The Benson signal., 1919-02-22

the efusions of flattering> songs and stories, but
Is on intimate terms of acquaintance with lts
dolized first president through the most trust
worthy agency, that of his own hand-written let
ers and documents. Through the strides OF mod
ern progress and the discovery of remarkable
paper surgery, $4,000 more private and
official detters, 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 It's
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 vicissi-
udes this marvellous paper has been repaired
and saved to posterity by being safely deposited
in a steel vaul in Fairfax courthouse, where it
was presented for probate in 1900.
Washington loved life and crowded into his six
ty-seven years many and varied interests Through
pegusal of only a 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
n 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 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 so 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 limits preparation, for in
disposng of his various properties in bequests to
relatives he went into great detail. Y
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 ope"
court by George Steptoe Washington, Samuel
Washington and Lawrence Lewis, three of the
executors
For a long time it reposed in the office of the
clerk at Fairfax Court House. but with the con
fusion of the Civil war it was removed to Rich
mond 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, it eventually turned up at Fairfax Court
House again much the for its travels and
experiences
Then, for number of years it was freely
handled by visitors and historians until the
edges became fray~d, great |. lies appeared. and
almost every sheet split in the creases, and the
ink though good, faded from the light and ex
posure.
When it became apparent that steps should be
taken to hold the torn sheets together some one
in authority in Fairfax turned the will over to
woman resident to be mended, which she did most
literally and most disastrousy with coarse
needle and equally coarse thread. Consequently
the needle holes and heavy thread soon worked
still greater havoc through the carefully wortled
pages. 'sFssss1
Then group of men interested in the coec
ton and preservation Of historic documents
headed by Lawrence Washington sought to have
the paper turned over 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. ard consequently the aid Of the state de-