Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-22
Wa.hington's Lost
Diary Discovered
By George Powell
INV The Associated Press.)

York, Pa, Feb. 2s.-Discovery OF q
lost diary kept by George Wash1ne-
ton during the last year OF his Ife
announced last night by Georse
R.. Prowell, curator and librarian or
the Historical society of York county.
Historical Society of York county: I;
sWhile searching through u~nclassd-
fed documents in the library OF n
department of state at Washington
Mr.. Prowell said, another gentleman
and myself found the lost diary OF
Washington. written during the time
he was president and until his death"
The story Of the diary, he declared,
never has been made public and many
facts in connection with it are entire
ly unknown to the general reader.
One of the first entries quoted is
that written by Washington on his
birthday and in this connection a
little-known fact is brought to light
that in the last year Of Washing
toms life the people of Virginia OBJ
served February II instead of Fehru-
airy % as the anniversary of his birth.
Last Entry Feb. ii, 1879.
Mr.. Prowell explains this by point
ing out that Washington was born In
1892 and it was not until twenty years
later that the Gregorian calendar was
accepted in England and the United
States. Washington's birthday as q
result was recorded in the family
Bible as February II, 1892 Gold style)
served in Virginia until 1910.
The entry of February II, 1899.
reads as follows:
February II, 1899. I went up to
Alexandra to the celebration of my
birthday. Many manoeuvers were
performed by the uniform military
companies and an elegant ball and
supper at night. On the following
day I returned to my home"
The diary contains several refer
ences to the marriage of Eleanor
General Washington, and to Lawrence
Lewis, a favorite nephew. Mr.. Pro-
well quotes a letter written on Tues
day, February 10 to Captain George
Deneale, clerk of the Fairfax county
court. 1t said:
"You will please to grant a license
for the marriage of Eleanor Parke
Gusts, with Lawrence Lewis, and this
shall be. your authority for so doing
This was followeds OF February %
by this entry in the diary:
THE Rev. MI. Davis and Mr.
George Calvert came to dinner and
Miss Gusts was married about candle
light to Mr.. Lawrence Lewis"
Celebrates July 4.
During the spring, Washington be.
gan to turn his attention to the grow.
ing crop on his plantations and to
fisheries which he owned along the
banks of the Potomac. These duties
together with the harvesting of the
crops, occupied his attention through
the summer and autumn,
On July 4, 1893, he celebrated In.
dependence Day by attending a ban.
quet at KEEPS Tavern in Alexandria
given in his honor by the citizens Of
the town. A few days previous, the
chief justice of the United States ant
a distinguished party of friends dined
with the Washington family at Noun,
Vernon.
The entire day Of July 9 was spen,
in writing his last will, which consist.
ed of 20 pages on manuscript, all O.
which he wrote himself, affixing hi.
signature at the bottom of each page
In November, 1899, about six week.
before his death, he noted in hi.
diary the fact that he had spent two
days making a %re-survey of one O,
his plantations. The last few entire,
refer mainly to the weather.
On December II, while, riding, h,