Evening star., 1941-05-25

to his bedside, where he had been pre-
ceded by Mrs. Washington and Dr. Craik,
his physician and companion in arms.
He was too late The swift messenger Of
death had already laid his hand upon
the youthful soldier. whose ability and
virtues had already endeared him to
those who knew him.
Upon his arrival at Ethan Dr. Craik
greeted him with the sad information
and his grief knew no bounds. 1t was,
indeed, terrible blow and Washington
is said to have wept like child.
Being conducted into the death cham
Der, he found Mrs. Gusts standing be-
side the deathbed of her husband. weep
ing bitterly. Washington tenderly clasped
her in his arms and when he had re-
covered his composure said to her:
Il adopt his two younger children as
my own from this hour
Shortly atterward Eleanor Parke
Gusts and George Washington parke
Curtis were taken TO Mount Vernon and
placed in the care of Mrs. Lund WASH
ington, whose husband, was managing
the generals property at that place.
When permanent peace returned and
Washington again took up his residence
at Mount Vernon, he and Mrs. WASH
ington assumed intimate and active care
of the two children. who proved of much
comfort to them in their declining years.
OF the two children adopted by Gen.
Washington, Eleanor Parke Custis called
Nellie Gusts, was born March 81, 1779,
and married Maj. Lawrence Lewis. She
died July 49, 1852 and was buried III the
family vault at Mount Vernon. Her hus-
band, Maj. Lewis. died at Arlington No
vember TO- 1889, and reposes also al
Mount Vernon.
Washington namesake, George Wash
ington Parke Custis. the youngest of the
children and the builder Of Arlington
Mansion, was born at Mount Airy April
3. 1881. From the time he was months
old until the death of his grandmother,
Martha Washington, which occurred at
Mount Vernon on Saturday, May %,
1902, he was continually under her guild
ance and influence, or under the instruc-
ton of his distinguished adopted father
until that exalted soul passed into the
great beyond
Perhaps no other American boy ever
had better advantages offered him than
young Gusts had in his day. AS a child
he met all of the great actors participat-
ing in the American Revolution, and
when Washington became President he
was taken along with him 10 New York
to live in the old Osgood House Oh
Cherry street and later to Philadelphia
In both places he frequently came in
contact with the pioneers in the building
of this great republic, as well as the
most cultured and refined element with
which the first President continually
surrounded himself.
He was educated along the most prac-
tical lines in the best schools of his day,
forming the foundation for his subse-
quent taste for art and literature. and
equipping him as we'll for the speakers
platform, which he delighted in filling
in after years.
Following the death of his grand
mother he made his home for two years
with his sister Mrs Lewis In 1902. in
anticipation of his marriage to Miss
Fitzhugh. which took place two years
later, he began the erection of Arlington
House, or as We of the present day usual
ly call Harrington Mansion. 1t was
here he brought his 16-year-old bride,
and here he breathed his last October
10, 1857, his wife having preceded him
to the grave by about four years.
The old mansion. after a lapse of a
century and quarter. seems to be in a
substantial condition and is about as
near the original as any building of its
age could be. 1t was designed after the
Temple of TheSeus. at Athens, with walls
of brick, succeed the bricks used having
been made on what is now the Fort Myer
property. The tall, massive columns,
which may be seen at a great distance,
are Of a most perfect Greek type of