Evening star., 1934-03-25

aloof in her sorrow she installed her sons
two youngest babies. whom the general had
decided to adopt for his own, at Mount YER
non with capable nurses, and accompanied him
to Philadelphia. Through all of his travels
during the next two years she remained at his
side until he resigned his; cornmission. and was
free to sheath his sword and return with her
to Mount Vernon.
A T THE lovely Virginia home Mrs WASH
\ ington was at her best, charming hostess
to the travelling world. Prince pauper, friend.
soldier, celebrity, impoSter or curiosity seeker,
all made way to Mount Vernon to meet the
great hero. All met with the same gracious
welcome under his roof The hosts of Mount
Vernon dispensed the generous hospitality of
their estate on a scale far beyond that Of any
other private citizen in the land. They re-
modelled and enlarged their mansion to meet
the demands upon it, Being related by ties
OF blood or marriage to half the families Of
the county, they were never without guests.
In fact they were hosts to both relatives and
strangers in such steady stream that the
general likened his house to an "ill-resorted
inn" He complained that with over hum
dred cows he still had to buy butter for his
table. People came for day or so and re-
manned for weeks. Forty house servants were
kept busy keeping the enlarged mansion in
order for its steady stream of visitors. Every
day in the week was washday.
Even Mrs Washingtons domestic genius
must have been taxed in arranging and direct
ing dinner cooked in the great kitchen fire
place for so guests. This was served on o
long table set beneath the trees upon the
lawn and followed the lavish superabundant
fashion of the day when it seemed though
every available meat, vegetable and dessert
were supplied with always much toast making
to prolong the meal into hours.
Martha Washington's diversity of accom-
plishments added materially to the pleasure
of her family and p1lastS She he
harpsichord and taught her own daughter
Martha, who died when about 16, and years
later her granddaughter, Nellie Gusts, to play
the instrument
Family tradition claims that Mrs Washing
ton rode horseback almost long her hus-
band and that she danced until pretty well
along in years
From the serenity and freedom of her BE-
loved home she stepped into the limelght and
again into the harness of patriotic service to
her country in New York the First Lady of
the new United States of America. The diff
cult position, though interesting and absorb
ing. was often most tiresome and exacting In
its limitations. She shared the heavy burden
of presidential responsibility in establishing
the dignity and integrity of the young Nation
and had the satisfaction of seeing its assurance
and stability command and receive the respect
OF the world
Mrs. Washingtons social graces had their
most severe test in these manifold duties.
For her calm, gracious dignity her wisdom in
avoiding criticism, her tact in every situation
that circumstance or newly established GUS
toms placed her, We should sing her praises
from the house tops Her contacts with
many people, her travels, knowledge of public
affairs gave her a broad vision Noted from
girlhood for her wit sometimes a bit sharp
edged, her knowledge of statecraft, taught her
the importance Of silence.
Though abuse, disapproval and bitter criti-
ciSm SWirled about the President in 6uctuatinQ
tides, never a single snarl nor an interna-
tional ripple could be charged to acts or words
Of Lady Washington" still adored by the
soldiers Of the Revolution and respected and
honored by the public. Aiding her husband
and his advisers in the formation of the social
code for the conduct Of state functions (the
code which is still the basis for the present
White House etiquette), Mrs. Washington with
her poise and perfect manner, was the first
to subscribe to its rules and restrictions. irk-
some though she frankly admitted them to be-
AS First Lady of the Land, her service to
her country was constant and diversified. So
great was the throng of visitors demanding
admittance to the presence of the President
and his wife that systemized receptions were
arranged.
Mrs. Washington admirably filed the role Of
Mother Of Her Country as the wife of the
President it must be admitted that she well
coined some of its citizens with scant en-
thusiasm. When the President gave banquet
to large delegation of Indians who arrived
in all of their war paint and feathers and
then paraded the streets with them, to win
their good will for proposed treaty his
wife's distrust of them was expressed in the
terms: "Cut throats ALL
So deeply did Mrs. Washington resent the
attacks of the Presidents political enemies
upon his policies, in which she believed i'm
plicitly, that she welcomed the close of the
presidential regime and the return to Mount
Vernon. Though reveling in the joy of her
spacious home and its comforts with keener
zest than ever before, Mrs Washington CON-