Evening star., 1937-02-21
Few Historic Figures
Have Been So Favored
Songs, Toasts and Orations Expressed Feel
ings of Citizens-Wedding Brought
Pleasure to Family on Final Date.

ton, marking Washington's birthday
as of the old-style calendar, was a
public affair: that of February % was
a family occasion at Mount Vernon,
rendered the more joyous by the mar
riage of Nellie Gusts and Lawrence
Lewis.
Washington loved both young peo-
pie dearly, and nothing he ever penned
gave him more satisfaction than the
following note, written at Mount Ver-
| non under date Of February 10, 1879:
ITO Captain George Deneale,
CLERK of Fairfax County Court:
"Sir: You will please grant a license
for the marriage of Eleanor Parke
Gusts with Lawrence Lewis and this
shall be your authority for so doing.
From, Sir, your very humble serv.
ant, G. WASHINGTON.
Witness:
Thomas Peter,
George w. P. Custis"
Tradition paints a glowing picture
of the scene at Mount Vernon on the
last birthday anniversary celebration
in which George Washington himself
participated. Not, however, from
Washington's diary would one gather
an inkling of the brilliance Of the
occasion. He says. with military pre-
cision and Spartan paucity Of details:
FEB. az Morning raining. Mer at
30. Wind little more to the North
ward. Afterwards very strong from
the No W.T. and turning clear and cold.
The Revd. Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Geo.
Calvert came to dinner and Miss Gus
tbs was married abt. Candle light to
Mr.. Lave Lewis"
From other sources, however, We
know that the bride was attended by
the general, who was attired, not IN
the magnificent new uniform for his
military service at President Adams
appointment, but in the famous and
beloved old buff and blue uniform Of
the Continental Army.
THE mansion had been especially
= prepared for the occasion. At
tended by large group Of relatives
and friends, the wedding supper in
the banquet hall was the extreme Of
perfection and elegance in silver,
china, linen and all the dainties that
comprised the menu of q wedding ban
quet Of the day. Numerous toasts
were drunk to the health and happi-
ness of the young couple, and in these
Washington joined heartily.
Upon Washington's retirement from
public life he and Mrs. Washington
had found the many social demands
upon them too arduous, and to help
them entertain the many visitors. most
of whom stayed overnight. the general
sent for his nephew, Lawrence Lewis,
a son Of his sister. Mrs. Betty Lewis,
Of Fredericksburg, Va.
He fell in love with Nellie Gusts i'm
medidately and, despite ample compe-
tition, including, it Is said, . titled
Englishman and also Charles Carroll
of Maryland, young Lewis won in the
spirited race for the hand OF the belle
of Mount Vernon.
Nellie's decision to accept Lawrence
Lewis gladdened the last days Of WASH
ington's life. She was his favorite, a
beautiful creature of quick wit and
appealing graces Of mind. 1t is said
that she met the generals moods as no
one else could, and when she married
his nephew at Mount Vernon on his
birthday 1t brought him a genuine
happines which does not apear in the
stark notation Of the event in his diary.
Nor does much appear in Washing
tons diary of the Alexandria public
celebration of his birthday anniversary
on February II, but thankfully the files
of the Federal Gazette, a Baltimore
newspaper, brings to light . quantity
interesting account Of the honors ex-
tended to the Father Of His Country
by his Virginia neighbors.
The Gazette tells us that February
II, 1899, dawned bright and clear, that
salute was fred at sunrise and that
the early morning was spent In the as
sembling Of militia companies. It was
IL o'clock in the morning when Wash
ington, escorted by three companies Of
dragons, rode into Alexandria. Then
followed a complicated series OF mill.
tary naneuvers which Gen. Washing
ton watched with keen interest, and:
"The evening was concluded by q
ball and supper given at Mr.. Gadsby's
(tavern), which was much superior tc
anything of the kind ever known here
The company was numerous and bril-
liant and beauty of person and excel
lence of taste, in the ladies, seemed to
vie for q preference. The house was
elegantly illuminated and the ball room
was adorned with q transparent like
ness Of Gen. Washington, executed ir
mastery STYLE"
It should be noted that following
the sham battle Of the day, the par
ticipants disbanded to the several inn