The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-02-21

the illusions of fattering songs and stories, but
is on intimate terms of acquaintance with us
idolized first president through the most trust
worthy agency, that of his own handwrltten let
ters and documents. Through the strides of mod
ern progress and the discovery of remarkable
paper surgery $4,000 or private and
official letters, addresses, documents, reports
and accounts have been collected, repaired
and bound into volumes, 400 of them, and are ac-
cessible to those who wish to peruse them In the
big library of congress in the interest OF research
But the most important of all the papers penned
by Washington and the one which, throughout its
entire length, is the most perfect reflection OF
him as a man Of affairs and of business is his
last Will and testament, almost the last document
penned by his hand, written about five months
before his death. After many and varied vicissl-
tudes this marvellous paper has been repaired
and saved to posterity by being safely deposited
in steel vaul in Fairfax courthouse, where 1T
was presented for probate in 1900.
Washington loved life and crowded into his six
ty-seven years many and varied interests Through
q perusaI of only few of the hundreds of letters
written to him and by him. it is seen that he en-
joyed all outdoor sports and games was proficient
in most of them, gambed on horses. cards, cocks
and lotteries, specialized in lands and stocks,
danced almost until the. year of his death, loved
theaters, teas, receptions and all social amuse-
ments Though he made constant use of wines
| on his table, moderation and method the
precept and principle of his life, and these traits
are forcefully illustrated in the "a pages of his
! WILL which he prepared without legal aid, though
| contrary to his usual forethought in leaving this
! duty until late In life. Every line Of it bears
mute testimony to his efficiency In business and
| his sense of responsibility, and it shows that he
spent considerable time In its preparation for in
disposing of his various properties in requests to
relatives he went into great detail.
The will was signed July 8, 1799 and was
filed for probate at the county seat of the county
| in Virginia in which Washington had lived and
died January 20, 1900, being presented in open
court by George Steptoe Washington, Samuel
Washington and Lawrence Lewis three of the
| executors
For long time 1t reposed in the office of the
clerk at Fairfax Court House. but with the con-
fusion of the Civil it removed to Rich
mond with other valuable papers and there lost
for time, it being ruIhored that it had been
picked up by federal soldier and sold abroad.
However, it eventually turned up at Fairfax Court
House again much the worse for its travels and
experiences.
Then for a number of years, it was freely
handled by visitors and historians, until the
edges became frayed, great holes appeared aud
almost every sheet split in the creases, and the
ink though good, faded from the light and ex-
posture.
When it became apparent that steps should be
taken to hold the torn sheets together some one
in authority in Fairfax turned the viii over to a
woman resdent 10 De lnenued, when she dld most
literally and most dsastrousy with coarse
needle and equally coarse thread. Consequently
the needle holes and heavy thread soon worked
still greater havoc through the carefully worded
pages
Then a group of men Interested in the coec-
ton and preservation of historic documents
headed by Lawrence Washington, sought to have
the paper turned to the government, so that
the experts of the state department might have
a chance to repair and deposit it for safe-keep
ing along with other important papers of the
government. But the Virginia authorities refused
TO permit the manuscript to leave Fairfax Court
House. and consequently the aid of the state de