Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19

wee cannot De Altleus nOE can 1uouStTy anu
idleneSs, Of course. If you resolve to adhere
to the two former Of these extremes, an In.
timacy with those who incline to the latter
OF them would be extremely embarrassing to
you; 1t would be . stumbling block in your
way and act like . milestone hung 10 your
neck, for it is the nature Of idleness and vice
to obtain as many votaries IS they can.
1T would guard you too against imbibing
hasty and unfavorable impressions Of any one:
let your judgment always balance well before
you decide, and even then, where there Is no
occasion for expressing an opinion, it Is best
to be silent, for there is nothing more certain
that It Is at all times more easy to make
enemies than friends. Besides, to speak evil OF
any one, unless there is unequivocal proofs
of their deserving it, is an injury for which
there is no adequate reparation. Keep another
thing also in mind, that scarcely any change
would be agreeable to you at first from the
sudden transition, and from never having been
accustomed to shift or to rough 1t, and more
over, that If you meet with collegiate fare 1t
viii be unmanly to complain. My paper
minds me that 1t is time to conclude, which
do by subscribing myself affectionately, your
sincere friend, G. WASHINGTON.
MFR. Geo. Washington Parke Custis.''
ELEANOR, or Nellie she is so frequently
referred to, was born at Abingdon, just
short way out of Washington in territory Just
a little over a decade later made a part of the
OAoSA~SS "a O~@~---~-~ 1850
Vi-o MIA
= range as it may seem, the birthplace Of
NaiIie Gusts remained standing until March, 5,
of this year, when it was destroyed by brush
fire. It was here that John Parke Gusts took
his bride, the former Eleanor Calvert, and here
much of their seven years Of married life was
spent. True, at the time it was destroyed 1t
fast going to ruin, because no one with
money and sentiment enough would have it put
in order, and little regret was expressed when
mad y he he lime
the house destroyed The Star gave pic
ture of the old residence and a news item
which told Of the fire, together with reference
to its history, in part as follows:
Long since q ghostlike ruin amid its briar-
strangled gardens, the romantic old mansion
house at Abingdon, just across the Potomac
from Congress Heights was destroyed by q
brush fire yesterday afternoon.
"-he wind-fanned flames only completed the
work of years and neglect and brought to a
conclusion in keeping with its tragic history
the days of the old house on the river rich
with associations Of George Washington.
For the past three years the house has
been entirely deserted on tract Of land owned
BY the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac
Railroad. There have been various move
msnts on the part Of patriotic societies to stop
the progress of ruin, but nothing actually has
been done.
when Washington married Martha Gusts.
In 1885, she had two children, q daughter
Aart0a ana q son JO0n. he became 06eply
attached to these children and was almost
heartbroken when the girl died, In 1773.
THE hopes Of both Washington and his wife
were then centered ON John. But the youths
ideas were not always those Of his elders and
he had viii Of his own which not even WASH
ington could control. He fell in love with q
girl across the river, Eleanor Calvert, daughter
of Benedict Calvert Of Mount Airy, Md. and
lneal descendant Of Lord Baltimore. Both OF
them, Washington thought, were too young to
marry.
"They finally were married at the home of
show, attended the wedding. Martha WASH
ington felt so badly about it that she would not
attend She had hoped that her son would
study for one of the learned professions but
her hopes were blasted
Shortly aftsrward the couple came to Mount
Vernon to live. After two years Washington
purchased for them from Gerald Alexander.
one of the founders of Alexandria, the beauti-
full river estate Of Abingdon. For q few years
everything went smoothly. Three children
were born John Gusts had plenty of money,
inherited from his father. His moth:r and
stepfathsr were frequent visitors and Abing-
don was q center of the colorful life of the
colonial gentry
Then came the Revolution. John Gusts
served as aide camp to his stepfathsr. Dur
ing the closing days of the Yorktown campaign
he was taken down with malignant fever and
was taken to the home of an aunt. few miles
away
This took from Washington all the happi-
ness which might have been expected from the
surrender of CORVALLIS and the end Of the
Revolution. Immediately after the surrender
he hurried to the bedside of his sick stepson,
arriving only few minutes before the young
mans death.
ego the widow was left alone at Abingdon
House with her children. Washington
took the children to Mount Vernon, where they
were cared for by Mrs. Lund Washington when