Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-20
copyrighted. 1913, by Willis J. Abbot !

married life, and left his widow one OF
j the richest women in colonial America
TWO years after his death she was visit
ing the family OF Mr.. Chamberlayne
whose stately home stood far from the
residences of other planters. but close te
ferry on the direct road between Fred.
ericksburg and Williamsburg. 1t was the
hoSpltahle custom of this Virginian to
watch the ferry, and if he saw a traveller
alight whose looks bespoke the compan-
ionable gentleman he would beseech him
to stop and refresh himself at the man
sion. One day he discovered an officer in
fatigue uniform. attended by servant
who at first pleaded extreme haste. as he
was carrying dispatches. But on Mr.
Chamberlayne adding to his urgency the
plea that he had charming young wild
ow al his house the soldier capitulated
When he produced his card his host was
delighted to find that the guest was Col.
Washington, who had already won some
military fame by saving the remnants of
Braddock's army after the defeat at Fort
Duquesne.
Col Washington found the widow no
less charming than his host had prom
ised. Instead of riding on as he had in
tended. he stayed overnight and pro-
ceeded late the next day, only to return
to the White House. the residence OF the
widow. Very speedily they We're engaged
and after the young soldier had finished
the campaign against the French and In
dams they were married in 1863.
The union of his property with that of
Mrs. Custis made Washington one of the
richest Americans. He was presently
elected a member of the Virginia house of
burgesses. holding that place until the be-
ginning of the revolution. when he was
chosen commander in-chief of the patriot
armies. In 1875 he took command under
that famous old elm still standing at
| Cambridge. Mass. and few months aft
err Mrs. Washington joined him. Fare
we'll then to that quiet life in the great
Virginia plantation houses she SO loved.
For her thenceforth the hardships of the
tented field, and later the ceremonious
life of the executive mansion.
Set Fashion for Knitting.
OF her life with the army Mrs. Wash
ington has left few memorials She was
not of the jourial-writing type. and of
her few letters preserved most are given
over to reflections on human life in gem
eraI. rather than to graphic descriptions
of her life in particular. But we get
glimpses of her occasionally through the
letters of visitors to the camp. At Nor
ristown. where she nursed the general
through a grave Illness, she was some
thing of a social queen-'Lady Washing
ton the other ladies OF the town called
her. and indeed her manner always COM
PEELED Difference. Yet she was simple, as
was betting to soldiers wife in the
field When some ladies paid her visit
in their best bibs and bands. and most
elegant silks and ruffies they found her
dressed very plainly. She received u.s.
said one very graciously and easily:
but after the compliments We're over she
resumed her knitting. There we We're
without a stitch of work and sitting in
state; but Gen Washingtons lady was
knitting stockings for herself and hus-
band "
From that time work for the soldiers
ra her than fine clothes We're the fashion
in Morristown