Evening star., 1938-02-22

Martha Washington Was an excel
lent housekeeper. She was up very
early every morning to supervise and
give orders SO that the day would be
pleasant for all. Her duties were
many and varied and she insisted
that each servant should be we'll
trained in their special duty. Though
she was dearly loved and known for
her kindness, she could be very
severe when any one was careless
thoughtlesS or inefficient. In addi-
ton to her household, she supervised
the weaving and spinning and all the
work necessary for the clothing, feed
ing and health of the number of
servants under her care.
Weavers were brought from Eng
land and Scotland to instruct the
slaves in the carding, spinning and
weaving of cotton, linen, wool and silk.
Hundreds of yards of wool, linen and
cotton were turned out of the little
weaving house each year Washing
ton was interested in silkworm cul-
ture. and though the operations were
not extensive, he enjoyed wearing silk
from his own estate, so some few yards
were woven each year.
Martha and George Washington
were endowed with a generous share
of good looks and good health" F."
This personal charm, combined with
intelligence, gracious manner, wealth
and a charming, hospitable home.
made Mount Vernon the gathering
place of the most delightful people in
the country. Located on the main
highway between North and South,
famous personages from the Colonies
and Europe marveled at the beauty,
elegance and hospitality accorded
them as they stopped for q few days
or few hours from their journey.
X X
IN 1888 when Washington returned to
Mount Vernon he found that the
place sadly needed the firm hand OF
the one who loved it best. He had ar
ranged for the building of large ban
quet room on the north side of the
house which was to have been finished
by the lazy Lanphier and Sears. But
they had failed to have it in order for
his return and his disappointment
was only softened by his Joy at being
at home again. Shortly after this La
Fayette came to pay the Washingtons
a visit Mrs. Washington wished to
have ball in his honor to which all
the important families in the country
side would be invited. The legend is
she .was so unhappy that her large
room was not completed that Washing
ton and La Fayette laughingly told
her to plan her party and they would
finish the room Whether they draped
the room in muslin or moved in ever
greens to cover the upholstered walls
is not known-but the fact that they
had the ball to which every one came
and had a delightful time is a matter
of record
Under Washington's orders the room
was completed promptly. The "stucco
man" decorated the ceilings and the
overmantel in the dining room and
west parlor Very little is known about
the "stucco man." but the ceilings at
Mount Vernon are lasting monument
to his ability. Later Washington sent
him to his sister, Betty Lewis, at Ken
more to decorate her rooms
After repeated absences from Mount
Vernon, Washington returned in 1893
for almost two years at his home be-
fore his death. In that time he brought
his estate to the perfection that we see
now. The Ladies Association of Mount
Vernon have restored the house as
close to the original as it is possible
by study and research to make it. The
rooms are furnished with many Of the
pieces that belonged to the family,
and have been returned to their orig
inal place by gift or purchase. The
wall colorings and wall paper in the
generals room are reproduced after
tireless excavation Of the paint color
from below the many succeeding
cOlors