The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-02-19


marriage. John Adams in one of his
Jealous outbursts exclaimed: Would Washington
have been commander of the Revolutionary army
or president of the United States IL he had not
married the rich widow of Mr. Custis?" Mrs
Washington's third of the Custis property equaled
fifteen thousand acres of land, good part of it
adjoining the city Of Williamsburg, several lots
IT. the said city between 1000 and 5000 negroes.
and about $4,000 or 10000 upon bond" estf-
mated at the time as about 100000 in all Be-
sides, this was increased by the death OF the
daughter PATSY" Custis, in 1878, by half her
fortune, a sum of 100000. But II must be re-
membered that Washingtons colonial military
fame had been entirely achieved before he had
even met Mrs Custis. Washington was worth
about 100000, the richest in his day.
1t has been said that his penchant for lovely
women was acutely alive all through his active
career. Washington human, and there Is
no question that fair women always had attract
ed him.
In his sixty-sixth year he wrote Love is said
to be an involuntary passion and it is." There
fore he contended that it cannot be resisted"
Though a lover himself, Washington was not
a Matchmaker In letter to the widow OF
Jack Custs ("Jack" his wife's son, who had been
his ward) he writes: 81 never did, nor do be-
lieve ever shall give advice to a woman who is
setting out on a matrimonial voyage" And
again, 1T has ever been maxim with me through
life neither to promote nor to prevent matrf
monia connection have always con.
sidered marriage as the most interesting event
OF ones life, the foundation of happiness or
misery"
Yet in letter to Eliza Custis Bates (the eldest
of Jacky's four children), dated January 6, 1896,
Washington gives interesting advice
Neither shun by too much coyness the addresses
OF a suitable character whom you may esteem;
nor encourage them by advances your part
however predsposed toward them your inclina-
'on may be.
I'm choosing partner for life, prefer of
your countrymen (by this l mean American)
OF visible property and whose family is known and
whose circumstances (not depending on fortu-
itous matters) may not like foreigners, reduce
you to the heartrending alternative of parting
with him or bidding adeu to your country, fam
lily and friends forever
"In forming a connection of this durability, let
the understanding as well as the passion be
suited; without the appreciation OF the first the
indulgence of the latter may be compared to the
rose, which will bloom, glow for while. then
fade and die, leaving nothing but thorns behind
It. There are other considerations, though
ondary. nevertheless important. Among these
congeniality of temper is essential. without which
discord will ensue and that walk must be
pleasant and toilsome when two persons linked
together cannot move in it without jostling each
other"
Alas. Eliza Ann ("Betsy'D didn't take Wash
ington's advice. She married Thomas Law.
Englishman. the nephew of Lord Ellensborough,
yet 1t is said she comparatively happy in her
choice.
Though Washington loved and loved often.
there is no doubt that good deal of romance
has been woven around his early career. Accord
ing to some, Washington had "a rag on every
bush," from the vine-clad hills of old Virginia to
Boston Commons. But the truth is Washington
was not an indiscrminate lover nor did he trife
with the affections of women. Despite the ef
forts of forgery and calumny no deed of shame in
regard to the ever could be laid at his door
During the time he was president Mrs Hart
ley is mentioned to whom some say he very
devoted. Yeates says: "Mr. Washington once
told me on a charge which I once made against
the president at his own table. that the sdmira
ton he warmly professed for Mrs. Hartley was
proof OF his homage TO the worthy part Of the
sex. and highly respectful to his VITA"