Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-22
"Father of His Country"
Hopeless Love May Have
Been His Secret Motive

With the coming of each anniVer-
sary of the birth of George Wash
ington. "Father of His Country"
fresh details Of his early life come
10 light. dragged from the oblivion
of the past by some loyal child.
How many Washingtoniars. for in
stance, know that when he was hut
Is years old George Washington,
then living with his brother,
Lawrence Washington, fell in love
with and secretly worshipced
girl whom he called his Rowland
beauty"
And for the matter of that. how
many know that Mount Vernon,
known now the world over as The
home of the first President Of the
United States, and shrine at which
the great of all countries have lad
| votive offerings. was named IN
honor of a British admiral. Lord
Vernon, under whom Lawrence
| Washington had served while a
! captain in the navy of George III:
And, Furthermore, there are not
many in or out of Washington who
remembers that when he was less
than 16 the future. victor of Brandy
wine and Yorktown wrote n lengthy
book on etiquette, which he called
RULES for Behavior in Company
and Conversation"
These and many other matters of
lesser importance, but all showing
the mental and moral trend OF the
youngster, even then known as one
OF the braVcst in the colony of
Virginia, are being brought for
ward for public inspection again
this year as the date of mis- birth
anniversary draws near.
When George was years old MS
brother Lawrence returned to Amer
lea from England, where he had
been educated.
This elder brother had much of
the military spirit. and Doubt ass at
the same time the heart nf the
younger brother was longing to join
him. Vet such was his love Cor MS
mother that. even in later years, he
was completely governed by ner
wishes.
Lawrence Washington was com
missioned a captain at 90. and en-
barled for the West Indies. iris
was in the year 1740. He served
under Admiral Vernon, and it was
his devotion to his commander that
in later years caused him to call his
| home Mount Vernon.
Washington Irving says Of young
Georges book on etiquette that
some OF the rules for personal de-
pertinent extend to such trivial mat
tiers and are so quaint and eormal
as almost to provoke a smile, lat IN
the main a better manual of conduct
could not be put in the hands Of a
youth"
Again Irving quotes a manuscript
of the boy George Washington, is
years of age. which gives an inter-
esting side light on this character,
which was to dominate nation.
In one of these manuscripts me-
MORALS of his practical studies and
exercises. we have come upon some
documents SiHguarly in contrast
with others and with his apparently
Gnromatc character. In a word.
there are evidences. in his own rand
writing. that before he was 10 yea.s
of age he had experienced a passion
for some unknown beauty, so scr
ious as to disturb his otherwise
Weil-regulated mind and TO make
him really unhappy.
There is positive proof that even
at the age of Is Washington vas a
CONSTANT rover, ever though his udOr-
90 was not aware of his passion.
When, year later. he fell in love
with Miss Carey. it was, as irving
says "hut a fluttcr in his bosom.
which. however. was constantly rs-
hnked by the memory of his former
passion"
While Irving assures us that the
object Of his early passion is not
positively known. tradition states
that the 'lowland beauty" was
Miss Grimes. of Wcstmorland. after
ward Mrs. Lee and the mother of
Gen. Henry Lee, who figured in
Evolutionary history as Light
Horse Harry" and was always q
fayorite with Washington, probably
from the recollections Of his Early
tenderness for the mother.
IT may seem strange, if the letters
and documents of George Washing
ton at this time of his life may lie
trusted, that some of the r,any
Young ladies to whom he paid the
honor Of his devotion should not
rave returned tho passion. Perhaps
they did-who knows; for at is
Washington was the chosen COM
panion Of Lord Fairfax who showed