Evening star., 1932-02-21

On Friday December 13, 1899, his last day OF
sactivc living" he made his last entry In the
famous diaries, which constitute SO valuable
Q historical record; in spite Of heavy cold'
went out into the grounds OF Mount vernon,
after q severe storm of snow and sleet;
euperintended the marking of some trees along
the river which be desired cut down; read
aloud in the evening to Mrs. washington and
Mr. Lear his friend and secretary; asked the
latter to substitute for him when hoarseness
tnterfered with the clearness Of his pro-
nunciation and, when about to retire, laugh
ingly refused to do anything for his cold, say
Ing mo, you know never take anything for
cold Let 1t go as 1t came" Early the next
morning, woke with q chill; was bled, at his
own request, about sunrise, but at O'Clock
expressed desire to get up. His clothes were
put on and he was led to chair by the nre
About 10 he hay down again At in the after
noon he made another supreme efort ana
after sitting up about half an hour requested
to be undressed and helped back to bed. Ten
minutes before he expired he calmly felt his
own pulse; his countenance changed ana
without q sigh or . struggle he rode 1oitn
gallantly, as q soldier should to answer the
summons OF the throne"
THE last entry in his diary presumably the
] last words he ever wrote) recorded the
weather December 13, 1799-Morning snow
ing and about three inches deep. Wind at
northeast and mercury at 80, Continued snow
ing It'll 1 o'clock and about 1t become per-
fecrly clear. Wind in the same place but not
hard Mercury % at night"
During his entire life Washington kept
systematic memorandum Of the weather, pre-.
sumably because Of his agricultural interests.
1t is entirely consistent with his character that
he completed his records before going to bed,
regardless of any indisposition
An account Of the occurrences preceding his
h henn ViVidlV and Synpathetlcally
given by Tobias Lear. who was his secretary
and aftcrward superintendent Of his personal
affairs The original manuscript reads. Mount
Vernon, Saturday, December IA, 1893. This
day being marked by an event which will be
memorable In the history Of America, and per-
haps of the world, shall give q particular
statement OF it, to which I was an eye-wit-
ness.
ON Thursday, December H. the general rode
out to his farms about 10 O'Clock, and did not
return home till past 3. Soon after he went
out the weather became very bad, rain, hail
snow, falling alternately. with. cold wind.
When he came in carried some letters to him
to frank intending to send them to the post
office in the evening. He franked the letters
but said the weather was too bad to send
servant to the oface that evening. observed
to him that was afraid he had got wet. He
said no, his grcat-coat had kept him dry. But
his neck appeared to be wet and the snow
was hanging from his hair He came to din
ner (Which had been waiting for hiIn) without
changing his dress. In the evening he ap-
peared as well as usual
"A heavy fall Of snow took place on Friday
which prevented the general from riding out
as usual. He had taken cold, undoubtedly
from being so much exposed the day before,
and complained of q sore throat. He how
ever, went out in the afternoon into the ground
between the house and the river to mark
some trees which were to be cut down in the
improvement of that spot. He had a hoarse-
ness, which increased in the evening; but he
made light of it.
In the evening the papers we're brought
from the post Office, and he sat in the parlor
with Mrs. Washington and myself reading
them. till about O'Clock, when Mrs. Washing
ton vent up into MRS. Lewis's room tfNellie
Custis) and left the general and myself read