The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-14
WASHINGTON At HOME
At MOUNT VERNON

ated on swelling height, crowned
with WOOD, and commanding a mag
innocent view up and down the Poto-
mas. The grounds Immediately about
IL were laid out somewhat in the Eng
iish taste. The estate was appor-
toned into separate farms, devoted to
different kinds of culture. each hav-
| Ing Its allotted laborers; much, how
| ever, was still covered with wild
woods. scanned with deep dells and
runs of water. and indented with in
lets-haunts of deer and lurking
places of foxes.
| No estate In United America" OBJ
served washington in one of his let
ters, rs more pleasantly situated--in
high and healthy country; in a
latitude between the extremes of heat
| and cold: on one of the finest rivers
In the world. river well stocked
with various kinds of fish at all sea-
sons of the year"
| These were as yet the aristocratical
| days OF Virginia. The estates were
| large, and continued In the same
| families by entail. Many of the veal
| thy planters were connected with Old
| families in England. The young men,
especially the elder sons, were often
| sent to finish their education there,
and on their return brought out the
| tastes and habits of the mother coun-
try. The governors OF Virginia were
from the higher ranks of society. and
maintained a corresponding state. Tho
established" or Episcopal church
pre-dominated throughout the IAN
cient dominion" as it was termed
A style of living prevailed among
the opulent Virginia families in those
days that has faded away. The houses
were spacious, commodious. liberal in
all their appointments, and fitted to
rryff hA I'M I1.J
hearted hospitality of the owners.
Nothing was more common than to
see handsome services of plate. ele-
CANT eQutpages, and suberh carriage
horses--an imported from England.
The Virginia planters were prone
to leave the care of their estates too
much to their overseers, and to think
personal labor a degradation. Wash
ington carried into his rural affairs
| the same method, activity, and cir
cumspectiou that had distinguished
him in military life. He kept his own
accounts. posted up his books. and
balanced them with mercantile exact
| ness We have examined them, as
! well as his diaries recording his daily
occupations. and his letter-books,
containing entries of shipments.
and correspondence with his London
, agents. They are monuments of his
! business habits. The products of his
estate also became so noted for the
faithfulness, as to quantity and quail
ity. with which they were put M,
that II is said any barrel of fiouT
that bore the brand of George Wash
inGton, Mount Vernon, was exempted
! from the customary inspection in the
West India ports. He rose early.
often before dayhreak in the winter
when the nights were long. On such
occasions he lighted his own fire, and
wrote or read by candlelight- He
breakfasted at seven in summer, at
eight in winter. Immediately after
breakfast he mounted his horse, and
visited those parts OF the estate where
any work was going on. seeing TO
everything with his own eyes. and
often aiding with his own hand.
Occasionally he and Mrs Wash
ington would pay a visit 10 Annapolis,
at that time the seat of government
o. Maryland, and partake of the gay
eties which prevailed during tho ses-
SION OF the Legislature. The society
Of these seats OF provincial govern
ments was polite and fashionable, and
more exclusive than in these repubn
can days. being. in manner, the out
posts Of the British artist ocraey. where
all places Of dignity and profit were
secured for younger sons and poor but
proud relatives During the session OF
the Legislature dinners and balls
abounded. and there were occasional
attempts at theatricals. The latter
was an amusement for which Wash
ington always had a relish. though he
never nd an opportunity TO crafty il
effectua1ly. Neither was he disin-
clined to mingle in the dance; and
we remember to have heard venerable
ladies. who had been bellies in his day,
pride themselves on having had him
for a partner. though they added, he
was apt to be a ceremonious and grave
one
In this round of rural occupation.
rural amusement and social inter
course, Washington passed several
tranquil years. His already estah-
lished reputation drew many visitors
to Mount Vernon: some OF his early
companions in arms were his occa-
sional guests, and his friends and
connections linked him with some of
the most prominent and worthy peo-
pie of the country, who were sure TO
be received with cordial but simple
and unpretending hospitality He
was active by nature. and eminently
man of bushes by habit AS Judge
of the county court, and member of
the House OF Burgesses, he had num-
erous calls upon his time and
thoughts, and was often drawn from
home; for whatever trust he under
took he was sure to fulfil with scrup-
uious exactnesS.