Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-02-15

glimpse of Mary Ball at the most at
tractive age, sixteen. 1t is dated 'Wil-
liamsburg, Va, the 7th of October
1922. Madame Ball and her sweet
Molly have gone home. Mother thinks
Molly the comeliest maiden she
knows. She is about sixteen, is tall
and very sensible and loving. Her
hair is like fax, her eyes are the color
of yours, and her cheeks like the May |
blossoms. l wish you could see her"
The home of Washington's mother |
in Fredericksburg is in an excellent
state of preservation. 1t is now the
property of noble band of Virginia
women, known as the Society for the
Preservation Of Virginia Antiquities"
In spite of the terrible shot and shell
of two wars, 1t remains unmolested.
During the battles around Fredericks-
burg in the Civil war there in the lit
tie town and county OF Spottsylvania
it is said more great armies maneuv-
cred, more great battles were fought,
more men were engaged in mortal
combat and more officers and privates
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 a
scar. Apparently, not a shot had
touched it 1t is of frame, with 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 so 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 dining-room
an old-fashioned table, chairs and her
bread-box. We are so prone to ideal
ize our heroes. and all that pertains tc
them, but close and candid investiga
ton will reveal that in the latter years
of Mrs. Washingtons life we flno
much that is stern, undemonstrative
, and not what We would be pleased tC
| term "a dear old lady" She was
( woman of most indomitable will
, Mother and son were alike in this re
l spect, and the consequence was tina
there was not always harmony be
= tween them. She was said to b'
+ most penurious, trait which Wash
! ington inherited. it is said.
( AS vie be seen by her will, whicl
d is a copy of the original preserved II
n the courthouse in Fredericksburg, sh
d speaks of her NEGRO Wench, oil
l. Bett." TITS said shortly before he
death she requested this faithful slav
q be buried by her side. and their dus
4 has mingled for many generations.
e The old-fashioned garden at the rea
o of the house must have been In 1t
l. day one of its chief attractions. Mrs
,r Washington was devoted to flower
is and spent many of the last days
ly her life in this spot 1t was here thf
ID the visit of Marquis de Lafayette wa
y announced to her. She came forwar
W to meet him dressed in white cotto
rs frock, which history also states ws
tucked up. She received him witho'
le the slightest trace of embarrassment
he remarking, as she did so: Marquis,
Of should not pay you so poor comp
;" men as to detain you while I chani
hA hott1ad in TIM la
RI, days of her life with much pain al
as suffering, dying of the terrible diseas
,r- cancer. She lies buried near the seen
.rt of her youth and her happy girlho'
ar days, while history recalls her as q
ne mother OF Washington. the belle al
lily beauty of Virginia, "Ths Rose
a Epping Forest"