Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-02-19

marriage John Adams, IN one OF MS
jealous odtbursts, 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, good part OF it
adjoining the city of williamsburg, several lots
in the said city, between 1000 and 5000 negroes
and about G8000 or 10000 upon bond, esti-
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 e10,000 But it must be re-
membered that Washington's colonial military
fame had been entirely achieved before he had
even met Mrs. Custis. Washington was worth
about 600, the richest man in his day
1t has been said that his penchant 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 eontended that it cannot be resisted
Though lover himself. Washington sTas not
a matchmaker. In letter to the widow Of
Jack Custis ("Jack' his wifes son, who had been
his ward) he writes: 81 never, did, nor do be-
lieve ever shall give advice to woman who is
setting out a matrimonial voyage And
again, "It has ever been maxim with me through
life, neither to promote nor to prevent matri
monial, 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 g. 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 your part,
however predisposed toward them your inclina-
+'on may be.
in choosing a partner for life, prefer one of
your countrymen (by this mean an Americana
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 biddi2g adieu to your country, fam
lily and friends forever.
"In forming 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 other considerations, though sec
ondary, nevertheless important Among these
congeniality of temper is essential without which
discord will ensue and that walk must be un-
pleasant and toilsome when two persons linked
together cannot move in it without jostling each
other"
Alas Eliza Ann ("Betsy") didn't take Wash
ington's advice She married Thomas Law, an
Englishman, the nephew Of Lord Ellensborough
yet it 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 tt
Boston Commons. But the truth is Washington
was not an indiscriminate lover, nor did he triis
with the affections of women. Despite the eff
forts Of forgery and caumny no deed of shame il
regard to the sex ever could be laid at his door
During the time he was president Mrs Hart
ley is mentioned to whom some say he was yer,
devoted. Yeates says: "Mr. Washington one
told me on charge which l once made agains
the president at his own table, that the admira
tion he warmly professed for Mrs Hartley was
proof of his homage to the worthy part of thu
sex and highly respectful to his wife,"