The Elbert County tribune., 1919-02-14

the efruslons' of futtering songs and stories but
is on intimate terms of acquaintance with It's
idolized first president through the most trust
worthy agency that of his own hand-written let
tcrs and documents. Through the strides of mod
ern progress and the discovery of remarkable
paper surgery, $4,000 more private and
official letters, addresses. documents. reports
nnT accounts have been collected, repaired
md bound into volumes. 400 of them and are ac-
cessible to those who wish to peruss them in the
big library of congress in the interest of research
But the most important of NIL the papers penned
by Washington. and the one which, throughout Its
nire length. is The most perfect reflection OF
him as II of afTairs and of business, is his
asst viii and testament. almost the last document
,enned by his hand, written about five months
',efore his death After many and varied vieiss
"uies this Yarvelous paper has been repnred
md snved to posterity by being safely deposited
steel vnu in Fairfax courthouse, where it
vas presented for probate in 1900
Washington loved fife and crowded into his six
ty-seven years many and varied interests. Through
perusa OF only few of the hundreds of letters
written TO him and by him. it is seen that he en-
ioyed all outdoor sports and games w,ls proficient
in most of them gambled on horses, cards. cocks
and lotteries, speculated 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 were the
precept and principle of his life. and these traits
are forcefuiy Illustrated in the y pages of his
viii. which he prepared without legal aid. though
contrary to his usual forethought In leaving this
duty until so late In life. Every line of IL 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 bequests
relatives he went into great detail
The will was signed July o. 1799, and was
filed for probate. at the county seat of the county
in Virginia in which Washington had lived and
died January 20, 1909. being presented In open
court by George Steptoe Washington, Samuel
Washington and Lawrence Lewis. three she
executors. ----
For /, long time it reposed in the office of the
clerk at Fairfax Court House. but with the con
fusion of the Civil war 1t removed to Rich
nond with other valuable papers and there lost
for time it being rumored that it had been
picked up by federal soldier and sold abroad.
However,, 1t eventually turned up ut Fairfax Court
House again much the worse for its travels and
experiences.
Then. for number of years it was freely
handled by visitors and historians until the
edges became frayed. great holes appeared. and
almost every sheet split in the creases and the
ink, though good, faded from the light and e1-
posure.
When it became apparent thar steps should be
taken to hold the torn sheets together some one
in authority in Fairfax turned he will over TO a
woman resident to be mended which she did most
literally and most disastrously with 4 coarse
needle and equally coarse thread. Consequently
the needle holes and heavy thread soon worked
still greater havoc through the carefully worded
pages.
l. Then n group OF Interested In the collec-
ton and preservation of historic documents
headed by Lawrence Washington, sought to have
the paper turned over to the government, that
the experts of the state department might have
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
lo,i~.. a"'l consequently the aid Of the state de