The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-03-11
VIRGINIA in the days Of Wash
" ington's early manhood; Vir-


v ginia with its vast tobacco
plantations sloping to the river; its
myriads Of slaves; its great estates
where, loyal to the king, the master
was above all else gentleman and
sportsman, and the mistress a lady
who directed the affairs Of her house
hold with the imperiousness OF prin-
cess of the blood; Virginia of still
brocades, of hoops and powdered wigs;
a land where hospitality ran free and
good wine was never wanting-such Is
the setting chosen by Thackeray for
his sequel to Henry Esmond," the tale
entitled, THE Virginians."
1t was a. picturesque period in his
tory, and the author Of the novel was
indeed daring to present to us in tie
first pages Of his book George Wash
ington, the young colonial colonel,
who comes hither in his coach from
his adjoining estate to visit Madam
Esmond, the daughter OF our old
friend Henry Esmond at her Ameri-
can home, "Castlewood." and there
meet her nineteen-year-old twin sons
George Esmond Warrington and Harry
Warrington. Hither, also, comes Cen
eral Braddock. the English commander
who expects with the aid of his forces
to bring about an end to the French
and Indian wars; and in his company
Is BENJAMIN Franklin, the Philadel-
phia printer.
All. Thackeray had courage to pre-
sent to us in the flesh these familiar
celebrities
But he does it delightfully."-.
/ We see George Washington. q ire
nnenf and welcome guest at "Castle-
wood" greeting the Widow Esmond
with friendship so ardent that her
sons. Jealous of every attention paid
their mother, mistake his gallantry for
a tenderer sentiment and are on the
noint OF challenging the colonel to q
duel when they discover their error
Afterward George, the elder twin by
the narrow margin Of half-hour
goes forth with Braddock and Wash
ington into the campaign that cost
the English general his life. and II
which the kings troops are defeated
by the French and Indians. From
this disastrous pilgrimage Washing
toms young aid. George Esmond War
rington, fails to return, and great y
the grief at aCastlewood." MADAM
Esmond reprOaches Colonel Washing
ton that he should come back IN
scathed when her son Is missing. A
for Harry. the loss Of his elder broth
er 90 overwhelms him that It !
deemed wise to send him on sea voy
are to England In the hope Of divert
inR him from constantly mourning IN
twin he 20 devotedly loved.
Hence We NEXT behold Harry at tn
home Of his English cousins at "Cas
tlewood" where, We regret to say. h
a. FIRST receives but scant welcome
nv Lord Castlewood and the ladie
would not have tolerated either Harr
a. his black servant Gumbo had no
Amt Bernstein, the Beatrix Esmond Q
Harry's grandfather's day, been
ruest ct the house. Although th
baroness Is now old and has lost ne
beauty she has not lost her none
ana because the impoverished Castle
woods are eager to inherit the latte
they dare NOT oppose her. She WI
have Harry Warrington welcomed !
the home OF his ancestors.
Therefore the young American
granted q tardy invitation to the ran
Nv estate to which his grandfathe
Henry Esmond. although the righn'
heir. waived all claims before emigra
ing to Virginia. !.
Harry Is an lngratiating young fe
low and his Aunt Bernstein prompt
falls in love with him, urging him
- with her to Tunbridge Wells,
fashionable reeort. whittier she
hound. The shfewd old woman u y
r,stent Ia her demand for she sees tn
ne unsophlst1cated lad has already q
ysloped ! passion for the e. 40 9