Evening star., 1932-02-21
He WaS q
I'D o m e sfic-
Minded House.
holder; Careful of
His Property, q
Devoted Husband
and Man Who
Loved the Out-
doors Mount
Veyuou Entertain
ed Many Guests.
SpecialAHention
for Relatives.
By H. L. Rogers

1T has been said of George Washington,
God left him childless that he might be
father Of his country" The home life OF
this extraordinary man, like so many other
phases OF his distinguished career. stands
out with glowing radiance across the dec
ades as an example to the Nation he inaugu-
rated and started on its way to greatness.
"Washingtons home life" says one historian,
shows him as q lover Of the fireside, domes-
tic minded householder, man careful OF his
property but generous with his servants; de-
voted husband q father whose loving kind
ness was no less that the relationship was not
of blood, man who loved the outdoors. the
earth, the growing grain, the wild game
hcspitable man who offered the best he had IN
happiness that there were many who enjoyed
breaking bread with him. man to whom church
and divine worship were q part OF life. His
home was refuge and q haven Of peace and
JOY. He left it with regret, he returned to it
as to heaven on earth. No glimpses we
have of the great warrior and statesman across
the years are more intimate none more charm
ing than those Of Washington the husband. the
devoted father of children not his own, the
host, the home lover"
In an age when large families were the rule
Washington from infancy was surrounded by
i host of relatives, and after his marriage to
Martha Dandridge Parke Gusts, widow WITH
two small children, his wife's kith and kin
were added Relatives on both sides were &C
customed to look to Washington for advice,
sympathy and frequently for financial aid. and
though he never failed them, he did not hesi-
tate to chide . recalcitrant nephew when duty
demanded or to expostulate with an extrava-
CANT brother He advanced money for the ed
ucation Of numerous young relatives, gave en-
ployment to several nephews, obtained positions
in Government service for others. though always
on guard against nepotism, and In his will
left bequests to Al Of his own and his wife's
relations
THE hospitality of Mount Vernon left nothing
] to be desired. The high and the low. the
rich and the poor, the politician and the small
farmer, the soldier and the civilian were often
present-sometimes with their ladies' some
times with whole families-to beak bread and
spend the night or longer with the beloved host.
An entry In Washington's diary reflects this
Il Characteristic hospitality:
Il aet out for my return hoane-at which
arrived . little after noon-snd found my
Brother Jno Augustine and his Wife; Daughter
Milly d Sons, Bushrod & Corbin. & the Wife
Of the first; Mr. Willm Washington 6E his Wife
and Children
Washington inherited the original estate of
Mount Vernon. which he increased from time
TO time until he owned 5000 acres. one OF the
nnest plantations IN Virginia. So many vis-
itors thronged Mount Vernon that Il had to
be enlarged. Washingtn wrote In his diary
June 30 17s5: "Dned with only Mrs. washing
ton which I believe is the first instance Of it
since my retirement from public hfe.'
Much Of Washingtons early life was spent
at the iones Of his elder half brothers, Law
renee and Augustine. who lived respectively at
Mount Vernon and Wakefield. When Lawrence
was stricken with consumption, George went
with him 70 the Barbados, anc contracted
d small pox, from which his face was ever after
ward SCARED. From Lawrence Warrington In
herted Mount Vernon. - irf
Mary Ball Warrington, mother of George.
lived to be o, and died only - years before