Evening Star Newspaper, December 15, 1929, Page 108

HE SUNDAY | s R R e STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMBER 15, 1929. Duty’s Demand Held Washington to End BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. F one were to ask the ordinary school child the date of the birth of Gen. Washington the chances are that the answer would be prompt and correct, & contributing reason, no doubt, being the fact that February 22 is a general holiday throughout the United States. But ask the same child the date of the death of this illus- trious man and the chances are equally as great that no answer will be given, or if given, will be WIODg. . However, whatever lack of information there may be on this subject, we Washingtonians, with Mount Vernon so close to our very door, should know most about this great man, who indeed was largely responsible for the selection of the site of our beautiful city and who was a frequent visitor here during his lifetime. So we, at least, of all others, should be able not only to answer the first question correctly, but the second one as well. George Washington, born February 22, 1732, died at Mount Vernon, Va., December 14, 1799, just 130 years ago yesterday. He then was in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His passing away was mourned by a grateful people, whose Republic he so ably and materially assisted 1 founding and establishing and to whose hearts he had so sincerely and affectionately endearcd himself. December in the District of Columbia is a very uncertain month, so far as the weather ¥ concerned. Upon more than one oceasion the writer has been roses blooming here in the public parks as late as Christmas day and at other times it has been severely cold through- out. It always has been and always will be a good season for contracting colds, for, in addi- tion to the freezing weather, we are equally likely to be treated to some wet and rainy days as well in the assortment handed us before the month has passed and gone. December, 1799, was no exception to the rule. and the day Washington caught the cold that ~terminated his earthly existence was such a day as we ourselves have seen upon many occasions in this vicinity. Washington, too, had experi- enced many such days, had endured the hard- ships of Valley Fcrge, had crossed the Delaware when it took the bravest and stoutest hearts to do so, and why now, perhaps he thought, should he refrain from going out of doors, even though the weather was threatening, as it un- doubtedly was upon that occasion? Indeed, the first President’s diary contains a positive state- ment regarding the weather for December il It says: “Morning cloudy, wind at northeast and mercury at 33. A large ecircle around the moon last night. About 10 o’clock it began to snow, soon after hail and then settled rain. Mercury at 28 at night.” ASHINGTON was always active and indus- § trious and, like all successful men, left -little- to’ the imagination, but saw for himself what was going on about him. For years it had been his habit frequently to inspect his farms, his rides taking him over a stretch of 8 to 14 miles. His adopted son, George Washington Parke Custis, says: “He usually moved at a moderate pace, passing through his fields and inspecting everything, but when behind time the most punctual of men wculd display the horse- “manship of his better days and a hard gallop bring him up to time, so that the sdund of his " horse’s hoofs and the first dinner bell should be heard together at a quarter to three o’clock.” “The writer added that upon these cccasions he presented the picture of “a fine, noble-looking old cavalier, well mounted, sitting firm and erect in his saddle, the personification of power, mellowed yet not impaired by time, the equip- ments of his steed all proper and in perfect order, his clothes plain and thcse of a gentle- man, a broad-brimmed white hat with a smali gold buckle in front, a riding switch cut from the forest” and “entirely unattended.” So it was that during one of these inspection visits over the farm, on Thursday, December 12, 1799, Washington contracted the cold that re- sulted in his death two days later. Upon this occasion, as was his practice, he took to his horse about 10 o’clock that morning and did not return until five hours later, although the Last Illness of Father of Country Was Under Circumstances Which Revealed His For- getfulness of Self, While He Completed Tasks That Were Upon His Mind. Greatness Marked in Final [—[ours of Patriot—AMedical Reports. This is understood to be the best picture of Washington in his dw'li.ning years. It is reproduced from a pastel made in Philadelphia by William J. Williams. The original, valued at $150,000, is owned by the Alexandria-W ashington Lodge of Masons. weather was cold and a slight snow was falling when he left home, which later turned to hail and rain with the addition of a cold wind that even aggravated conditions. When he returned home it was observed that he was wet and snow was hanging from his hair. His secretary, Mr. Lear, called his attention to this, but Washing- ton said his greatcoat had kept him dry. Some letters being brought to him, he franked them, but wculd not let the servant take them to the office, as he said the weather was too bad to send them that evening. Soon thereafter he went to dinner without changing his damp clothing. Upon retiring that night he seemed to be as well as usual and showed no indications of im- pending illness. THE next day, Friday, he was prevented from going out early, but a hoarseness had de- veloped overnigh$ which was quite noticeable and undoubtedly the result of getting wet the day before. He made rather light of this, how- ever, and in the afternoon went out into the ) } Mount Vernon in the old days. Reproduced from a drawing in Harper's Magazine. grounds between the mansion and the river to mark some trees which were to be cut dcwn by way of improvement to the place. In the evening, when the papers were brought from the post office, he sat with Mrs. Washing- ton and his secretary reading them until Mrs. Washington retired about 9 o’clock. When he retired he seemed very cheerful, and when Mr. Lear suggested that he take something for his cold he replied: *“No, you know I never take anything for a cold. Let it go as it came.” Mrs. Washington, as it would seem, was not quite so optimistic over her husband’s condition at this time as he appears to have been and had become alarmed at not hearing the accus- tomed sound cof the library door as it closed for the night and which was the signal for rest in the well regulated mansion. She arose agam and continued sitting up, in much anxiety and suspense, until at lepgth, we are told, the well known step was heald on the stair, and upon the general’s entering his chamber Mrs. Wash- ington kindly chided him for remaining up so late, knowing himself to be unwell; to which Washington made this reply: “I came as scon as my business was accomplished. You well know that, through a long life, it has been my unvaried rule never to put off till the morrow the duties which should be performed today.” His adopted son and Mrs. Washington’s own grandson, George Washington Par’s® Custis, who built the Arlington Mansion, wh2 resided there for so many years and who is Puried there in the cemetery with his wife, says: : “Having first covered up the fire with care i{ne man of mighty labors at last sought repose, but it came not as it had long been wont to do, to comfort and restore, after the many and earnest occupations of the well spent day. The night was spent in feverish restlessness and pain. ‘Tired nature’s sweet restorer, balmy sleep,” was destined no more to visit his couch: yet the manly sufferer uttered no complaint.” AF'I‘ER the spirit had fled a signed statement was made by his secretary, Mr. Lear, and Dr. Craik giving the details surrounding his last illness, and the following is largely taken from this report: Between 2 and 3 o'clock on Saturday mern- ing, December 14, he awoke Mrs. Washington and told her he was very unwell and that he had had a chill. He then breathed with consid- erable difficulty and could scarcely speak above a whisper. Mrs. Washington wanted to call a servant, but the general would not permit her, for fear that she herself might take a cold in doing so. However, as socon as it was daylight a servant was sent for Mr. Rawlings, one of the overseers on the place, to bleed him, a practice then gen~ erally followed in illness of this kind. Another servant was dispatched for Dr. James Craik in “Alexan~ria, and in the meantime a mixture of molasses, vinegar and bitters was prepared by those around him, but he was unable to swallow. When Rawlings arrived preparations were soon made for the bleeding and Washington’s arm was bared for the purpose, as well as his throat would permit. Observing Rawlings’ nervousness, Washington said to him, “Don’t be afraid,” and even insisted upon making the in- cision larger. Mrs. Washington, not knowing whether bleeding was proper, desired that it be stopped, but the general insisted on continuing the bleeding, as he said, “More, more.” How- ever, at Mrs. Washington’s urging, it was stopped after about a pint had been drawn. His throat was bathed with sal volatile and a piece of flannel dipped in the same was put arcund his neck, but even this afforded no relief. Before Dr. Craik arrived, at Mrs. Washing- ton’s request, Dr. Gustavus Brown of Port Toe bacco was also sent for. Upon Dr. Craik’s ar- rival, a few minutes alter, he put a blister of cantharides on the throat, took some more blcod from him, had a gargle of vinegar and sage tea prepared and ordered some vinegar and hot water for him to inhale the steam from. As Dr. Brown was seemingly long in coming, Dr. Craik had Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick sent for. Again the general was bled, without, however, any noticeable improvement. Dr. Dick came about 3 o'c’eck and Dr. Brown soon thereafter. After a consultation he was bled again. The blood came very slowly, was thick and did not produce any symptcms of fainting. About four-thirty, at his request, Mrs. Wash= ington was called to his bedside, when he re- quested her to go down into his room and take from his desk two wills which she would find there. “Bring them to me,” he said. And when they were brought he ccntinued: “These are my wills—preserve this one and burn the other”: which was immediately done. For all that was done for him he expressed gratitude and to those administering to his wants frequently said: “I am afraid I shal fatigue you too much.” L] 5 ABOUT 5 o'clock Dr. Craik came again into the room and, upon going to the bedside, the general said to him: “Doctor, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. I believed from the first attack that I should not survive it. My breath cannot last long.” The doctor pressed his hand but could not utter a word. He retired frcm the bedside and sat by the fire absorbed in grief. Between 5 and 6 o'clock Dr. Dick and Dr. Brown came into the room and, with Dr. Craik, went to the bed, when Dr. Craik asked him if he could sit up in bed. He held out his hand and was raised up. He then said to the physi- cians: “I feel myself going; I thank you for your attentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble about me. Let me go off quietly. I can- not last long.” He lay down again and all retired except Dr. Craik. About 8 o'clock the physicians came agaia into the room and applied blisters and cataplasms of wheat bran to his legs and feet, after which they went cut, except Dr. Craik, without a ray of hope. About 10 o’clock he made several attempts w0