Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1915-02-19

Washington welcome guest with the Fair
faxes at Belvoir, with the Carys at Eagles Nest.
with the Fitzhughes at Stratford House. with the
Carriers at Sabine Hall, and with the Lees and
FauntlerOys at Richmond.
Through the death of his half-brother, whom
he accompanied to Barbados in the West Indies
in search of health Washington became master
of Mount Vernon. On his return Journey he called
at Bermuda where he had an attack of smallpox
which, according to Parson Weems, marked his
face rather agreeably than otherwise" He was
seized with military ambition. He had already
been a military inspector with the rank of ma
jor for the protection Of the frontiers of Virginia
At twenty-three he was an aidede-camp to Cen
eral Braddock, commander in chief Of the Virginia
forces. At twenty-four we find him journeying to
Boston on military business.
In going and returning he tarried in New
York for about week, on each occasion as the
guest of Beverly Robinson, Virginia friend who
had married Susannah Philipse. Mrs. Robinson's
sister, very pretty girl, happened to be on a
visit with her relatives. Washington came
der the glamour of her glances" He did not spare
expense in seeking popularity. He spent sundry
pounds in treating the ladies'" with the object
of getting of them to treat him with favor,
but all his efforts were in vain He CALAMITY pro-
posed to Miss Philipse and donned his best suit
for the OCCASION but that cultured and charming
lady courteously declined-the honor he would
thrust upon her. Two years afterwards she
married Lieut.. Col. Roger Norris
There is doubt that Washington was des-
peratey in love with Mary Phiipse and her re-
fusal of his suit keen disappointment to
him. curious sequel to his attachment for her
occurred in the fact that her husbands house in
Morristown became Washington's headquarters in
1776. both Morris and his wife being fugitive
tories. History in this case might also have
been materially changed had Mary Philipse be-
come the wife of George Washington.
In the spring of 1850 Washington met his fate
III health had taken him to Williamsburg to con-
suit physicians On this trip he met Mrs Martha
(Dandridge) Custis widow of Daniel Parke Gus
tis one of the wealthiest planters of the co,ony.
At that time she was twenty-six years old, three
months younger than Washington, though she had
been widow seven years In spite OF his i'll
health he pressed his suit with much ardor
as he had done in the case of Mary Philipse, and
with better success Though her first husband
had been faithful and affectionate, he had not
much appealed to~her Imagination but the big
dashing Virginia colonel took her heart by storm.
She favored his suit and they became
gagged.
He ordered ring from Philadelphia at cost
of G2 les (two pounds and sixteen shillings),- big
pr1ce in those days, but they could not be i'm
nediately married, as military duty called him
away After several months in the field, during
which time they saw each other only three
four times, Washington came back to Williams
burg and there in st Peters church, on January
s. 1859, they were married. 1t was grand we'd
ding, attended By al the aTlstocracy of Virginia