Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-24

Fredericksburg, Va, Oct. Elf a
city can have a hobby. the hobby OF
Fredericksburg is certainly its his
toric past. 1t has been claimed that
Fredericksburg has more ancient, re-
miniscent, and historical buildings than
any other town Of its size in the
country, and the claim, we are told,
has stood unrefuted.
Fredericksburg patriotic and anti
quarlan societies have delved into re
cords and they have reverently pre-
served what they could of the ancient
buildings about which traditions cling.
The result is that an historic at
mosphere overspreads the town down
trict, where automobiles, dry goods,
and groceries are being sold in live
Is, twentieth century fashion. Out
side of these busting streets Fred
ericksburg is a beautiful, quiet old
place with attractive homes set in old
fashioned gardens, anad with the Rap
~pahannock flowing by at one side.
The river has its share Of historic
association, especially at this point.
This is the place where Washington
threw a stone-or as some blograph-
ers say, a Spanish dollar-across, then
swan over after it. The course of the
Rappahannock has changed consid-
erabIy, so that the feat can no longer
be estimated, though it stands on rec
ord as a most difficult achievement.
| This is the river, too, up which Capt.
John Smith sailed in 1908 and it was
near here that he was attacked by the
fierce Rappahannock Indian tribe.
A little more than a century later,
in 1882, George Washington vas born,
- L. $500. ISa-5 10
| came an incorporated city. A few
Parson Marye's school in Frederlcks-
burg.
George Washington made history in
more than one house in this Virginia
town. Lafayette stopped at several
houses on his visits here. Patrick
| Henry. James Monroe, Charles Dick
| ems, and Washington Irving, are
| among the other noted visitors. But
| the most picturesque of all the famous
folk about whom fredericksburg citi-
Gems repeat old anecdotes is Mary Ball
| Washington, mother of the Father of
| His Country.
The Mary Ball house is one of the
main sights of the place. 1t is a mod
est, cream-colored frame residence. a
| story and a half in height, with dor
mer windows projecting from the alb
ruptly sloping roof.
Why a house should eve have been
built with a sloping second story like
this it is hard for US TO imagine. The
explanation is that at one time a tax
was levied on all two-story houses and
| builders evaded the tax byb construct
ing steep gabbled roofs over an attic
| story.
Most historians say that Mary
| Washington moved into this colonial
| residence when her son George was 43
| wears old. 1t is certain that she spent
| the last years of her life here. Her
sons rise TO fame made no difference
in Der style Of living. She knew no
| excuse for idleness, and so long as her
| strength permitted she continued TO
| weave. bake. and direct her small reti-
| nue. of servants.
She drove daily In a gig across the
| Rapppabannock to the farm on which
her children had spent their childhood.
| A spot on Main street is still pointed
out as the place where Mrs. Wash
ington always stopped her carriage in
| order to drink d toddy. After taking
| this stimulant she woud direct her
driver to proceed to the farm, where
she went about inspecting the farm
| work an dperhaps cutting slips for
| her home garden. A jug Of water from
| the spring out of which her husband
and children had once been accustomed
to drink was also carried back to town
regularly by Mrs. Washington.
When Lafayette zane to pay his
respects TO the mother Of his great
friend. Mrs. Washington, then an old
woman was found busily burning
weeds in her garden, She was dress
ed in plain homespun and wore q