The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-20
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The bride was att1red IN heavy bro
iii cadsd white silk, interviewer with sill
yer thread Her shoes were of white
49, satin and sparkled with buckles of
s %ssas III briIliants The bridegroom was cos
TUNED in a blue cloth coat lined with
II red silk and ornamented with silver
trimmings. His shoes and knee
buckles were of solid gold, his hair
** was powdered, and a sword hung at
his side He appeared the beau ideal
of g gallant and a gentleman.
Mrs Washington had four children
III by her former marriage-Martha, Dan
II iel John Parke, and a girl, who died
in infancy. Washington fathered her
little progeny but had none of his
Hi own Providence" it was said had
HI denied the great man children that he
~ MIll might be the father of the whole
Washington was fortunate in his
marriage. John Adams in of his
iealous 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 Custis property eQualed
Fifteen thousand acres of land, good part of it
adjoining the city Of Williamsburg several lots
in the said city between 1000 and 5000 negroes,
and about 5000 10000 upon bond" esti-
mated at the time as about 100000 in all Be
sides, this was increased by the death of the
daughter, Patsy GUSTS, in 1878, by half her
fortune, of 10000. But it must be re-
membered that Washington's colonial military
even met Mrs. GUSTS. Washington was worth
about 100000, the richest man in his day.
1t has been said that his penchant for lovely
women acutely alive all through his active
career. Washington 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 involuntary passion, and it is" There
fore he contended that it cannot be resisted"
Though 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 be-
lieve ever shall give advice to a. woman who is
setting out a matrimonial voyage" And
again, cit has ever been maxim with me through
nfe neither to promote to prevent matrt
monial connection I have always con
sidered marriage as the most interesting event
of ones nfe the foundation of happiness or
misery.
Yet in a letter to Eliza Custis Bates (the eldest
of Jacky's four children), dated January 6, 1876.
Washington gives 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 inclfna-
+'on may be.
In choosing a partner for life, prefer one Of
your countrymen Cby this mean Americana
of visible property and whose family is known and
whose circumstances (not depending on fortu-
itous matters) may not. like foreigners. reduce
you to the hearrending alternative Of parting
with him bidding adieu to your country, fam
lily and friends forever.
In forming a connection of this durability let
the understanding wen 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
it. There other considerations though sec
ondary, nevertheless important Among these
congeniality of temper is essential without which
discord will ensue and that walk must be IN
pleasant and toilsome when two persons linked
together cannot move in it 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 comparatively happy in her
choice.
Though Washington loved, and loved often
there is doubt that good deal OF romance
has been woven around his early career. Accord
ing to some, Washington had "a rag on every
bush, from the vineclad hills of old Virginia to
Boston Commons. But the truth is Washington
was not indiscriminate lover, nor did he trihe
with the affections of women. Despite the ef-
forts OF forgery and caiumny no deed OF shame Ia
regard to the sex ever could be laid at his door.
During the time he was president Mrs Hart
ley is mentioned to whom some say he was very
devoted Yeates says: Mr.. Washington once
told me charge which 1 once made against
the president at his own table, that the admira-
ton he warmly professed for Mrs. Hartley was a
proof Of his homage to the worthy part of the
sex, and highly respectful to his wife"