The Arvada enterprise., 1919-02-13

the effusons Of fatterng songs and stories, but
s on Intimate terms Of acquaintance with Its
dOlixed first president through the most trust
worthy agency, that Of his own handwrtten let
ters and documents Through the strides Of mod
ern progress and the discovery Of remarkable
paper surgery. 10000 more private and
,nicial letters. addresses documents, reports
and accounts have been collected. repaired
lnd bound into volumes, 400 Of them. and are
| eessible 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. Ia the most perfect reflection OF
him as a man Of affairs and Of business In his
last will and testament. almost the last document
penned by his hand. written about nve 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 a steel vaul in Fairfax courthouse. where II
was presented for probate In 1900.
Washington loved life and crowded into his six.
ty.seven years many and varied interests. Through
perusal Of only few Of the hundreds Of letter.
written to him and by him. 1t In seen that he
joyed all outdoor sports and games, proficient
10 most Of them. gnmbed on horses. cards. cocks
and lotteries xpecuated In lands and stocks.
danced almost until the year Of his DEATH loved
theaters, teas. receptions and all social amuse-
nents. 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 fOrcefuly 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 10 late In life. Every line OF It bears
mute testimony to his efficiency In business and
his sense Of responsibility. and II shows that he
spent considerable time In Its preparation for In
disposing OF his various properties In bequests 10
relatives he went Into great detail.
The will was signed July o. 1902 and was
died 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 md Lawrence Lewis, three Of the
executors.
For II long time II reposed In the ofiice OF the
clerk at Fairfax Court Housr. but with the con.
fusion Of the Civil war II was removed 10 Rich.
mond with other valuable pnpcrs and there lost
for a time. II being runored Tint II hnd been
picked UP by n federal soldier and sold nbroad.
However. II eventually turned up nt Fairfnx Court
House ngnin much the worse for its trayels nn.i
experiences.
Then, for II number Of yenrs. It was freely
handled by visitors md historians until IN.
edges became frayod great holes appeared md
almost every sheet split In the crcnscs. nnd the
Ink. though good, faded from the light md ex.
pouure
When II became apparent ihn, steps should be-
'nkcn to hold the torn sheets together some one
In authority In Fairfax turned the VIII over 10 n
womnn resident 10 be mcnlcd which she dId most
iitcrnlly ind most dsns,rousiy with a coor.c
needle and equally conrsc thrcnd Consequently
IN" needle holes md hcnvy thread soon worke,
stlll rren'cr havoc through the cnrcfully woricd
pngcs.
Then group Of men Interested In the rolIcc.
'ion and preservation of historic documents.
hcndcd by Lawrence Washington. sought IN hnv.
the pnp"r turned over 10 the government NJ tina,
The experts Of the stnic department might i,nyc
chime" :" scpnIr md deposit II for snfe. keep
Ing. nI"ng with other lmportnnt pnrcrs ~ the
government. But the vrginln authorities refused
Z" p"'mli N" manuscript 10 leave Fnirfnx Court
'l"ms". nhd consequently the mid Of the state de-.