Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-02-18

marriage. John Adams, In one OF his
teaIous 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.. Custls? MRS.
Washington's third of the GUSTS property equaled
"Afteen thousand acres of land, a good part of 1t
adjoining the city of Williamsburg, several lots
in the said city. between 1000 and 5000 negroes
and about $4,000 or 100000 upon bond estl-
mated at the time as about G2o,0OO IN all be-
sides. this was increased by the death OF the
daughter, PATSY" GUSTS, in 1773, by nall her
fortune. a sum of 100000. 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 $500 600, the richest man in his day.
It 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 contended that it Cannot be resisted"
Though a lover himself, Washington was not
a Matchmaker. In a letter to the widow OF
Jack Custis ("Jack" his wife's 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 matri'
monial connection. | 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, 1885,
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-
ion may be.
in choosing a partner for life, prefer one OF
your countrymen (by this | 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, lei
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. ther
fade and die, leaving nothing but thorns behint
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 un
pleasant and toilsome when two persons linked
together cannot move IN IL WITHOUT JostlhS eacl
other"
Alas, Eliza Ann ("Betsy') didn't take Wash
ington's advice. She married Thomas Law, al
Englishman, the nephew of Lord Ellensborough
vet it is said she was comparatively happy in he
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 ever.
bush,' from the vineclad hills of old Virginia t
Boston Commons. But the truth is Washington
was not an indiscriminate lover, nor did he trifI
with the affections of women. Despite the ei
forts Of forgery and calumny no deed of shame il
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 yer
devoted. Yeates says: Mr., Washington ono
told me on q charge which once made agains
the president at his own table, that the admire
ton he warmly professed for Mrs. Hartley was
proof OF his homage to the worthy part OF th
sex, and highly respectful to his wife