The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-02-28


unto set my hand and seal the goth
day Of May, 1888.
Mary Washington.
Witness, John Ferneyhough.
Signed, sealed and published in the
presence of the said Mary Washington
al her desire
John Mercer.
(. Joseph Walker.
By this will we are enabled to Judge
pretty fairly Of her devotion for her
family and Of her devout Christian
character; of her spirit of equity and
fairness and of the order and business
capacity of her mind; so we can the
better see how she was capable Of
training her illustrious son in those
virtues which meant so much for him
and for our nation, in the days to
come in which he was to stand at the
head of an embryo republic.
When speaking Of Washington's
mother l would be remiss in my duty
as a woman did l not link with hers
the name of that other great force
Of influence over his life, Martha
Dandrige Gusts. She was the daugh-
ter of John cambridge q wealthy and
influential planter of New Kent coun-
ty, Virginia. She was born June q,
1871. When she was eighteen years
of age she was married to Daniel
Park Gusts, and at the age of "a
was left wi1ow with several children
and immense estates. All OF US
know of Washington's courtship of
the delightful widow, Of their subse-
quent marriage, of the brides we'd
ding gown Of silvershot, white bro
cade, over quilted satin petticoat,
and of their after life at beautiful
Mount Vernon Even now that old
mansion house possesses an indescrib-
able charm for Americans. From it
Washington was called to take com-
mand of the Continental army, to it
he returned after Yorktown. Only
200 acres now remain of the original
5000, but these are kept in a state
of high culture under the auspices of
the Mount Vernon Ladies Memorial
association. No foreigner touches
the shores of America without wish
ing to pay homage to the great Amer
lean at his shrine, the beautiful white
marble sarcophagus on the road lead
ing to the Potomac river
On the Potomac is another place
which was dear to Washington, and
very near to Mount Vernon-so near,
in fact, that most of his public activi-
, ties centered there. This is AleXan-
dria, a city rich in historic associa-
tons and teeming with traditionary
lore. Prior to the stirring days Of
the Revolution it was considered the
American metropolis for the British
crown. Many Of the old streets are
paved with eobblestones, laid by Hes
sian prisoners of war, under the per-
sonal direction of Washington, HIM
self Among the notable points Of
! interest in Alexandria may be men,
toned the old mansion Of Lord
Thomas Fairfax, still in a decent
state of preservation; the Carlyle
house where gathered the famous
I"Congress of Alexandria," between
the Colonial governors and the Brit
ism general, Braddock, and the place
also where Washington received his
! first commission. Another place Of
interest is quaint old Christ church
where Washington worshipped, and
where the pew that he occupied is
marked with a silver name plate. Old
Friendship Fire company Of which
Washington was once a member is
interesting and the old City hotel, a
famous hostelFy in bygone days,
from the steps of which Washington
gave his last military orders. Last,
but not least, and bearing on story
i am about to relate, is the old Alex
andria Washington Masonic lodge Of
which George Washington was the
first worshipful master. This story is
built around a series of pictures sent