Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
':Ege,ything, E0ery Subject, EOery Corner
and Step Seem to Bring Him Close, =
Declared Og0en Ulster O the Home Of
Washington, Where the Vintor Of To-Day
Nay Find Delightful Evidences o the
Character Of The Father Of His Country.

of the Winter seasons at Mount Vernon and
Belvoir. During those adventurous Summers of
useful responsibility the boy became man, and
during the Winters in refined company he de-
veloped the courtliness that was natural in
him. but which he might have lost in the
rougher environment Of the survey
In 1851 he accompanied his half brother
Lowrence to Barbados, whittier the latter had
been ordered by the family physician. But
Lawrence did not regain his health, and George
himself contracted smallpox This slightly
pitted his face for life. Lawrence died In 1852,
and at his death George became responsible
for the administration Of Mount Vernon and
also for the care of his niece, Lawrence's only
child. The daughter did not long survive her
father, and at her death George Washington,
by the terms Of her fathers viii, inherited
Mount Vernon.
DURING the period of peace-the calm before
the storm-Col Washington saw much Of
Mount Vernon In 1859, he married the richest
woman in the Potomac region, Martha, the
widow Of Daniel Parke CuStis Dr. Lord writes:
This lady esteemed his character as much as
Kadijah revered Mohammed to say nothing Of
her admiration for his manly beauty and mill
tary renown. His style of life as the lord Of
Mount Vernon was almost baronial. He had q
chariot and four. with black positions in livery
for the use Of his wife, while he himself always
appeared on horseback, the finest rider In viz
ginia. His house was filled with aristocratic
visitors He had his stud of the highest breed,
his fox hounds and all the Injuries Of q pros
porous country gentleman. His Kitchens his
smoke houses, his tables his stewards his to-
bacco sheds, his fields of wheat and corn, his
hundred cows, his vast poultry yards his barges
all indicated great wealth, and that generous
hospitality which Is now tradition. His time
was passed in overseeing his large estate and in
out-of-door sports, following the hounds or fish,
ing, exchanging visits with prominent Virginia
families amusing himself with card playing,
dancing and the social frivolities of the day.
But he neglected no serious affairs; his farm,
his stock the sale of his produce, were all ad-
mirably conducted and on a plane Of widely
recognized honor and integrity. He took great
interest in the State at large, explored ON foot
the Dismal Swamp and projected its draining,
made several expeditions up the Potomac and
over the mountains, laying out routes for new
roads to the Ohio country, gained much infiu-
ence in the House Of BurgesseS and was among
the foremost IN discussing privately and publicly
the relations of the Colonies with the mother
country. Thus, nine years were passed In lux
ury, In friendship and in the pleasures Of q
happy useful life"
When the stamp act was passed George wash
tngton was one Of the richest men, II not the
richest In the country. He deprecated q re-
sort to arms and desired q reconciliation with
England. but was ready to abandon his lux
urious life and buckle on his sword in defense
Of American liberties" He was an American
Of admirable moderation but unsuitable cour-
blood ties. Rather. he prayed that this kinship
would ultimately secure for the Colonies their
rights without cleavage from the mother cOun-
try. He could not forget his English forebears,
but also he could not and would not give ND
his birthright, that inaiienablc privilege of eli