Evening star., 1944-05-28
By John Clagett Proctor.

Arlington, of all the national cene-
teries. is certainly the most famous one
in America, with it's picturesque setting
on the rolling hills of the old Custis
estate, overlooking the broad Potomac
River and containing about 408 acres.
Its historic mansion, begun shortly after
1902 is In full view of the Washington
Monument, the Capitol and the White
House and is visible from much OF
downtown washington.
Indeed. no metropolis in America is so
inspiring and is looked upon with the
same fervency as is this vast field OF the
dead where now rest until judgment
dav inward of $4,000 souls, many OF
whom gave their last full measure OF
devotion that government OF the peo-
pie, by the people, for the people shal
not perish from the earth"
But Arlington is being rapidly filled
up. and ere long little room will be lett
for the burial of those who are now
fighting and dying abroad to preserve
our democratic way of life. OF course
other sites may be secured here and else
where. where our soldier dead may De
inferred, but there can never be but one
on-representative of all wars
from the American Revolution to the
present day.
The Historic Estate
OF this old historic estate. once the
home of George Washington Parke Gus
tis, much has been written, but there Is
always some distinguished person being
buried here that increases its color1ul
history. and the recent interment IN
Arlington Cemetery of Secretary Knox
adds but one more to its thousands OF
notables once prominent In military lie.
But of the man who once owned this
large estate, who erected the mansion
and who made it his home for more
than half a century, not so much has
been said. He died here on October 10,
1857. and he is buried in what is prob
ably the only inclosed plot in the ceme-
terv. and beside him rests his wife, Mary
Lee CFftzhugh) Custis, who died April
%. 1853. Both graves are marked with
monuments. and within the iron railing
fence may be seen growing lilies OF the
valley in profusion and originally three
beautiful white oak trees added to the
attractiveness of the spot. 1t is so Sc
cluded and out of the way, however, as
to make it little known and seldom seen.
George Washington Parke Gusts was
of distinguished ancestry, being the
youngest son of the four children OF Mrs.
I'D, - porKn fvIC1JS
an aide de camp on the staff OF Gen.
Washington, and also along his fathers
line he was descended from John Gus
tbs, whose son, Daniel Parke Gusts, be-
came Mrs Washington's first husband,
and, of course, was Mr.. Custis' grand
father. His mother was Eleanor Calvert,
his maternal grandfather being Bene-
dict Calvert, a descendant OF Cecn Call
vert, Lord Baltimore.
Death of Gusts
At Yorktown, just prior to the sur
render, John Parke Custis was attacked
with swamp fever and was removed to
the home of his uncle, Col Bassett, at
Ethan, about IS miles away.
Soon after the capitulation of Corn
wallis, Washington was informed Of the
serious turn and fastened to his bed
side, where he had been preceded by
Mrs Washington and DR.. Craik, his
physician and companion in arms The
swift messenger of death already had
laid his hand upon the youthful soldier,
whose ability and virtues already had
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
ber, he found Mrs. Gusts standing be-
side the deathbed of her husband,
weeping bitterly. Washington tenderly
clasped her in his arms, and when he
had recovered his composure, said to
her:
II adopt his two youngest children as
my own from this hour" Though it
Is said he never followed this up.by
adopting them legally.
Taken to Mount Vernon
Shortly afterward Eleanor Parke Gus
tis and George Washington Parke Gusts
were taken to Mount Vernon and placed
in the care of Mrs. Lund Washington,
whose husband was managing the gen.
erals property at that place. When
permanent peace returned and Wash
ington again took up his residence at
Mount Vernon, he and Mrs. Washington
assumed intimate and active care of
the two children, who proved of much
comfort to them in their declining years.
OF the two children reared by Wash
ington, Eleanor Parke Custis called
Nellie Gusts, was born March 81, 1779,
and married Maj. Lawrence Lewis She
died July IS, 1852, and is buried in the
family vault at Mount Vernon. Her
husband, Maj. Lewis, died at Arlington
November 20, 1889, and repoSes also at
Mount Vernon.
Washington's namesake, George Wash
ington Parke Gusts. the youngest of
the children and the builder of Airing
ton Mansion, was born at Mount Airy
April 80, 1881. From the time he was
months old until the death of his
distinguished grandmother at Mount
Vernon on Saturday, May %, 1902, he
was continually under her guidance and
influence or under the instruction of
his distinguished foster father, until
that exalted soul passed into the great
beyond.
Arlington Mansion