Evening star., 1938-12-25
HOLIDAYS SAD
Immortal Founder Had Tributes of People as
End of War Brought More Inspiring
Days for Great Celebration

son. BY the time the general re-
turned to Mount Vernon for his wife
she had gotten little Nellie, aged 2,
and her baby brother, George Wash
ington Parke Gusts, aged 6 months,
settled with their attendants, and,
putting her grief aside, accompa-
MED him to Philadelphia, reaching
there in time to be the honor guests
at the Christmas dinner at the
lovely home of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
Morris.
The year 1882 was one of farewells.
Much of the winding up of the war
was done from Newburgh, where
Christmas of that year was spent
by the general and Mrs. Washing
ton. They were in cramped quar-
tiers, but they had learned to ad-
just themselves to conditions and to
meet all kinds of emergencies.
With all of the manifold duties
and Interruptions that attended the
disbanding of the troops. the emo
tional strain of saying farewell to
his officers, his soldiers. to the pub
lie and to Congress. Gen. Wash
ington found time to do some shop
ping in Philadelphia and tucked
away in his baggage a collection
of trinkets for the two little ones
at Mount Vernon, for whom he made
Christmas JOY and filled all of the
relations of a father for the bal
ance of his life. He bought
locket, three small pocketbooks,
three sashes. dress cap, hat, chill
dren's books. handkerchief, whirli-
gig. fiddle and quadrille boxes.
| Finally the famous couple, accom-
panied by their retinue. reached
their own gateway. where the slaves
and servants from the various
| farms had assembled to give them
a rousing welcome, making the air
ring with the shouts and cheers
| of Joy that the master and mistress
had again come home. and that
Mount Vernon was once more re-
stored to its proper state. Excite
ment and Joy abounded and did
not abate for days. They found
merry group of relatives awaiting
them, among them Mrs. Betty Lewis
and some of her family. BY
daylight Christmas morning Mrs.
Washington was astir. taking again
the reins of management of her
home and getting everything ready
for the days events.
Six years of great happiness and
continuous hospitality followed at
Mount Vernon All of the old tasks
and pleasures were resumed. The
general took great delight in his
adopted children. He had made
their acquaintance first at Christ
mas, and his devotion to them was
so complete that they never missed
their own father People f1ocked to
Mount Vernon in such constant
stream that the general called his
home an "ill resorted tavern" "
Guests came in such numbers that
with a hundred and one cows he
had to buy butter for the table.
Called upon by every public and
private agency for advice. service
and support, the general found he
could not keep to the boundaries
of Mount Vernon Very quickly he
saw his own misgivings verified by
the chaotic state of governmental
affairs. Christmas of 1874 he spent
at Annapolis, reaching there Decem-
ber 20 with Gen. Gates, at the re-
quest of the Assembly of Virginia
to fix matters with the Assembly
of Maryland respecting the extern
sion of inland navigation of the
Potomac and the communication be-
tween it and the western waters. The
result of this was that these two
States stood together for united
action, setting the precedent for the
eventual union of the 13 States in
accepting a constitution.
Details are entirely lacking as to
the fellow guests at the Christmas
dinner at Mount Vernon in 1885;
of Count Castiglioni, who arrived
on Christmas day in time for din
ner and remained four days. before
continuing his journey southwark
OF Christmas, 1875, there is nc
record, but on Christmas, 1887
there was a party of guests who
arrived early and stayed on after
the holiday.
BY the time another Christmas
rolled around. great changes hao
taken place. The Washington fam
lily were in New York. The genera
and madame had become President
of the United States and First Lady
of the Land. A devoted and trust
ing public had called the Revolu-
tionary hero to leadership in the
highest Office. just created. Fol
its administration. he had no guide
rule or precedent to follow, but
must needs pilot the ship of state
through an uncharted sea of politi-
cal, financial, and economic expert
ment and adjustment. On the first
Christmas he was head of the
Nation, they went to church in the
morning. Elegant in attire anc
imposing in manner, they anc
their handsome coach with theil
liveried attendants satisfied the
public ideal, and their departure fol
st. Paul's was made midst an admir-.
ing audience. 1t being Friday, they
held levee in the evening.
The presidential regime in Phil.
adelphia, which began in August
1890, when the family moved, max
ing the journey in the fine barge
prepared for the Presidents us.
at his inauguration, was very agree