The labor world., 1913-03-15

Wltuln very IeW weeks washing
ton conclusively showed his capacity.
In March, 174S, with George Fairfax,
William Fairfax's son, for company,
he rode forth with his little band Of
assistants through the: mountains to
the wild country where his work lay,
and within the month almost he was
back again, with maps. and figures
which showed his lordship very clear
IT, what lands he had upon the spark.
ling Shenandoah and the swollen up
per waters Of the Potomac. Twas
all he wanted before making his home
where his estate lay in the wilder.
ness. Before the year was out he had
established himself at "Greenway
Court; huntsmen and tenants and
guests had found their way thither,
and life was fairly begun upon the
rough rural barony.
Likes His Work.
It had been wild and even perilous
work for the young surveyor, but just
out of school, to go in the wet spring
time into that wilderness, when the
rivers were swollen and ugly with the
rains and melting SHOWS from off the
mountains. where there was scarcely
lodging to be had except in the
stray, comfortless cabins of the scat.
tered settlers, or on the ground about
ire in the open woods, and where
woodman's wits were needed to como
even tolerably of. But there was q
IN
for Washington, which did not wear
off with the novelty of it. There is
an unmistakable note Of boyish salts
faction In the tone in which he
speaks of it.
"Since you received my letter in
October last" he writes to a young
comrade, Il have not. sleep'd above
three nights or four in a bed, but,
after walking good deal all the day,
I lay down before the fire upon q lit
tie hay, straw, fodder, or bearskin,
whichever :is to be had, with man,
wife and children, like parcel Of
dogs and: cats, and happy is he who
gets the: berth nearest the fire.
have never had my clothes
81, but lay and sleep in them, except
The few nights. 1.,have lay'n In Freq
srick Town. *..: -:
For three years he kept steadily at
the trying business, without loss
either Of health or courage, now deep
in: the forests laboriously laying OF
the rich bottom lands and swelling
hill-sides of that:wild but goodly coun-
try between the mountains, now at
"Greenway Court" with his lordship,
intent upon the busy life there,-fol.
lowing the hounds, consorting with
huntsmen and Indians and traders,
waiting upon the ladies who now and
again visited the lodge; when other
occupations failed, reading up and
down in his lordship's copy of the
| Spectator, or in the historians who
told the great English story.
Made onicIai Surveyor. IT,
His first success in surveying
brought him frequent employment in
| the valley. Settlers were steadily
making their way thither, who must
needs have their holdings clearly
bounded and defined. Upon his lord
ships recommendation and his own
showing of what he knew and could
do, he obtained appointment: at the
hands of the President and Master
Of William and Mary, the colony's
careful agent in. the matter, as official
surveyor for Culpepper county, took
the usual oaths to his majesty's per
son and government and so got for
his work the privilege Of authoritar
tive public record.
Competent surveyors were much in
demand, and, when once he had been
officially accredited in his profession,
Washington had as much to do both
upon new lands and old as even q
! young mans energy and liking for an
independent income could reasonably
demand.
Lives at Mount Vernon.
His home he made with his brother
at Mount Vernon, where he was al
ways SO welcome; and he was AZ
often as possible with his mother al
her place upon the Rappahannock, tc
lend the efficient lady such assistance
as she needed in the business of thu
estate she held for herself and he1
children. At odd intervals he studied
tactics, practiced tho manual Of arm.
or took turn at the broadswort
with the old soldiers who 80 easil,
found excuses for visiting Majol
Washington at Mount Vernon.
But, except when winter weather
forbade him the fields, he was abroad
far and near, busy with his survey
ing, and incidentally making trial O
his neighbors up and down all tn,
countryside round about, as his er
| rands threw their open doors in hi
way. His pleasant bearing and hi
quiet satisfaction at being busy, hi
manly, efficient ways. his evident self
respect, and his frank, enjoyment O
life. the engaging mixture in him O
man and boy, must have become ia
miliar to everybody worth knowinj
throughout all the Northern, Neck.
Goes to the Bahamas. Il