The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, March 03, 1922, Page THREE, Image 3
THE LITTLE-KNOWN MOTHER
OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
At Fredericksburg, Virginia. the
Memory of Mary Washnigton Is
Aaron Hardy U1 tn in Dearborn Independent.
"And up ihe street a Utile way is
"he old home of Mary Washington,"
said the Fredericksburg man. who
was pointing out the numerous places
of historic interest in the quaint old
Virginia town.
"Mary Washington?" I answered,
question ingly.
"George Washington's mother," he
explained, as if it was not unusual
for strangers to be wholly ignorant,
as I was, of Washington's maternal
parent.
I. perhaps, had read a paragraph or
' ?v>;_
FO about wasnmgioil S muiuvi in urographies
of her son. But the mother
of the greatest of Americans
was a total stranger to me. Incidentally.
I found later, when 1 went
roaming through the book^p about her
son. that few of the biographers of
Washington allow more than a paragraph
to his mother. John Marshall,
whose monumental work uf five vdI
nmes still is considered by many to
be the best, gives her only a phrase:
" a timid and affectionate mother
" Some verge even on a sort
of scorn in their treatment of her.
Hastening to the small old-fashioned
dwelling, now. thanks, to a group
of patriotic Virginia women, preserved
as a nublic shrine, where Mary
Washington spent her latter days an;I
died, I quickly came face to face with
cnirt nf Washington's mother. In
a way, her spirit still dominates the
scenes she once ruled with iron will.
Nearly all that is remembered of
Washington's mother illustrates,
among other things, that she always
"had a mind of her own." The small
house remains very much as it wwhen
she died. The mahogany fourposter
bed, with the steps neea-1'. for
reaching its lofty heights, stands in
?-! :a .....c
ine main room, il is wiui mw
sive feather mattresses, overlaid by a
counterpane. There are other relics
of Mary Washington's day, some o:'
which may have belonged +o her.
The town's growth has caused streets
to cut away the ample yard which
once fronted the house, and only a
moiety of the big garden in the rear
remains. Therein, however,, you see
a boxwood hedge that was set out by
its revered occupant of nearly a century
and a half ago. Cut off from the
main house, as was the rule in that
day, is the kitchen, preserved in its
. original picturesqueness, with its wide
fireplace and the tongs and hooks and
long-handled cooking irons used in
preparing meals over open fires.
Lafayette went there alone, after
the close of the Revolutionary war,
to pay his respects to the mother of
the chief he adored. Lafayette talked
with her in the garden and in the
house and immediately thereafter declared:
"I have this'day spoken with
a truly Roman mother."
That's the impression one who look*
into the little that survives about Mary
Washington gets now. She evidently
did not fit into her period with
that nicety that was achieved by her
graceful daughter-in-law, Martha Custis
Washington. Yet if she lived today
she might fit better than would
Martha, as she would have excelled in
the day of the Caesars or any other.
For Mary Washington seems to have
been of that rare type that fits with
equal success into any period?a woman
of the ages, as it were.
However the historians may "damn
her with faint praise,*' and regardless
of how popular fancy has passed her
by, the people of Fredericksburg,
where she spent the greater part of
her life, are very fond of Mary Washington.
And-of all the many historicfigures
associated with the community's
past, they seem to like best to
r\? VifV + nnrvofo f Vi
V'A 11V UilVi C W 1 K? 1 i III vv *
esting traditons that have come down,
largely mouth to mouth, concerning
her.
Only a few blocks from the old
home a modest monument stands in
honor of Washington's mother. It is
near a picturesque rock, which overhangs
a tree-covered knoll and overlooks
a beautiful meadow. Tradition
says that in her latter years she spent
much time sitting on that rock, reading
and meditating. Near by she was
buried and there her body rests today.
The site of "Oratory Rock'' and the
Mary Washington monument was
once within the extensive grounds
that surrounded "Kenmore.'' the
home of Betty Washington, only sister
of George Washington to reach
maturity, after Betty became the
bride of Colonel Fielding Lewis, one
of the wealthiest men of that section
during Revolutionary times. The
house where Betty lived still stands.
Mary Washington's home adjoined
the grounds of Kenmore. Bungalows
and cottages now separate the two
places, but there yet stand a few of
the 13 trees George Washington put
cut there in honor of the !.*> states
he mainly was instrumental ir; creating.
i The Lome in Fredericksburg was
purchased for his mother l?y (leorge ;
, Washington ju5t be!'.?ro he became
| commander-in-chief ei' the Revola'
tionary forces. Prior to that she lived
on "Ferry faim," across the river
: from FretJerivksbur:". It w:;>-. ov< tlvit
f irm *ha* her i?>i?n >!"!I ->n st>
'.i'.n-t of !i:o bo> hood. lr \v;?> lb re
that ibe i !. ! ;. is < ! 'i>nt <?; . red.
if it occurred at nil. for W.: \:n<:
tons moved there when Gennre was
between three and five years old.
.While in Fredericksburg; 1 visited the
place, still comprising nearly the same
acreage owned by the Washington?.
It now is owned and operated as a
dairy farm by J. 15. Colbert. Virtually
ai! vestures of the Washington era
are gone. A few trees may have belonged
to it. There's a small, cypress
" 1 1 ' 1 * 11 i 1.
rooted s.'ianiy. ciear:y very o;u. wmcn
tradition says was once George Washington's
workroom and office.
It was there that Augustine Wash- .
insrion died when the eldest son of
his second wife. Mary, was only 11
years old, and it w:'s from there that
Washington went to school at Falmouth,
a few miles away, and at 1
Fredericksburg, near by.
J
Thouyh Mnrv Washington lived to ,
a very old age. dying1 within a few
months after her son became the first;
I
president of the United States, there]
survived only a meager amount ol ,
authentic data regarding her.
Vnctb sd,(fsth ?Csr shrdl cmfwysc ;
She was 22 when she became the ;
second wife of Augustine Washing-;
to*1. Hoi- father. .Tosenh Ball, was of
the landed aristocracy of the "Nor-;
thern Neck" region of tidewater Vir
ginia, a region sometimes called the
f
"Athens of America." because of the j
large number of famous men who1
were born th:*re. Excepting that she
was the "Widow Johiison" when she
married Colonel Ball and married
fgain after Mary's father died, little
i? known of Washington's maternal
grandmother. It is probable that ;
-T ... 1- __i ? ... l 1 _1 _
irom ner. w asningion s motner uerived
and passed on to her son a
strain which softened the stiff aristocracy
of the Washington*. Mary
almost certainly gave to him that
stubborn will, which was among his
most telling characteristics.
On marrying, Mary Washington
took over the management of her
husband's household at Wakefield on
the Potomac river, about (10 miles below
Washington.
The Wakefield place is now cut off
from the customary lines of travel
and but for a monument which marks
the site of the house wherein George
Washington was born, no memento of
iv^ ui y xnxiaiiid vidwiu.
i Nearly all that is known of Mary
Washington's life and most that is
Known of her first son's boyhood is
associated with Fredericksburg and
environs. After the Wakefield house?
was destroyed by fire, ; i.; believed
she induced her husbznd to move to'
the Fredericksburg place because of
the schooling advantages there afforded
for her children, of which there ;
were ultimately six, five of them surviving.
i
Just as Mary Washington will remain
largely an unknown figure and
the little that survives will be subject |
to varying constructions, George,
Washington's relations with his moth-;
er, for the lack of data, will always be
a subject, more or less, of mystery.
The little of authentic nature which
survives does not make one certain !
that they "got along: together" perfectly.
There appears to have been
throughout their lives a more or less |
constant conflict of will between!
them. This may be due to the fact
that they were both strong-willed and
determined, and in several other reI
Epects quite different. There is no
question about Washington's having
had profound respect for his mother.
It is known that even after he made
his residence at Mount Vernon he visited
his mother often and gave close
attention to her affairs even up to
her death, which occurred shortly
after he was inaugurated president
for the first time. However, from the
beginning of the Revolutionary war
'J 1% ^ U AV Vfif f nl_
UJ I CliU iir liVV VI ca >v a. v x w *
lowing the victory of Yorktown,
Washington, with his staff and many
French officers hastened to Frederiicksburg,
and among the tirst person
he went to see was his mother. .An
.orderly preceded him and with great
formality announced to Mary Washington,
the heroine of the day: "Madame.
His Excellency will be here
within + he hour.'' "His excellency!"
.she exclaimed. "Toll George 1 shall
bo glad to see him." George Washington
Parke f'ustis, grandson nf
^1 itt ?1_ ; ;A:
:*iarma wasniiig.on, wmu;i^ oi ujc
meeting between the gereral and his
.mother said:
'"The lady was alone, her aged
hands employed in the works of do!
mestics industry, when the good news
!
;was announced: and it was further
told .that the good victor was waiting
at the threshold. She welcomed him
.with a warm embrace, rind by tho well
i i
remembered and endearing name ol
1:is childhood: inquiring as to hi:
health, she remarked the lines \viiici
mighty cares and many trials h:i<
made on his manly countenance
snoke much of old times and oh
1'ritnds, but of his glory?not :
word."
The tradition that she never ?h< \v
any i :;f hu-iasni for her sot.- mil
re now.'i ?('(',Mi." V-M 5iX? I I'l.'l
i; nm>' in ha red on f.i.t .
Washington visited hi-; mother fi"
tit" las-? t;me ju-u before '* .?* Iff' foi
Philadelphia to t:ik<* lhe oalh of of
f.ce as president. She to!'! him tha
they would never meet ajrain and :
few months later she (V 11.
Lawrence Washington. George"
cousin and playmate, in his old a.^e
wrote as follows of Mary :
''Of her I was 10 times more rfruit
than I ever was of my own parents
She awed me in the midst of ner kindness
I have often been presen
with her for.?, proper tall fellows, too
and we were all as mute as mice; ami
even now. when time has whitenec
my locks and I am the grandparent o1
a second generation, I could nr-t be
hold that remarkable woman withou
feelings it is difficult to describe
Whoever has seen that awe-inspivin.c
air and manner so characteristic oj
the Father of His Country will re
member the mother as she apnearer
when the presiding genius of hei
we 1 J-orciered hou<ehold, commandir.
and being obeyed."
There are several reputed portraits
- C 1 u,.4. ?^4 *i :. 1.? ?
ux 11cri, u'.u nui uiic ui
beyond all doubt to be hers.
The house where Mary Washington
lived was about to bo purchased froir.
its private owner and carried to ihe
Chicago exposition and there put or
Jl o ?
n . "s
Saturdays
These pric
of 20 years z
3-8c the pom
NO. 300 i
Our No. 300 Moui
lue. Saturdays and
. N
Our No. 200 Moui
lue. Saturdays and I
Mountain City L(
and Monday specia
NE?
Shipment of Ne\
fast colors. The yar
J. & P. Coats Spot
numbers, the spool .
C
ij \
BI
"Rlar>k T ;PcA
want. Ask to see th
EXTRA SPECL
10 pounds best Si
N<
r display, when the woman who rented
; and lived in it brought the* matter to
1 the atteneion t.*f !i :jd;j:vi Virginia w ?- .
I men, who immediately raised funds ^
. for its purchase and saved it.
i What everyone in Fredericksburg t
: says, as well as the sparse data re- j
corded in books, indicates that Wash- ;
- ington's motiur was a truly mtcrr-i - j;'ir
Itiul I!" <!'?'!'? V.'O Mi "III. (
T? ' * f
!y i>v-*ir
1 t*
. ' ; :? : : i ' : > (>i" .i
grct'.o ii? ? v. :?> v. '
exchanging stories "J* adventure, "an
i. only came down yciterd-iy. One
% (
t morning last week I struck the trail ^
of a bear and followed it 1*1! about
half-past four that afternoon before
s . . .
g:v;:r.v it up.
"What made you quifafter patting;
in a whole day's work?" asked one
1 of the listeners. s
* ; "Well, to tell the truth.'' replied c
the first speaker, shifting his weight r
" ponderously from one leg; to the oth- I
' er. "it seemed to me the trail was 2
' getting altogether too fresh.?Har1
per's Magazine. it
r !
?_? *?
Harsh Sentence ;
' i
Ave Cory brought the following!
' story over from New York the other *
P day: I
i A negro charged with stealing a |
j watch l:ad boon arraigned before the'
' court. The judge was not convinced . 1
that he was guilty and said: !c
:: "You are acquitted, Sam."
I "Acquitted," repeated Sam daubt-|c
5 fully. "What do \#ou mean, judge?" !\
1 ''That's the sentence; you are ac-; r
quitted." |t
Still looking somewhat confused, p
i S. m rlau: "Judge, does dat mean I jo
h::ve to give the watch back?"?Chris-i n
i ti.-.n Evangelist. |c
es quoted below
i?Q when Cotton
nd,
MOUNTAIN CITY ELE/
ntain City 36-in Bleaching,
Mondays specials. 10 yd. 1
O. 200 MOUNTAIN CIT5
itain City 36-in. starchless
Mondays extra specials. 9y<
LONG CLOTH
)ngcloth. Velvet Finish. 2Is.
10 yd. limit. Yard
/ SPRING DRESS GINGfc
_ i ' ' ^ - rn ..i "
v spring vjiugnams, ioil v
d
SPOOL COTTON
j! Cotton, black and white,
SHIPMENT NE^
FOI
Black Ki<
^ 1-bick- K if] Ox for
\
rubber heel at, pai
Brown O
Dark Brown Oxfc
rubber heel at, pair ...
Black On<
Black one strap Slii
:mcl toe, $4.00 value, sj
Black S
Black Satin, Baby L<
^ Ki'ippendorf Dittman 1
.ACK PATENT LEATHE
ther, 2 straps, medium bee
tern.
\L FOR SATURDAY A
igar for
swberry, S.
Fitting Text
A colored preacher in Alabama had !
it one time served a short jail sen- ;
ence and was fearful lest his con<rreraticn
discover the fart. a> in his la- i
er vears hi> had been a model of ree- i
I
itude. One Sunday, risinp to be.sin i
r"> sermon, his heart sank to see a i
.. .< it, <! <> front
i'f . ;* : t vi'ii.i 11^ ii< .J. . kw..v ,
- *w. Quid; ihiul:w is ???"* ' arv. i
' l
.i'v-; . . > ??n :n unv. romo
*i:? 1 I"vu-:i, : ai'iiounvf. sol-:
iy: "Ah takes mah is.'V1, d s !
it>**i:?i" froiir si:<-'y fo'th rhap*ah
tnd fo' hundredth verse of de hook
>f Job. which says: 'Dem as sees and
cnows me, and says nothin' dem will
\h pee later/ "?The Argonaut.
Hnc! Inrr Off I r? O! fl OlOS
~
Man went into Gorman butcher;
hop and asked the price of pork >
i
hop?. To the reply of 30 cents a
>ound. he remonstrated that the
i
mtcher across the street asked only
!0 cents.
"Why don't you buy them there.!
hen?"' asked the German.
"I would, but he's out," said the ;
nefnm ov
uciumv i .
"Oh, veil, ven I'm oud, I sell 'em
or only 10 sends a pound."
New Memory System I
"How is it you have such a jjood !
nemory, Norah?" her mistress in[uired.
"Well. mum. I'll tell ve. Since me i
!
hildhood, never a lie have I told, and i
v*hen ye don't have to be taxin' yerj
nemory to be rememberin' what ye'
old this one or that, or how ye ex- j J
lained this or that, sure ye don't j
verwork it an' it lasts yc, good a; |
ien*, til! ye die."?Christian Aavc- ;
ate. . I
?j
ers i
_ I
k - i!
j
remind you
sold for 8. j
^CKING I;
starehless, 25c va- ;"
imit. Yard 15c
(
Bleaching, 25c vail.
limit. 9 yds. $1.00
3c value. Saturday
15c
JAMS
ie Nord, guaranteed
25c
full 150 yards, all
5c
N SPRING OX- :
RDS
f
d Oxfords
da, medium toe and
r $2.98
xfords
I
;
>rds, medium toe.
i
$2,98
|
,1
I
i
; Strap
pper, medium heel
fecial price ....$2,98
I r '
-atm ;
juis Heel, 2 straps,
idnd, all sizes.
I
,R
1, just the kind you
ND MONDAY j
50c
mhi Store
!!
c.
I
j
I
J
I
I
I FOR S
i ? ? ? m ii in i i i ?
| 1089 Tickets
! Each ticket wi
i 9.11 AfMciW*
i?Jz rkl'?il:.yi2'b
s /n si
j
If the sale (
sumpsshil if will me.a
V<HV V WA/A ??? a w i
nasium and a new
for the College next
1 Tickets go en Sale
! Contributed
Member Newberry Cham
I
bmmmbwmw? ?
#
<
s
Don't Spare I
in time of sicknes
medicine must b
get well again, bu
depend upon the
A 4.
the medicine the :
Bring your doctoi
tion here and jou
what his order ca
up of the purest ?
drugs, with consu
and skill, yet char
reasonably. Prom
Mayes Drui
Newberry,
M cmbci Newberry Chambe
r
j
3 admit to
(jHIR S St
fa, 151923 j
- 3 I
'H
}f tickets prove
m a npw fivm
LAI iA. ?1V "T ^ J "**
Athetotic Field
fall.
Feb. 20,11922
by
ber of Commerce
' I .11
J ' -3
A K ;
it!9 Spoon
?
s. Doses of
e taken to
t a lot will
; quality of
spoon holds,
r's Drescrio
~ X *
will get just
lis for, made
and freshest
inmate care
ged for most
ct service.
I Store
South Carolina
: i
I
r of Commerce.
'S3
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