The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-02-19

Grief and Woes Will not on me Pity
take"
The identity of this "Lowland Beau.
ty," who was the object OF Washing
toms first affections has been much lTSsA>
disputed. Losing, the historian. pro
bounced her Mary Bland, and some ~
are inclined to the belief that she was
a Miss Eilbeck, a beauty Of Charles
county, Maryland. who married George Mason.
Others maintain that she was 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-
ferred TO the commander in chief as FIRST In war,
first in peace, ard first In the hearts Of his coun-
trymen." Those who favor the Lucy Grymes
Identification point to the affection Of Washing
ton for Light Horse Harry" as a resultant OF
the early love he entertained for Harry's mother.
others viii have II that the "Lowland Beauty
was Betsy Fauntleroy, and base their assertion
or n letter written in May. 1889. by Washington
to the grandfather Of Miss Fauntleroy, in which
he says, among other things. he %purposed as soon
as he recovered his strength The had been iii
with pleurisy) ito wait on Miss Eetsy in hopes
Of a revocation OF the former cruel sentence, and
see II can meet with any alteration In my
favor"
In 174S Washington became surveyor Of Lord
Fairfax lands. He was then but sixteen. In an
undated letter, probably written about the end OF
1850, or the beginning Of 1851, to his Dear
Friend Robin" POSSIBLY Robert Washington Of
Chotauk, anectionately remembered in his Wild
we also find allusion TO the "Lowland Beauty"
my place OF residence is at present at his lord
ships, where | might, we're not my heart olsen
gagged. pass my time very pleasantly, as a very
agreeable young lady lives in the same house
but often and unavoidably being In com
pany with her revives my former passion for
your Lowland Beauty whereas, we're | to live
more retired from young Women, ! might, In some
measure, alleviate my sorrows by burying that
chaste and troublesome Passion IN the grave OF
oblivion OF eternal forgetfulness."
History might have been different had Washing.
ton been accepted by the "Lowland Beauty" II
the "Lowland Beauty was Betsy Fauntleroy-
and good authorities think she was-she married
Ebenezer Adams, progenitor OF the Virginia fam
fly OF that name, and became the mother Of
Thomas Adams. alumhus Of william and Mary
college, signer Of the articles Of confederation.
and member OF the Philadelphia convention u77s-
1880.
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. He turned TO her for consola-
ton and II seems her charm mitigated bis 'trou'
bIesome passion" But Miss Cary had no genuine
love for the ardent young man. In 1852 she mar
ried Edward Amber.
had another charmer. presumably a member OF
the family Of Alexandra, who had a plantation
near Mount Vernon.
washington, while In Barbados with his sick
half.brother Lawrence, met a Miss Roberts, VINO
exerted an influence over his tender heart and
to whom he refers as AN agreeable young lady
Il would seem that nearly ali the young ladies
were agreeable TO him. Miss Roberts, II -
penrs. was the only one, however, who really cap
tiyated him in BarbRdOes. While allowing that
ali "the ladys generally are agreeable" he notes
that by IA custom they affect the negro style"
When returned from his hrst campaign and rest
ing al Mount Vernon, the time seems 10 have been
beguiled BY some charmer, for one or his nt'
mates writes from williamsburg: Il imagine you
by this time plunged In the midst or delight
heaven can afford and enchanted by eharmera
even stranger TO the cirpian Dame and a foot
note BY the same hand only excites further curl
oaIty concerning this latter parsonage by IN
definitely naming her as Mrs. Neil"
II Is said that at one time and another Wash
ington had halt a hundred sweethearts along the
banks OF the Potomac. the RappahaHnock, and the
JameB, and even up to the gates OF Mount Yer
non. Perhaps the number is exaggerated. bul
Al 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