Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-24

Fredericksburg, Va, Oct. 24.-f n
city can have hobby. the hobby OF
Fredericksburg is certainly its historic
past. II has been claimed that Fred
ericksburg has more ancient, reni-
niscent, and historical buildings than
any other town OF It's size in the
country. and the claim. we are told.
has stood unrefuted.
Fredericksburgs patriotic and anti
quarian societies have delved into rec
ords and they have reverenuy pre-
served what they could of the ancient
buildings about which traditions cling.
The result is that an historic atmcs-
phere overspreads the town down 10
| the very edge OF the business district,
where automobiles. drygoods. and gro-
ceries are being sold IN lively. TWEEN
| tieth century fashion. Outside of these
| bustling streets Fredericksburg Is a
/ beautiful, quiet old place with attrac-
! tive homes set IN old fashioned gar
dens, and with the Rappahannock
/ flowing by at one side.
The River has it's share OF historic
! association, especially at this point.
This is the place where Washington
threw a stone--or as some blographers
say, a Spanish dollar--across. and then
/ swan over after II. The course OF the
| Rappahannock has changed consider
ably, SO that the feat can no longer
be estimated, though 1t stands on rec
ord as the most difficult achievement.
This is the river. too. up which
Captain John Smith sailed in 1908 and
Il was near here that he was attacked
/ a a 2,
tribe
A little more than a century later
in 1892. George Washington was born
and the same year Fredericksburg be-
came an Incorporated city. A few
more years and George was attend
ing Parson Marye's school In
fredericksburg.
George Washington made history
in more than one house In this Vir'
ginia town. Lafayette stepped a
. several houses on his visits here. Pat
rick Henry, James Monroe. Charles
! Dickens, and Washington Irving, arr
among the other noted visitors. Blu
the most picturesque OF all the famou;
folk about whom Fredericksburg citi
zens repeat old anecdotes is Mar,
Ball Washington. mother of the Fathe
| OF his Country.
! The Mary Ball house is one OF tn
main sights OF the place. 1t is
modest. cream -coiored frame residence
a story and half in height. with dor
mer windows projecting from the ab
Tuptly sloping roof.
/ Gabled Roofs Explained.
| Why a house should ever have bee
built with a sloping second story lk
this il Ia hard for us 10 imagine. TIL
| explanation Is that at one time a Ia
was levied on all two story houses an
builders evaded the tax by construc
/ ting steep gabled roofs over an atti
story.
Most historians say that Mar
Il Washington moved into this coloni;
residence when her son George wa
43 years old. 1t Is certain that sh
spent the last years OF her life her
Her sons rise to fame made no differ
ence in her style of living. She kne'
no excuse fer idleness, and so long 9
her strength permitted she continue
| to weave. bake. and direct her sma
| retfnue of servants
| She drove daily In a gig across n
| Rappahannock to the farm on whic
her children had spent their chill,
| hood. A spot on Main street Is ST
| pointed cut as the place where Mr.
| Washington always stopped her ca
! riage in order to drink a toddy. Aft.
| taking this stimulant she would
| rect her driver TO proceed 10 the fari
! where she went about inspecting Il
| II farm work and perhaps cutting All
| for her hcme garden. A Jug OF wat
from the spring out Of which h
J husband and children had once be-