
Of two wars, it remains unmolested,
During the battles around Fredericks-
burg in the Civil war there in the lit
tie town and county of Spottsyhania
ii is said more great armies maneuY-
cred, more great battles were fought,
more men were engaged IN mortal
combat and more officers and priyates
were killed and wounded than in any
similar territory in the world More
men were said to have fallen In bat.
tie in this one county during the Civil
war than Great Britain has lost In
all her wars Of a century, and more
men were killed and wounded in four
hours at the Battle Of Fredericksburg
than Great Britain lost in killed
wounded and prisoners in her eight
months war in South Africa,
When these terrible days were over
the old house was found without n
scar. Apparently, not shot had
touched It. 1t is Of frame, with a hall
running through the center, with
rooms on either side. There is moth
ing to betoken luxury; there Is no fine
paneling or frescoing which is so
marked a feature Of 80 many Of the
homes Of that date in Virginia AS far
as obtaInable much of Mrs Washing
tons furniture is there In her bed
room we are shown her four-poster
her bureau, her cap-boX and one or
two old chairs, In her diningroom
an oldfashioned table, chairs and her
bread.boX. We are 80 prone to ideal
lie our heroes, and all that pertains to
thom, but close and candid inyestiga.
tton will reveal that In the latter years
Of Mrs Washngton's life we find
much that IS stern, undemonstratiye,
and not what We would be pleased to
term "a dear old lady" She was n
woman Of most indomitabe Will.
Mother and son were alike In this re
spoct, and the consequence was that
there was not always harmony be.
tween them, She was said 10 be
most popurious Il trait which Wash
ington inherited, It is said, On the
memorable occasion when as young
man and very athletic he is said to
have tossed a dollar across the Rap.
pahannock river, and this was OBJ
served at the time by some wit Of the
day to be the only money Washington
over threw away, and It has since
been observed by some equally clever
wit that dollar went further In
those days than II would now
As will bo seen by her win, which
Is copy Of the original preserved in
the courthouse In Fredericksburg, she
speaks Of hor Negro Wcnoh, old
Bett" TITS said shortly before hec
death she requested this faithful slave
be buried by her side, and their dust
has mingled for many generations,
The oldfashIoncd garden at the rear
Of the house must have been IN its
day one Of It's chief attractions Mrs,
Washington was devoted to flowers
and spent many Of the last days OF
her lifo In this spot II was here that
tho visit Of Marquis de Lafayette was
announced to her She came forward
10 meet him dressed IN n white cotton
rrock. which history also states was
tucked up, She received him without
tho slightest trace Of embarrassment
rcmurkInR, Az she did go Marquis,
should not pay go 80 poor a compli
men MS to dotoiu you while | change
my gown" She battlod IN the last
/ days Of her lie with much pain and
suffering dying Of tho terrible disease
caucor She lios buried near the sconoa
OF her youth and her happy glrlhood
days, whilc history recalls hor M the
mother Of Washington, tho belle and
beauty Of Virginia, "fho Rose OF
| Epplng Forest"