The Raymer enterprise., 1915-02-18

The identity OF this "LowIand Beau ~ ,s~s.
II" who the object OF Washing s<s1sSk@,
TOMS first affections has been much ULLGaNg
disputed Losing. the historian pro-
lnnBeed her Mary Bland, and some X -
are inclined to the belief that she was
Miss Eilheck. beauty Of Charles
county Maryland who married George Mason
Others maintain that she Lucy Grymes, who
married Henry Lee and became the mother of
the famous Light Horse Harry" who was a
great favorite with Washington and who re-
iarred TO the commander in chief first in war,
hfst in peace and first in the hearts Of his
trFmen.' Those who favor the Lucy Grymes
Identification point to the affection OF Washing.
tnn for Light Horse Harry" rs resultant of
tae early love he entertained for Harry's mother.
Others will have 1t that the "lowland Beauty"
was Betsy Faunteroy. and base their assertion
aG a letter written in May l752, by Washington
q The grandfather OF Miss Fauntleroy, in which
ih says, among other things he purposed as soon
he recovered his strength The had been i'll
With pleurisyl TO wait on Miss Eetsy In hopes
nf 4 revocation OF the former cruel sentence and
see II | can meet with any alteration In my
-.ssyer"
III iTis Washington became surveyor of Lord
tairiax' lands He was then but sixteen. In an
Undated letter probably written about the end Of
$50. or the beginning of 1851 to his Dear
Friend Robin" fpossibly Robert Washington of
uhntauk. affectionateIy remembered in his Will
Ee also find allusion to the "Lowand Beauty"
My place of residence is at present at his lord
ships, where | might, not my heart Olsen
gagged pass my time very pleasantly as a very
agreeable young lady lives in the same house
but often and unayodaby being in com
rany with her revives my former passion for
your Lowland Beauty; whereas were / to live
more retired from young Women, might. in some
measure. alleviate my sorrows by burying that
cnaste and troublesome Passion in the grave OF
cs4isisn OF eternal forgetfuness"
History might have been different had Washing.
ton been accepted by the "Lowland Beauty" II
the 'Iowland Beauty" was Betsy Fauntleroy-
sud good authorities think she was-she married
Ehenezer Adams, progenitor OF the Virginia fam.
IFS of that name. and became the mother OF
Thomas Adams. aumnus of William and Mary
college signer OF the articles of confederation,
aud member OF the Philadelphia convention Q77S.
iTs0l
The agreeable young lady" mentioned by
Washington In his letters from the Fairfax resi-.
dence. was Miss Mary Cary. the sister of Colonel
fairfax wife. lie turned to her for consola
ton and 1t seems her charm mltigated his "trou.
blesome passion" But Miss Cary had no genuine
love for the ardent young In 1852 she mar.
xied Edward Amber
After his wooins OF the "Lowaud Beauty" he
Tad another charmer, presumably member of
she family Of Alexanders who had a plantation
near Mount Vernon.
Washington while In Barbadoes with his sick
uaif.brother Lawrence. met Miss Roberts, who
exerted an influence over his tender heart and
to whom he refers as "an agreeable young lady"
II would seem that nearly all the young ladies
we're agreeable 10 him. Miss Roberts it ap-
pears, was the only one however, who really cap
tiYated him in Barbadoes While allowing that
all the ladys generally are agreeable" he notes
that by Ill custom they affect the negro style"
When returned from his first campaign and rest
lag at Mount Vernon the time seems TO have been
heguiled by some ehsrmer, for one OF his inti-
mates writes from Williamsburg; Il imagine you
by this time plunged in the midst Of delight
heaven can afford and enchanted by eharmers
even stranger to the Cirpian Dame and foot
note by the same hand only excites further curl.
osIty concerning this latter parsonage by in.
definitely naming her as Mrs. Neil"
It is said that al one time and another Wash
tngton had half hundred sweethearts along the
banks OF the Potomac, the Rappahannock. and the
-James and even ur to the gates Of Mount Yer
non Perhaps the number is exaggerated, but
at any rate we have but scant account OF most OF
the fair ones and are not even told the names
OF the great majority. This we do know. that