The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-20

marriage. John Adams, In one OF MS
Jealous outbursts, exclaimed: Would Washington
have been commander of the Revolutionary army
or president Of the United States If he had not
married the rich widow of Mr.. Custis?" Mrs.
Washington's third of the Custis property equaled
fifteen thousand acres of land, a good part OF it
adjoining the city Of Williamsburg, several lots
in the said city, between 1000 and 5000 negroes.
and about $4,000 or 10000 upon bond" est.
mated at the time as about 100000 in all. Be-
sides, this was increased by the death of the
daughter, PATSY" GUSTS, in 1878, by half her
fortune, a sum of 10000. But it must be re-
membered that Washington's colonial military
fame had been entirely achieved before he had
even met Mrs. Gusts. Washington was worth
about $500, 900, the richest man in his day.
1t has been said that his p%enchant for lovely
women was acutely alive all through his active
career. Washington was 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 commended that it cannot be resisted"
Though a lover himself, Washington was not
a matchmaker. In a letter to the widow of
Jack GUSTS ("Jack" his wifes son, who had been
his ward) he writes: 81 never did, nor do l be-
lieve ever shall give advice to a woman who is
setting out on a matrimonial voyage" And
again, at has ever been a maxim with me through
life, neither to promote nor to prevent a matrt
monial connection. 1 have always con
sidered marriage as the most interesting event
of ones life, the foundation of happiness or
misery"
Yet in a letter to Eliza GUSTS Bates (the eldest
of Jacky's four children), dated January 6, 1896,
Washington gives some interesting advice
Neither shun by too much coyness the addresses
of a suitable character whom you may esteem;
nor encourage them by advances on your part,
however predisposed toward them your inclina-
ton may be.
In choosing a partner for life, prefer one of
your countrymen (by this l mean an American)
of visible property and whose family is known and
whose circumstances (not depending on fortu-
itous matters) may not, like a foreigners, reduce
you to the heartrending alternative of parting
with him or bidding adieu to your country, fam
lily and friends forever.
In forming a connection of this durability, let
the understanding as well as the passion be con-
suited; without the appreciation of the first the
indulgence of the latter may be compared to the
rose, which will bloom, glow for a while, then
fade and die, leaving nothing but thorns behind
it. There are other considerations, though sec
ondary, nevertheless important. Among these
congeniality of temper is essential, without which
discord will ensue and that walk must be I'M
pleasant and toilsome when two persons linked
together cannot move in 1t without jostling each
other"
Alas, Eliza Ann ("Betsy") didn't take Wash
ingtons advice. She married Thomas Law, an
Englishman, the nephew of Lord Ellensborough,
yet it is said she was comparatively happy in her
choice.
Though Washington loved, and loved often,
there is no doubt that a good deal OF romance
has been woven around his early career. Accord
ing to some, Washington had "a rag on every
bush" from the vineclad hills of old Virginia to
Boston Commons. But the truth is Washington
was not an in~discriminate lover, nor did he tride
with the affections of women. Despite the eff
forts of forgery and calumny no deed of shame in
regard to the sex ever could be laid at his door.
During the time he was president a Mrs. Hart
ley is mentioned to whom some say he was very
devoted. Yeates says: Mr.. Washington once
told me on q charge which l once made against
the president at his own table, that the admira-
ton he warmly professed for Mrs. Hartley was a
proof Of his homage to the worthy part of the
sex, and highly respectful to his WIFE"