Evening Star Newspaper, February 16, 1930, Page 99

EDITOR’S NOTE—"“An excellent con- densing of historic facts relative to Wash- ington—concise yet comprehensive,” wrote the superintendent of Mount Vernon, Col. Harrison H. Dodge, at the foot of cor- rected proofs of this article, which, it should be pointed out, is a chapter of “Washington, Past and Present,” a 4- volume historical work, begun about three years ago, and now on the press of New York publishers. g BY EDWIN MELVIN WILLIAMS. HE indescribable charm of Mount Vernon draws us very close to the real Washington — to the great patriot in whom courtly dignity was natural. As a Boldier Gen. Wash- ingtorr may not have been the equal of Napo- leon, or of the Iron Duke, victor at Waterloo; Washington was not lacking—he was a gentle- man. Delightful evidences of this are before our eyes wherever we may look when in his home. ) Our- finer feelings respond to the exquisite serenity of Mount Vernon, just as nobility of g 5 il b HHEHEFH gé§a§§ggégfi the American pt.'ogennor. great-grandson of John Washington who . ‘During , Washingtons were Cavallers, and as such suf- fered in their estates. - In 1657 or 1658 John Washington and his brother Lawrence crossed the Atlantic to Vir- 5,000-acre tract before-mentioned and- built his home (now known as Wakefield) at Bridges Creek, about a mile from the Pope home. He saw some military service against the Indians and held the rank of colonel. He lived the life of a gentleman-planter for 20 years, death coming in 1677. His son Lawrence was the grandfather of the illustrious George. Augustine, son of Lawrence, married twice, and at his death, in 1743, left a widow and seven children. There had been three other children, four to the first marriage and six to the second. Lawrence, first-born of Augus- tine by his first wife, Jane Butler, inherited the estate soon to be known as- Mount Vernon. George, first of the five surviving children born to Augustife by his second wife, Mary Ball, inherited an estate in Stafford County, Virginia, nearly opposite Fredericksburg, in which estate, however, his mother had an administrative in- terest during his minority, as indeed she had in the estates of her other children. GIORGI was born on February 22, 1732 (ac- 3 cording to the so-called new style of calen- der) on his father's plantation at Bridges Creek, in the parish of Washington (now Wakefield), Westmoreland County, Va. Bible which belonged to his mother is an entry which, in part, reads: © “George Washington, son of Augus- tine and Mary, his wife, was born ye 11th day of February, 173%, about ten in the morning. . . .” In the next year his father built a brick Barn on his Hunting Creek (Mount Vernon) property, and in 1735, or a little earlier, seems fo have erected a dwelling house also, for the sbout 8 years old when -the family took up vesidence on the Stafford County estate which George inherited in 1743. His father was a THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €, FEBRUARY ‘16, 1930. - With Washington at Mount Vernon 3 Momu Vernon pfiocoéraphed in Summer. and Step Seem to Bring Him Close,” “Everything, Every Subjecty Every Corner Declared Owen Wister of the Home of Washington, Where the Visitor of Today May Find Delightful Evidences of the Character of The Father of His Country. to a smelting company of cargoes of pig iron to Eng- All of the children of Augustine Washington received a good inheritance, but inasmuch as the Hunting Creek estate was bequeathed to the eldest son Lawrence, it seems likely that their father looked upon it as his principal estate, though he lived on the Fredericksburg plantation. Lawrence Washington served as a captain under Admiral Vernon in the expedi- tion against Cartagena, in 1740, and never re- covered from the effects of that brief campaign, though death did not come to him until another 12 years had . Lord Fairfax, whose es- tate adjoined that of the Washingtons, was also at Cartagena, and this war-time friendship be- tween the two families was to grow closer in later years through the marriage of Lawrence Washington into the Fairfax family and the fogdness of Lord Fairfax for George. There were several other aristocratic families in the vicinity, Gunston Hall, the home of the Mason family, adjoining the Washington estate, and Rippon Lodge was just beyond, the seat of Col. Richard Blackburn. In 1743, after inheriting the Hunting Creek estate, Lawrence Washington built a house that was in keeping with his station, and renamed the estate Mount Vernon, in honor of the Brit- ish admiral under whom he had served. One writer asserts that Mount Vernon was not named for the admiral, but we may confidently take as corroborative evidenee the hall lantern that is now at Mount Vernon. It was given to Lawrence Washington by Admiral Vernon in 1745. Wealthy and of good family, Capt. Lawrence ‘Washington lived in gentlemanly state at Mount Vernon. He was a prominent member of the House of Burgesses, and was respected as one of the leading men of Northern Virginia. LAWRENCE was fond of his half-brother George, this fondness developing almost into guardianship. George loved his brother, and was fond of Mount Vernon, too; so, much of his time in adolescent years was spent at Mount Vernon, or at Belvoir, with the Fair- faxes, who thought highly of this upstanding young gentleman. George, so well connected among gentlemen of position and birth “in Northern Virginia, so prepossessing, gentleman- ly, intelligent and active, became a favorite in society. Well built—he was 6 feet 2—well poised, clean-minded, fearless, adventurous, & But he had no intention of passing his time idly. George Hume, who was surveyor to Lord Fairfax, grandson of Lord Culpeper, from 1743 to 1750, found the young man an- apt pupil, able, when 16 years old, to be intrusted with the responsibilities of a surveyor. And, as there was much surveying to be done on the vast Culpeper grant, George Washingten spent about three years in that way, much of the time be- ing passed -beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains. - in company with one of the- Fairfaxes. He lived a hardy life in the opern, but passed much of the Winter seasons at Mount Vernon and during the Winters in refined company he de- - veloped the courtliness that was natural in him, but which he might have lost in the rougher environment of the survey. In 1751 he accompanied his half-brother Lowrence to Barbados, whither the latter had been ordered by the family physician. But Lawrence did not regain his health, and George himself contracted smallpox. This slightly pitted his face for life. Lawrence died in 1752, and at his death George became responsible for the administration of Mount Vernon and also for the care of his niece, Lawrence's only child. The daughter did not long survive her father, and at her death George Washington, by the terms of her father's will, inherited ‘Mount Vernon. DURING the period of peace—the calm before the storm—Col. Washington saw much of Mount Vernon. In 1759, he married the richest woman in the .Potomac region, Martha, the widow of Daniel Parke Custis. Dr. Lord writes: “This lady esteemed his character as much as Kadijah revered Mohammed, to say nothing of her admiration for his manly beauty and mili- tary renown. His style of life as the lord of Mount Vernon was almost baronial. He had a chariot and four, with black postilions in livery, for the use of his wife, while he himself always appeared on horseback, the finest rider in Vir- ginia. His house was filled with aristocratic visitors. He had his stud of the highest breed, his fox hounds, and all the luxuries of a pros- perous country gentleman. - His kitchens, his smoke houses, his tables, his stewards, his to- bacco sheds, his flelds of wheat and corn, his hundred cows, his vast poultry yards, his barges, all indicated great wealth, and that generous hospitality whieh is now a tradition. ' His time was passed in overseeing his large estate and in out-of-door sports, following the hounds or fish- ing, exchanging visits with prominent Virginia families, amusing himself with card playing, dancing and the social frivolities of the day. But he neglected no serious affairs; his farm, his stock, the sale of his produce, were all ad- mirably conducted and on a plane of widely recognized honor and integrity. He took great interest in the State at large, explored on foot the Dismal Swamp and projected its draining, made several expeditions up the Potomac and over the mountains, laying out routes for new roads to the Ohio country, gained much influ- ence in the House of Burgesses, and was among the foremost in discussing privately and publicly the relations of the Colonies with the mother country. Thus, nine years were passed, in lux- ury, in friendship and in the pleasures of a happy useful life.” ‘When the stamp act was passed George Wash- ington was one of the richest men, if not richest, in the country. He * ted & sort to arms and desired a reconciliation England, but was ready to abandon his lux- urious life and buckle on his sword in defense of American liberties.” He was an American of admirable moderation but unshakable cour- , holding to the right, but not forgetful of - blood ties.. Rather, he prayed that this kinship would ultimately secure for the Colonies th but alto ‘he could not: and would not give' up his birthright, that inalienable privilege of sll Englishmen acknowledged by Magna Charta, and .its many confirmations. A high code of honor- governed his life, and he hoped that as high a code would in time come uppermost in ° fellow Britons on the other side of the Atlantic. Then fairness wovld prevail, harsh words” would be forgotten, and the mother country would be true to Magna-Charta. If she did not, he would stake his all—and no man had greater stake— in fighting for their right. Col. Washingion was “a leading member” of the first Virginia provincial convention, in the Summer of 1774, and he speke “with pithy elo- quence,” His words were weighty. - “I will raise 1,000 men,” he said, “subsist them at my own expense, and march myself at their head for the relief of Boston.” Virginia made him one of their seven dele- " gates to the first Continental Congress, which met at Philadelphia in September, 1774. Britain at that time was “garrisoning” the Colonies, and the crown presumably supposed that Britain should have the military monopoly. But Wash-« ington went to this revolutionary congress in full uniform, as though to declare to the crown that America had soldiery, too. His presence on the Tloor was significant and reassuring. He was not the greatest orator at -this Wwges: but, said Pafrick Henry, “for solid inft rovalins and sound ent, Col. Washington was un- questionably the greatest man on the floor.” His voice was heard “in favor of freedom at any loss or hazard,” and his military attire was suf- _ ficient evidence that he meant what he said. ° Washington was true to himself—not afraid to cleave to the right, whatever might befall him. - So, indeed, were the other pdtriots who attended * that congress. By attending it, they wished the ° crown to know them as Americans rather than * as British colonists. But there was, as yet, no thought or desire for independence. Like sons ~ upon whom devolved the painful duty of bring- - ing an unjust father-to a fairer frame of mind, - they approached their Quty with solemn though determined purpose, hoping for the best, but - prepared to face the worst, inasmlich as the existing state of affairs, in the famiiy, was un- . bearable. T}Eowmo(thenevolnuonkn!ihndhh-_ tory well known to all Americans, and need not be referred to further in this sketch ef Mount Vernon, except to say that Washington denied himself the comforts and luxuries of this estate until the struggle was at an end, with in- dependence won and a Nation born. From 1755 - until after Yorktown he remained in the field. He spent the Christmas of 1782 at Mount Ver- non, but not until the British had left the : country did he, at the end of 1783, bid his com- - rades-in-arms farewell and take up again the : peaceful pastimes and easier life of a country géntleman. Indeed, it was with reluctance that, - in 1789, he bowed to the wish of his country, left : his home and took up the governmental reins : that none, he was told, could hold so steadily. - Eight precarious years of republican Govern- - ment were steered through safely by the incom- . parable Washington—as effective as a states- of war. Fortunately, the danger passed withous military action, and the great ' to his place of rest. Alas, so soon he was.to be laid in his final resting it Ve non! On December 14, 1799, last. Two days later, quietly and withdut os!'m tation or parade, his remains were placed in the - family vault at Mount Vernon, “and the whole . Nation mourned for him as the Israelites mourned for Samuel of old.” Mount Vernon, during his administration of . it, had increased to nearly 8,000 acres, and at : his death it passed as a life interest to his By the will of the deceased President, . some of his effects had been disposed of and by his widow's will most of the household be- - longings passed to her four grandchildren. Thus the original furniture of Mount Vernon became scattered. Mount Vernon, itself, passed, - in succession, to Bushrod Washington, John Augustine Washington and John A. Washing- ton, jr., changes taking place in the furnishings » and interior decorations of the house, as con- venience or inclination prompted the respective - owners, from time to time. The Washington family, in the generation of John A. Washington, jr., were desirous that the historic estate should, for better preservation, pass into’ the possession of the Nation. He of- . fered to sell Mount Vernon to the United States, and later to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Both projects failed. “ But what Legislatures could not accomplish, private patriotic agencies could achieve. Miss District Columbia, in 1893, and Hugh McK. Landon, 1925, the total area owned by the has been increased to approximately Since 1858 the Mount Vernon ciation members have held perpetuating for the Nation a all others in .America, can