davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1915-02-21
81 zEl(zIzfWiTH S(5HE PAMBLER=sez4gSz%sa - =

Parson Weems-the fine old house
called Belle Air. near Dumfries, which
was the ancestral home of the EwellS
and which is now the property of Lieut.
son Weems was married in 1895 to
Fanny Ewell. the daughter of Col
Jesse Ewen of Belle Air. His biography
of George Washington passed through
forty editions, and he also wrote biogra-
phies of William Penn, benjamin
Franklin and Francis Marion. Parson
Weems, while on his travels. died at
Beaufort, 5. c., in May, 1925, and in
the following winter his remains We're
brought to Belle Air. where. beside his
wife and under big old cedars. he
sleeps.
Some of Weems' books. other than his
biography of Washington, are in the
Library of Congress. One of these is
The Drunkard's Looking Glass" Six
editions. Another is The Bad Wife's
Looking Glass. or Gods Revenge
Against Cruelty to Husbands-Exem-
plified in the Awful History of the
beautiful. but depraved. Mrs. Rebecca
Cotton, who most inhumanly murdered
her husband. John Cotton. ESQ.,, for
which horrid act God permitted her to
be cut off by her brother. Stephen Kan
nady, May 5, 1907. with a number of
incidents and anecdotes most eXtraordi-
nary and instructive"
Another of his books in the Congress
Against Gambling-Exemplied in the
miserable lives and untimely deaths of
a number of persons of both sexes,
who have sacrificed their health, wealth
and honor at gaming tables With
curious anecdotes of the following un-
fortunate gamblers-Miss Fanny Brad
dock, Drisden Marwood, Jack Gilmore
and T. Alston.'
There are Two more of the parson $
books which you may see in the library.
One of them is Gods Revenge Against
Murder, or the Drowned Wife, and
the other is Gods Revenge Against
Duellng."
ParSon Weems wrote a great deal in
favor of temperance. or abstinence,
which was in his time not popular
subject: and Col. Robert Tansill. who
married Il great-granddaughte of
Weems claims the latter was the
father of the temperance movement in
America.
The Washington farm on the Kappa
hammock is now much reduced in size,
but that which is still called the Wash
ington farm contains about $50 acres,
surrounding the site of the old Wash
ington house, the foundation of
which has been built a dwelling which
dates from some time just after the
close of the civil war Much of the
icksburg, in the winter of 1862, was
carried out on this Washington farm.
The northern army was camped on this
land and artillery posted on it fired
into Fredericksburg and the heights
that rise behind the town
1t has not been possible to trace the
title to these Washington lands be
cause the records of Stafford county,
which were at Stafford Court House,
about ten miles from the Washington
Evening star., 1915-02-21

stoma ch''-which might have been ap-
pendicitis-when George was ten years
old. George was visiting his cousins
at Chotank, twenty miles away. and
got home few hours before his
fathers death. though Augustine had
1apsed into INCONSISTENCIES when the
boy arrived. Soon after his fathers
death George was sent back to his
birthplace, between Bridges and Popes
creeks, to live with his half brother,
Augustine, who owned that place
There he went to school to Mr.. Will
llams. whom Parson Weems says was
AN excellent teacher in the neigh
borhood." Five years after his fathers
death. or when he was fifteen years old
George quilted school and soon after
went to surveying on Thomas Lord
Fairfax's wild western lands in the
upper Potomac and Shenandoah coun-
try.
Parson Weems says that Washington
never learned a syllable of Latin, but
that he was good at reading, spelling,
English grammar, arithmetic, survey
ing, bookkeeping and geography. While
at school he was opposed to fighting
often parted other boys while they
fought, and often reported them to the
schoolmaster for fighting, earning the
Ill VIII of some of his schoolmates by
this conduct. He and the other BOYS
played soldier a good deal, and there
was no especial significance in that
for nearly all boys play soldier and
grow up into mild civilians without any
martial ardor. At Mr. Williams school
Washington was good at jumping with
d long pole, heaving heavy weights and
running.
AS runner young Washington was
fast and strong. and Parson Weems
publishes this narrative, which he in
forms us was told him by John Fitz-
hugh of Chotank:
We had nobody hereabouts that
could come near him (Washington.
There was young Langhorn Dade of
Westmoreland. a confounded, clean
made, tight young fellow, and a mighty
swift runner, too, but then he was no
match for George. Langy, indeed, did
not like to give it up and would brag
that he sometimes brought George to a
tie. But 7 believe he was mistaken
for | have seen them run together
many a time and George always beat
him easy enough.
A good deal of jest is indulged in
about young George Washington hav-
ing thrown a silver dollar across the
river. The story itself is reasonable
enough and was told on excellent au-
thority. but it has been distorted.
When the story was first told it did not
have silver dollar in il. 1t was stones
that young George threw across the
river. How silver dollar got into the
story the Rambler does not know.
Then, great many people who have
seen the Potomac river at Wakefield,
where it is about four miles wide. and
have heard the throwing story. have
smiled and believed the story was a
fable. 1t was never told that Wash
ington threw stone across the Poto-
mac river, but across the Rappahan-
mock river at Frederick sburg.
The Rambler does not know just how
wide the Rappahannock is there,
though he has stood the shore of
the Washington farm many times. 1t
Evening star., 1915-02-21

efforts of the father to instduct his
child in truth. honesty and generosity,
Parsons Weems tells the story in this
wise:
THE following anecdote is a case in
point. 1t is too valua BILE to be lost and
too true to be doubted, for it was com
municated to me by the excellent lady
to whom am indebted for the last.
When George she said, was about
six years old, he was made the wealthy
master of a hatchet, of which, like most
little boys, he was immoderately fond
and was constantly going about chop
ping everything that came in his way.
One day in the garden, where he had
amused himself hacking his mothers
pea sticks, he, unluckily, tried the edge
of his hatchet on the body of a beauti-
full young English cherry tree. which
he barked so terribly that I don't be-
lieve the tree ever got the better of it
The next morning the old gentle
man, seeing what had befallen his
tree, which, by the by, was great
favorite, came into the house and. with
much warmth. asked for the mischiev-
Gus author, declaring at the same time
that he would not have taken guineas
for his tree. Nobody could tell him
anything about it. Presently George
and his hatchet made their appearance.
George" said his father. do you
know who killed that beautiful little
cherry tree yonder in the garden
This was a tough question and George
quickly recovering himself, and look
ing at his father with the sweet face
of youth. frightened with the mex
pressible charm of all-conquerng truth,
he bravely cried out, Il can't tell lie,
pa: you know | can't tell lie. ] did
cut it with my hatchet.'' Run to my
arms. YOU dearest boy" cried his father
in transports; glad am ], George. that
you killed that tree. for you have paid
me for it a thousand fold. Such act
nE n m
than a thousand trees, though bios
somed with silver and their fruit of
purest gold.
1T was in this way, by interesting
both his heart and head. that Mr..
Washington conducted George with
great ease ana pleasure along the
happy paths of virtue
Now. if reasonable person will
think back to those times in rural Vir-
ginia going on 200 years ago. and pic
ture the good father and his little son.
it will surely seem that the cherry tree
incident might easily have happened
and when related by a lady whom Par
son Weems vouches for estimable
and. who he informs us. was a girl at
the time of the occurrence and was
friend of the Washingtons while they
were living opposite Fredericksburg,
>the incident should be accepted
true. 1t is not necessary to accept the
language as it is reported. 1t is reason
able that after Washington became
famous the estimable lady of ParSOn
Weems' acquaintance might have un-
consciously dressed up the conversa-
ton little bit and have made it
trihe more romantic or dramatic or
heroic than it actually was. But the
sr,ri ont Ct ha
versation might have been something
like this: George, come here. sir. Did
you hack up that cherry tree with your
new hatchet?" And George might have
Evening star., 1915-02-21

for them They cannot wear anything
ready-inade. They must be fitted, like
the most specially built rich lady.
a special artist paints their complex
ions.
out of eight recently ordered says
madame. two will be blushing furious
ly. timid young things, YOU know. at
an exposition"
Another artist puts the eyes in. real
glass eyes. such as real people wear
when they need them, the glance
linlpid. candid. affecting.
Yet another sets their hair, brows
and lashes.
E-Guisite work. says madame. The
tresses must be real, growing out OF
the head, luXuriant, natural. To pro-
tect them through the processes. they
plait them in one great braid down
the back"
And the smile.
The smile of half-parted lips. show
ing the teeth, comes extra.
Teeth straight from the dental fac
tory" says madame. There are smiles
that cost SlS-and worth it
STERLING HELLO.
Evening star., 1915-02-21

fam. and in the direction OF Wash
ington city. We're destroyed during the
civil war. 1t could have been done be
fore the civil VA. hut interest in this
kind o. research Was not then very ac-
tive. The Rambler. i'll passing through
Stafford Court House. stopped over
night at the house of the clerk Of the
court. and that official, who had held
the office for something like half a cen
tury. said that at one time he had at
tempted to trace the ownership of that
part of the farm on which stands the
successor to the original Washington
house. but because Of the loss of rec
ords il could not be done. A few yards
from the dwelling which now stands or
the site of the Washington house is Il
small building, said to date. and which
very probably does date. from the time
the Washingtons lived there. The
story OF II is that il WAS the office
of the plantation.
Mrs. Washington. the mother OF
George, did not live in the ferry farm
house very many years after George
took up his residence at Mount Yer
non After the marriage of Betty
Washington, Georges sister. to Field
ing Lewis Of Fredericksburg. Mrs.
Mary Washington bought a cottage I'm
Frederick sburg. close TO Kenmore the
home of her daughter and son-in-law.
and resided there for many years. 1t
was in that cottage she died. August
%. 1888. The cottage is Il plain two
story frame. standing at the corner OF
Charles and Lewis streets. and in sum
mer il is deeply shaded by tail and old
sycamore trees. 1t is furnished with "a
number of relics of the Washington
and allied families and is owned and
maintained by the Society for the Pres
ervation of Virginia Antiquities.
1t was in that cottage that George
Washington took leave of his mother.
four months before her death. He took
his final leave of his mother direc
before his departure for New York for
his inauguration as the first President
of the United States. News OF his
mothers death came to him in a letter
from Col. Burgess Ball. The President
was at dinner with Baron Won Steubell
and Gov. ST. Clair. The letter was
handed the President by his nephew
and private secretary. Robert Lewis.
After slowly reading il the President
retired to his private room aud remain
he wrote the following letter to his
sister. Betty Washington Lewis, al
Fredericksburg:
first account Of my mothers death. since that
l have received Mrs. Carter's letter. written a.
Your request. and previous to both I WAS pre-
pared for the event Icy advlces of her illness
coming from your Robert.
Awful and affecting tie death Of y Iiarcni
is. there is consolation in knowing that hess'u
has spared ours to an which few attain
and favored her with the full enjoyment her
mental faculties and as much bodily strength
usually falls 10 four score. Under these cir
cumstances and in tnc hope that She is translated
happier place. II Is tie duty of her relatives
to yield submission 10 the decree Of the Creator
When I last in Frederir rksburg | took fina
leave of my mother, never expecting 10 her
more.
Your afrectiouaic brother,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Evening star., 1915-02-21

for il while Washington was alive. He
tells that he got the story from lady
who was friend of the Washingtons
on the Stafford county farm. and that
she had direct knowledge of the Incl
dent The man who published the story
to the world in the first biography of
George Washington was Rev. Mason
Locke Weems, or "Parson" Weems. at
one time rector of Mount Vernon
parish. one of the first temperance
speakers in the south and one of the
earliest of the moral reformers in
that section.
with Us yellow pages. closely and eX
cellently printed, well written and ap-
parentiy very carefully written. on
the first page is this:
The Life of George Washington
with Curious Anecdotes Equally Hon
orable TO Himself and Exemplary to
His Young Countrymen.
4 life how useful TO his country led:
How loved. while living. how revered when dead
Lisp, Lisp, His name ye children vet unhorl,
Ard with like deeds your own great names adorn !.
''Embellished with seven engravings.
BY NJ. l.. Weems. formerly rector of
Mount Vernon parish.
sixteenth edition. Philadelphia.
Printed for Mathew Carey. 1872
ON the same page and following all
this announcement is the following in
dorsement, written by Maj. Gen. II.
Lee, L. S. A.:
The author has treated this subject
with admirable success in new way.
He turns all the actions of Washington
TO the encouragement of virtue by
careful application of numerous exem-
Publications.. drawn from the founder of
our republic from his earliest life. II.
Lee, Maj. Gen. Army, L. s.
on the next leaf d. Caldwell, clerk of
the district of Pennsylvania. sets forth:
To wit: Be it remembered, That on
the Twentieth day of September, in the
Thirty-third year of the independence
of the United States. A. d. 1908, NJ. l..
Weems of said District hath deposited
in this office the title of a book. the
right whereof he claims as author in the
words following, to wit: The Life of
George Washington with curious anec-
dotes equally honorable to himself and
exemplary to his young countrymen.
The first chapter of the old and scar
tome is taken up with very just lauda-
tion of the subject of the book and the
second chapter deals with the birth and
education of George Washington. Par
son WeemS tells of the two marriages
of Augustine Washington, the father of
George. and writes:
Little George had scarcely attained
his fifth year W hen his father left
PopeS creek and came up to a planta-
tion which he had in Stafford, opposite
Fredericksburg. The house in which he
lived is still to be seen. 1t lifts its
low and modest front of faded red over
the turbid waters of the Rappahannock.
whittier to this day numbers of people
repair and with emotions unutterable,
looking at the weather-beaten mansion
exclaim: Here's the house where the
Evening star., 1915-02-21

MES gathered round to discuss politi-
cal issues and imbibe the friendly
punch. or perchance II WAS upon one
of Mrs. Washington's receiving days.
The green lawn. dotted with bright
flowers, also adorned with dain-
tily gowned women. escorted by gay
ly attired men. And in the midst OF
this scene George and Martha Wash
ington, smiling their welcome.
Several pieces of mahogany form an
other part of this unusual collection.
One is a desk which belonged to Mar
tha Washington. 1t has d top that lets
down, while over it stands a bookcase
with loaded doors. \ typical colonial
table is one once used at Mount Ner-
non.
Evening star., 1915-02-21

because of some river improvements
along the Stafford county side, along
the river line of the Washington farm.
IT is narrower than it was when the
Washingtons lived there. But taking
that into account, the Rambler believes
that a good base ball thrower could
toss ball the distance of the width of
the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg
in Washington's time. 1t would prob
ably be no mean throw, but there
would be nothing superhuman about it.
Parson Weems tells that Col. Lewis
Willis, a playmate and a relation of
Washington, had been heard to say that
he had often seen George Washington
throw stone across the Rappahan-
mock at the lower ferry of Fredericks-
burg. And Col. Willis is reported as
saying: 1T would be no easy matter to
that
ParSon Weems was not fictionist
but very sincere man. but because of
religious convictions and practices,
which today would pass without notice,
or if they attracted any notice would
be called broad" or liberal" he was
considered somewhat eccentric by the
strict constructionists of his church,
the Episcopal, in the Virginia of a CEN
tury ago. Parson Weems would de-
nounce drinking, slave holding. card
playing and dueling. and probably
horse racing. and denounce those prac-
t1ces right out in church to a congre-
cation in which were many influential
members addicted to the sports and
practices named. He wrote great
many tracts and books on moral uplift
subjects. He travelled up and down the
country selling his and other books. He
openly denounced slavery and liberated
his patrimonial slaves. He would
preach in the churches and meeting
houses of other denominations than his
own. He preached and sold Bibles
through Pennsylvania, Maryland. Vir-
ginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. If
he found a sinner too poor to pay for a
Bible, he would give him one. He had
good deal of property, but he became
impoverished. Weems' tolerance for
other religions got him into much trou-
BILE. Bishop Claggett wrote of him: Il
have regard for Weems, his zeal and
his attention to the duties of his sacred
Office merit esteem: but in proportion
as this zeal and diligence are applied
to the Methodist interest it weakens
u.s." 1t would seem from this that in
his travels Parson Weems preached in
Methodist churches.
Bishop Meade wrote of Weems: HE
was of a very enlarged charity in all
respects. and though calling himself an
tinction OF churches" That was prob
ably not written in a too compliment
tary spirit, for Weems created a scan
dal while preaching in Bishop Meade's 8
pulpit by saying that IF the ghosts of
Tom Paine and other noted infidels
shocked to hear the falsehoods told on
them"
A good many months ago the Rambler
wrote of the home and burial place of
Evening star., 1915-02-21

.,
h\ relics whose authenticity is
9\ beyond question is in the pos
e y session of Miss Mamie Ran
dolph Heth. president of the Southern
Relief Society. Miss Heth not only has
a collection of unusual interest and
value, but the story of how it came
INTO her possession is also interesting
This collection comprises many Of
the personal belongings of George and
Martha Washington, articles of wear,
examples of Mrs. Washington's needle
work. jewelry and several cups belong
ing to the general AS for the way it
has come down through the genera
lions to Miss Heth is best told by her
self.
These things" said she have come
o me in a manner which leaves not
the shadow OF doubt as to their au-
thenticity." And from the loving way
in which Miss Heth handles the bits of
Jewelry and fabrics IL is only too ap-
parent that their age and association
nave made them wonderfully dear TO
her.
From Mrs. Washington these relies
went to John Parke Custis, her Oldest
SON He married. you will recall.
Eleanor Calvert. Their wedding took
place at the OLD Calvert manor, which
still stands and is one OF the most his
toric places hereabouts. They had four
children. The eldest was a girl, Eliza
Parke Custis. who married a Mr.. Law.
They had but single child, little
Eliza Law, who married Nicholas
Rogers of Baltimore. They had two
children, son and a daughter. The
girl, Eleanor Agnes, married George X.
ioldsborough of the eastern shore of
Maryland With the maturity of each
succeeding generation, the Washington
nefrlooms were handed down as a
sacred heritage.
L received the collection from Mrs.
Scarborough herself. Mrs. Goldsbor-
Evening star., 1915-02-21


6Nihi9 Is 'he season ioi the cherrA
III concerning the bovhOod and the
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iepi '7e"' TUE sis' anu tue
spirit OF the conversation between
them. though very proba bly, it was sub
lected to some elaboration or embel-
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i'''' ''.'t ''e t''Se IA
"iicii II was transmitted TO tiie "ofiu-
The cherry tree story is plausible
and comes down from tb. DAYS of
Uas,ir,,+or, a., o,oa,,o,,, ,,.,,orit,- u
''' oii '>N'iiei''
IS matter OF common khoWledse tna'
NHeh httle country boy is gwen ms
irst Jackknife he usually does some
damage TO grandma 1aVorlte rose
push OF furniture or something else.
IN the case OF young George WASH
anston II was new hatchet and
young fruit tree.
:
The place at which this incident IS
reIatcI to have occurred vas tho Wash
,,,.or, 60. -, >, -,
Evening star., 1915-02-21
To Make Brocaded Velvet.

Use plain velvet or velveteen. Select
~ 4 heavy, open pattern of lace with
q decided design. Wiring it out in wa
ter. place il over the velvet right side
down, put a dry cloth over all and
press dry with hot iron. When you
lift the cloth you Will find the design
on the velvet. The only way to take
1t out again is to steam the velvet.
Evening star., 1915-02-21

said, Well pa, only forgive me this
time and see if l ever be so stingy any
more" Here is an anecdote which
deals with a very natural and plausible
act. though, of course, the precise lam
Suage used on that occasion by father
and son may not have been reported
letter perfect.
Following this apple orchard story is
the cherry tree story, which has become
so famous. After telling of the pious
Evening star., 1915-02-21

great Washington was born. But it is
all a mistake. for he was born, as ]
said, at Popes creek, in Westmoreland
county, near the margin of his own
roaring Potomac"
Parson Weems tells the now quite
familiar fact that Washington had his
first schooling in IAN old field school,
kept by one of his fathers tenants,
named Hobby, an honest, poor old man.
who acted in the double character of
Evening star., 1915-02-21

replied, after little hesitation, Yes,
pa; / chopped into it little bit" And
the father might have said. We'll,
George, as long as you own up to it
like man 1 won't punish you: but If
you chop into any more fruit trees
about the place I'll take that hatchet
away from you and put you to bed
without your supper"
Augustine Washington, as related by
Parson Weems, died of gout in the
Evening star., 1915-02-21

inston herself for her little grand
daughter, Eliza Parke Custis. is of
rare value. with its tiny stitches. and
also a piece of crazy quilt. Ii is one
of those almost forgotten patchwork
affairs which can be designated by no
other term than like grandmother
used to make.
There is old punch bowl of ample
proportions, which rests upon a base
several inches high. 1t is such a bowl
brings to mind suitry evenings at
Mount Vernon, when. with pipes alight,
the general and some of his old Gro
Evening star., 1915-02-21

lock of his hair. The other piece is
box of 1apis lazuli. This is interesting
not only because it is an unusually fine
specimen of lapis, but on account of it's
shape. 1t Is oblong and tapering off at
the end.
Many articles of clothing are in the
collection. There is a dress which
Evening star., 1915-02-21

once belonged to Martha Washington,
appears In the photograph. This is of
white, heavily embroidered, and in
those days that meant hand work. The
skirt is very full and practically COW
cred with the embroidery, The waist,
on the other hand, is severely plain,