Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-02-23


Jealous outbursts, exclaimed: Would Washington
have been commander of the Revolutionary army
or president of the United States II he had not
married the rich widow of Mr.. Custis! Mrs
Washington's third of the Gusts property equaleo
Fifteen thousand acres Of land, 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 10000 upon bond" est
mated at the time about G20,0O0 IN all Be
sides this was increased by the death of the
daughter PATSY" Custis, in 1773 by half her
fortune, a sum of 10000. But 1t must be re-
membered that Washingtons colonial military
fame had been entirely achieved before he had
even met Mrs Custis Washington was worth
about 00,0O0 the richest man in his day
It has been said that his penchant for lovely
women was acutey alive all through his active
career Washington human and there is
no question that fair women always had attract
sd him.
In his sixtysixth year he wrote, Love is said
to be an involuntary passion and 1t is" There
fore he contended that it cannot be resisted
Though a lover himself Washington was not
Matchmaker In letter to the widow OF
Jack GUSTS ("Jack" his wife's 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 on matrimonial voyage" And
again, at has ever been maxim with rae through
hfe neither to promote nor to prevent matrt
monial connection. s. | have always con-
sidered marriage 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. 1896,
Washington gives some interesting advice
Neither shun by too much coyness the addresses
of a suitable character whom you may esteem;
Lor encourage them by advances your part
however predisposed toward them your inclina-
ton may be.
I'm choosing a partner for life, prefer of
your countrymen (by this mean an Americana
of visible property and whose family is known and
whose circumstances mot depending fortu-
itous matters) may not like foreigners, reduce
you to the heartrending alternative of parting
with him or bidding adieu to your country, fam
lily and friends forever.
"In forming connection of this durability, let
the understanding as well 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
1t. 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 TN
pleasant and toilsome when two persons linked
together cannot move in 1t 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 was comparatively happy in her
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 every
bush" from the vine-clad hills of old Virginia to
Boston Commons. But the truth is Washington
was not an indiscriminate lover, nor did he trife
with the affections of women. Despite the eff
forts of forgery and calumny no deed of shame in
regard to the sex ever could be laid at his door
During the time he president Mrs. Hart
ley is mentioned to whom some say he was very
devoted Yeates says: Mr. Washington once
told me on charge which / once made against
the president at his own table. that the sdmira-
ton he warmly professed for Mrs. Hartley
proof of his homage to the worthy part of the
sex and highly respectful to his wife"