The Ottawa free trader. [volume], February 19, 1887, Image 6

About The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
WHAT SHALL VK WEAR?
PPONS DCSICNCO FOR ORNAMENT
AS WELL AS FOR USE.
laidilmia in WulkiiiE '' s,,,,'
for l!ic llouse I'avnrlto Mybi I" Cold
ami tii-iii Set Ilranlels ".hating To,
tunica for Young I.udlea.
.Bracelet j are favorite adornment nt tho
Frvseiit time. Theso ornaments are by no
moans confined to what is known as a popu
tar iati onagi, but aro faskionublo among the
rremo do la cn-mo, hotu at homo and abrowl.
A de-irahlo fctylo of brniadot Is ahowii in our
cut This COiusLits of graduut.sl links of xl
MicdpoM until the top of tho ornament in
wo Led. when the links aro richly rua.d and
Ht witlt hinall grins.
CHAM-Villi LINK !U.f KI.K.T.
Vii-v attractive, too, mo bracelets that
iiitinl.i!'-a nnii'Mv iilil)'n tied on 1' 1 in
i-.u1 '. I 'i'v Knot. A l.r;i''' l' t descrwiig of
m ulion, not only hccaiisti .f its novelty, lut
it i;'- " 1 ""'I l'iui!y, ii a .i luuU-J luoo
, i- ( inn. are inn h m-1 in
n. it a:.- tcnm-d knife id;o bracelets.
SI lea In Mmi'S.
V.'.:!!. ing boots l'i"iiint!y made wiih
flo'li n;;.in, I'.nWi' 'I oil" i:h p-ib-nt le.i'h-r.
Th- but toned l-oot continues to represent th"
popular urn', mI1 li 'ii ,li l.i"' 1 IkmiIs lire iorir.ii
m! !. A wall ing boot, . hi' h ii finding high
favor jti tiiow, ii of (.1 oc l.i. I, Willi patent
If-nCn-r foxing and medium lns-1. Ivpiully
fa liional.lc ntf tin- Imnls tiui.lo W illi - bbl"d
rout uj o-i-m iiik! att lit 1 at ln-r llni-h. Indies
have learned tint importance of vn'l.ing in
hoots willi low Ins-Is, nml those piivail to a
'!..' extent, on siloes iiinlt for oiiiiloor wear,
lllll shoos f ir house Wear III'-, however,
still largely in.i'lii with tin) high curved
French ln-el or modifications of this unonm
fottaldt style; so arc low shoes ami slippers
lor evening wear.
Div nz shoes made in ojion work leather
over colored silk and fastened either with
ws or buckles urc worn with visiting toi
lets.
For negligee wear art furnished a wonder
ful assortment in way of colored silk nuileii
nd rri'iieh lad shoes. Numbered with com
forts for bed room and sick room on fell,
vie-, and Klii rs, which aro noiseless, warm
ami iluralili. At night these shoes have no
cital, for the V can be changed to leather slmcs
it hout danger of inking; cold, I sang mado
dt pure wool.
A ( liarinliiK Sit u 1 1 ii; oiliiinc.
, -k-itin.' costume adiiilralily n la ( i to
mi .vi ami young ladies is of ilai k urtx-n i loth
triiiimeil with gray nst i in han. The founda
tion skirt in bordered with a four inch baud
ef pin Ii. Th" cloth skirt above this ii si-nut
in front but fnll.-r it I the sidea and hack, and
has a Mt huh baud of the astrachan at the
to.,1. 'I ho lung dini-ci it s, minted in front
ami siiuire at the hack, lire b'.rdi ml with
lie a traclian. The jaunty jacket lias aim
hiimli of iisl rie hail si t uhoiit the iieek and
upon the fronts mid lower edes, ami a double
row of bullous and tailor tiunhcd H'kets
complete the stylish eirei-t. A tin Uin shaM-d
ni of the iloili, with facing of a.strachan
nn I fur oiiiiiiim as triiuinint;s, and a cloth
ii nil with a-lraehau ends and onitiuii'iitisl
ni:h l ililion l.iiwa, shoiiM b.) worn w ith thin
coit nine.
Niiteltien hi 'I i liniiiini.
A revival of tin-a-l in ihreatened. Ki-cent
advi'i'i from the, I'leie h capitnl are to the
i -ffiTt tluit the display of i;od,Hilver ami bead
enibioidejy iiion rveniiiK and other diTsny
U ik-t- is fairly dn.lin. 'cu embroidery
event. -,l in silk upon cashmere Is used by
French (IresMuaiii rs us a I rinnnin(; for winter
dri-ssi-s. Some desiuus extend to almost the
fiitu-o depth of the skirt, but lis thee am
mounted on a Kiibsluntial undei,kii t of silk
they nro not so iiiappropriutu to the neaxon as
nouldws liiai.lir.it Ihouuht. Folds or plait
innsof r.riincls m l, with tiny dots or poiul.s
af (ill, are d in the nix k iin-l sli-c.es of
J.il L lIll-SM'S.
A iiarrow i ilibon known as '.-unii'l'' ii used
in I'i'ofiiiioii on dresses of tulle.
Tnu liiiiil Aprons.
In the making of pn tly aprons, de-in'-d
ti iiineh for ornament as for use, in dn iduut
Lutein miit'-rial and triuuninc;, width and
lt'i:;i!i is allowed wide wope. Tin -kirt.
i'ioiiM le.e li Is low the knee, and l wide
iiioiij.Ii to com i I he ilr'is front will, I he bib
jinv i ' a t e i H 1 to the bint, but not dio luli, or
it will iipix-nr I ! h;; r;i -i f 1 1 1 .
r.AMKM' AI'llONS.
Numlien-d with attractive pat terns du
jilnyisl by IK-morest are the two given in the
rut. One consist of etauiine or acriiu,
trimmed with velvet bands and a girdlo of
lontnuttiiiii Color and cross Ntileh embroidery
done in harmonizing tints. The other is of
i'i air;ht breadths of ikinis laid in box plaits,
and the intervening 8pins-i ornamented with
boriontal rjs of narrow velvet ribbon.
The bib is made to coi rcs'iond with the skirt,
mi 1 the licit is of velvet, IhiLshed with a vel
et liow on tho ri"ht aide.
Hints Worthy of oiislileriitlou.
Artiatk: dnsx is alw.-iya more It-uutiful
tiian men-1 y fashionable dri-ss.
It is liecaiise French wuiiien pay great
attention to the minor details of the toilet,
that they are t-onsidensl tho beat dixtmnl
omen in the world.
A bit of hiU; about tho iieek has Ut'n
called tLo iniswbii of hulyhood.
While a 'woman may be able to wear
duT-.Tt'iit crdoi-s, there ta usually one that lio
co.'nea lier lnt and abtiu thia huhlxudividod
uixm, iiotbioR wl'l b9 gained by change.
The kUada of the hair ia a good guide for
U-oomingnria.
Inrtlnctl vp preference! are In general a good
pilde aa to forma and colon that are moat
ralteU in dre. - - ' - , .
ALL AROUND THE HOUSE.
I pstulrn, IMiwnslalra, In Klttlirn and la
tho Lndy'a I'arlor.
Thu early part of tho day In tho time for
cat invc fruit. The a.la-e, "tiold at inornitif,
ailver at nMin and lead at hIkIiI," hat a
wlentilh' basis. Tho natural acidity of fruit
acting til1"1"' empty sbmiach I a "ihol
KoSiie" for tho torpid liver of which most ;
Americans am tho victima. It often ocrma
that persons with ai-tivo brains find it ini'ios-
Kiblo to eat u ikol fruit, and for thia clasa
Lsadvisisl fruit stewed or baked ami mod
erately aweeU'ii'tL
Ootid housf kerjirra very projicrly rlniia
plea flint in value. Thera la no more hoalth
ful breakfast dUh than liakwl applea, as a
valuable proerty underneath the skin la, In
thia rorm of aorvhiK the fruit, retained. Fol
lowitiK tho apple comoa tha orange, then all
the Urrii-i of the tom'ieraUi lona. That fruit
la bet whii h law grown In full aunlight.
Fulrjr I Jim pa.
Tho fairy lamjia Introduccil during the
present aeoson have gaineil great jiopularity.
These lampa aro mounted in c lear, cut crystal,
peat I glass, ivory flnlshel glaaa, and in va
rious fancy pattrna. They are amall ctia
holding candlea, almut twoinchea In diameter
and nearly two Inches long. One candle will
burn all night. The cup is act in a sau.-er of
fancy glum and covered with a dmno lmped
shade having an os ning in the top. Tlies
lnniis aresKs ially odapUtl for nurseries or for
iu-. all Is' r Minis, th" light lielngipiiUsHufn' i-nt
to enable one to go about and without glare,
Binoke or danger. They ore inexpensive iu
mint of llio patterns. Olheia aro of cut or
line fancy glass nml are of courae more costly.
Sometimes th.se fairy lights around on
the dinner table, one la-ing phussl la-tWeen
two plates. Th. re is just now something of a
rag- in th, f.i-hional.le world for individual
lights, of ne kind or another, on the dinner
table. F'T this puiHisc cxiiiie miniature
lamps with f.im-y IkiwN and colored shadi-s.
Then Ihere an tiny candlesticks of silver,
brass, copjier, or wrought iron, one of which
is plai-ed at each guest's plaU.
Ili-aiity mid I lllity In One Article.
W hen lieauty and utility nro blendel in one
article that arti -lo is worthy of ifictlul
con.-iilciation, and
Mia ially if it iq-i-eseiits,
a la our
hkcteh, a subjis-t of
univei-sal " inteie t.
The tea kettle, in
one form or anoth
or, lngs on every
Ixxly's hearth, end
i.s Just liow the ob
ject on which our
workers iu metals
aro iiMnding much
taste and ingenuity.
The'Tio'ckakteax,"
which have come to
be a n-cognizod so
cial institution in
our larger cities,
have oncouruged
these arti-tii- pro
duct ions in silver
and l.-Hs prerioiiH
metals. Thecal rcjv
rcn'iils n recent
oro u ti n in brass.
i that I us Ins it nl o
largely eopiisl in
eociternml wrooiiht
FIVE O'CLOCK 1 K.
KETTLE.
Iron all fushlonnl.Io inoMUs at mo present,
time. This is only one of many fanciful do-si-u.s
in which the teapot fln-ls ita way into
the li'iil-" lieaill it ill.
I iinoniiritl ruml-dilng.
The following siiggi'stiona am malo with a
view of assisting in the comfortablo furnish
ing of a small homo at a moderate cost. He sly
llrusscls cariM-t , which wears well, la very suit
able for the parlor or lootnathat do not re
ijuire In lie swept every day. Tho prevailing
price is from ft ton.--'"' a yard, but a bargain
may often Is met iwth iu remnants of rolls
w liii h haw lscu niarkis! down.
A moreiM'onomicnl Ih r covering Is tapestry
at seventy live cents a yard, thia, too, is
more easily swept and cleaned. For bisl
rooms, iu plins of car ets, may tieaulistituted
gooil matting at twenty live cents a yard.
This, with rugs laid down iu front of the Ihs
and bureau, w ill answer very well.
A handsome cabinet in which to plait bric
a I Hue will lie found a pleasing addition to
one's m rli ir. Au iiicxcnsivf and at thosame
time attractive one may Im made, says The
Dissiralor, of ordinary pine. When the
frame is made give it a coating of enamel
paint, then varniih w ith clear varnish. Itc
t'ore the latter is dry, plain on tin panels
small pressed fenia, tastefully arranged.
When dry, paint the ferns very carefully
with gold paint. The remit will resemble a
Japai'csc calnm t to a uiuiteil extent.
Medium ori'-ed. serviceable upholstery
uoods arc show n in ureal, variety. I'robnbly
the mint iopnlur of any one style is the gi mm Is
known to the trade as "-lil. tiint.' it, is
Hi in, durable, in mi excellent iiisorl'm nt of
culms, and ii among the most desirnlile of all
middle grade uphnlsto y fabrics for re;-ular
Kerviee. Some of the liner tUtitit ts im uible
tanestrv hen su n nt a little distance, ami as
the demand for I hem increases, more p.iins is
taken to bring tin m out iu choien designs and
ait iit i' coiubinat ions of color.
Where strictest economy rules, very pretty
i-ITccts can Im gained by covering furniture
with Minn ot the cretonnes. AC twenty livu
cents a yard one can buy cretonne iu artist ii
lorini's, mid designs that cleverly niiiulatu
cxM-ni.o t ipcitry fabrics.
An Attiartltc Cnildlng.
A pudding which preients anattrnciive np
pearance, in addition to furnishing an apM
ti.ing dcssi't-t, may Iki made by using pink
gelatine with the following recipe: .Make a
boilisl custard w ith the yelk of four eggs, a
pint of milk and sugar to taste. Soak a third
of a box of gelatine in a littlo cold water,
then murovcr it three fourths of a cup of
boiling water. When thecustanl la whl udd
to it the gelatine and the whites of four eggs,
lieaten atilf. Flavor with vai.illa, atir to
gether and pour into a mold. It will nettle
into three layers, making an attractive pud
ding of delicate flavor. It is equally good
when ordinary gelatine i.s used.
I I ne Class and Silverware.
Tho tendency is to nti nssih-iation of line
glassware and silver. lemonade ewers, claret
jugs and water pitchers of glass, withimajj
pliisl decoration in ailver, aro instances at
hand. A b-aut if ul example is a crystal pitch
er of antiiue shas overlaid with silver ojn
work p'preseuting wild roses and their fo
liage. This piece, in point of fact, is a silver
(viU hei-, if you please, with a glass lining.
Very pretty, too, aro Itoheinlan glass salad
dishes and Isiw Is set in silver standards and
islged around the brim with silver.
A Warm llulli.
For ninety-nine jwraona out of every hun
dred the laat time for a wurni lath is at
night immediately Ixforu retiring. The re
laxing of the Kyatem In a worm bathopena
the lsly for cold, and not a few aerioua re
ulta are brought about by nndua exposure
after the bath. An electa of bathing, even
In aummer. U mora or Jcsa debilitating' and
therefore ouj'lit to La avoided by peraona of
lalicaU baalto.
OUK WASHIXHTO.V.
no Still Lives In tho IIoartB of All
Truo Americans.
Iiiteresllnu Slteta li ( oihiih inoratlve of Ilia
f ttt 1 I In j Ills K veil I fill I.I re from
Jioyliuotl tu (tld Ke, ua t'itlliun,
bohlier and Stuteaiuan.
I.-IVIKH)II.
The hirthdaya of grcut citizena are tho
proper festivals of a Republic. The a nri.il
mnditattou upon a great career alirnulatiM
tho nationul mind and heart, an I whd
there la ulwuya a tendency Uj l.ft a hero
above tho rang' of humanity, It la tho hu
manity iu him thut makes his cxauip:o mil
muting and encouraging to ua. To make a
demi-gial of a man ia to pluco hi:u Ix yor i
iiiiitution. Tu rcvoal h m an a m.xa la to
i show What man can achieve.
It illutratcs how fast u hold Washing
ton had on the Mipulur heart and the rover
tn o in which ho was held, that tho cele
bration of tiia birthday commence! at tho
cloa of tho lU-'Volutlnnary war. Tho first
public celebration of tho cvout waa on tho
11th of February, 17M, hia 11 rat birthd iy
after tho treuty ol poaeo with Ureal liru
Kin, and from that day to thia, a period of
Cine hundred and throo years, it baa been a
day act apart in tho American calen lar.
Ho must have boon a very gre.it man 1 1
whom contcmporarioa would accord auch
un honor.
It ia tho purpose of th a akcti h to bin !i
away tho cob weba of fahlo and tradition
that have moro or leas obst tired the real
Washington, and to attempt to allow him
us he really was, a man.
In a llihlo of Wash, niton's mother, wlm Ii
is still preserved, thoru appears tlio follow
ing entry:
'lii.-orgi! Washbitoii, son to An-.' :sl nn
an 1 Mary, his wife, was born ye llih day
cf Fcbruury l'..'i, about tea iu the moru-
After fiilbert Stuart's raintinunf Washington,
Tukuu tixno Lite. In l.ifc"..
ing, on 1 was baptized on th JHh of April
following, Mr. Hevcrly Whiting und C'ai
tain I'hriatopher Hrooka, godfathera, and
Mia. Mildred Gregory, godmother."
Thia entry ia in accordance with the
Julian culendar, or old atyle, iu voguo in
liritiah countries ut thut time. In 17.V; the
I'lughah Parliament udopted the Crcgi rian
'ii'.eiidiir, which we now use, iu wh'cli the
2-M of February correaponds with the 1Mb.
of the Julian raleiular. As muu" jieoplo
continued to use tho old etyle, even down
to the beginning of tho present century,
and much confusion in dates was caused
thereby, it ia likely that the llrst celebra
tion of Washington's bir'hduy on the llth
instead of the 'iZl was duo to this cause.
Augustine Wushingbia was twice mar
ried, liy his llrst wife; ho had fourth. 1 Itvn,
two of whom, Lawrence und Augustine,
grew to manhood. lty his second wife,
Mary Null, whom ho married Man h i,
Kiln, he had six children, of whom the old
-it, (ieo-ge, was horn on the '."Jd of Feb
u.iry, lel'I, on the banks of the Potomac, in
Westmoreland County, Virginia. The house
in which tho father of his country wu.
born wiih u iiiodestd welling of four rooms,
which a few years later was burned down.
Augustine Washington had several large
estates, and alter tho burning of the Po
tomac resilience ho lemoved to tin estate in
(Stafford County, nearly opposite Freder
icksburg, and lit this place the early years
of (leorgn Washington were passed. Au
gustine Washington died m 17H, when
t leorgn was but eleven years old, and by
his will ho left an estate of twenty llvo
hundred ucret on the Potomac to his eldest
son Lawrence, which was afterward culled
Mount Vernon.
His second son, Augustine, hud the West
moreland Potomac estate, and to Hoot-go
was left tho homo estate on the Hapoahau
nock, while suitable, provision was made
for the other children and the widow.
Concerning those early years of Wash
ington nothing whatever is known, though
much has been invented an 1 conjectured.
T'r.e story of fin hatchet and the cherry
tree belongs to this period, an I also that of
the garden seed; being the creation of the
lively imagination of Mason H. Wcems, a
traveling ch rgyman, tiddler an. I bonk ped
dler, who was the llrst writer of a life of
Washington. This book has had an enor
mous circulation, un I for more than eighty
years has been the first biography of
Washington placed in the hands of Aiti' ti
cim youth.
Weeius was a Marylander by birth, but
lived at Ihimfr.ca in Wr.riuu, through
Vt Inch State Im traveled much, preach ug
and selling books,
lie wrote his biogra
phy of Wuah.ugtoii
immediately alter
the hitter's death,
nml claims to have
obtained his anec
dotes of Wash lig
ton's childhood from
friends and neigh
bors who knew him at
that period. Con
cerning the cherry-
Aomiuai. Vkhnon. in
lienor of whom Ml.
Vei lion was named
tree story, it is not
impossible that auch
a thing might have (nwurroil, though thero
is no uuthcutie evidence of it whatever,
though its grotesquem'SH has given it firm
hold in American memory. The garden
seed story la ua old as gardens and garden
seeds. About the time Weeius was writing
his book, a biography of Dr. Beattio was
published in Philadelphia giving tho same
anecdote of hla boyhood, and It was prob
ably "thus auggeated to the atory-lovinti
person. So iu regard to the story of young
llcorgo playing soldier and drilling lus
playmates. It ia nothing but what all boy a
have done, are doing and will do until
boys shall bo iii more. It illustrates u i
particular Renins for war, nor uny thing
else, except a disposition to play, and when
not known to bo truo had better be loft
untold. But we do know that hn grew up
a hourly, strong, vigorous und truthful
lad, otx-dieut and atToctio'inte to hla
mother. A manuscript of his is atill pie
rved, written at the ago of thirteen, lu
which he has drawn out, quite elaborutely,
rules lor behavior. At Iho ago of fourteen
thero seems to havo bton some thought of
aembim hiiu to aea. AU the biographers
relate that a warrant bs midshipman in the
Pritish navy was obtained for him, but at
the last moment tho timid u!Tcct on of his
mother prevailed on him to stay at home.
A letter from Joseph Bal', a brothir o
Mrs. Washington, living in London, reveal?
thut, it waa bis advice that kept young
Iteorge from going to aen, and that going
Luto the aivrchuut acrviec waa proposed, u
neli ua into tho navy. An extract man
In let tor, winch ia dated from London,
iii.i.V i.i, I ill. is as t iwows;
undcfst ind that y iu ari a I vh"d and
hive aoinn thoughts of putting yniirsuu
(ii-oigo to sea,, 1 think he had b-llr bi
put uppiviitici) toalinli r, for a coiuiui'in
s, i or i cfoi-i t!c mast h.is i y no tin- iii tk3
Kiintunn l:b'rty of the aubject; for they
will t ri-ss him from ship to snip, wii r.i ho
has lilty shillingt u mouth, und m.i;.; him
talio twcn'y-tlnee, and cut and slash and
uo l.ltn lik u negro, or, rather, bko a dog.
Aldus to i.ny i outidt-rable pref.-rn.eut in
tho navy, it is tiot to bo exp 1 1 d. is tiiero
an ahvu.vs s i many gaping tor it hen, who
havn .merest, and It has nunc,"
It waa probao y tins v.goroua pieco of
writing that inlluen-od both tS-orgu and
hla mother to givo up tbo idea of u boo-
iSnw'sv ''
KFSIDENCK or WASHINGTON rAMII.V.
faring life, and not the affectionate timidity
of the mother, who was by no means noted
for t nudity of any k ml.
With such teachers as lie) t .me ufTorded
ns ho grew up Wa hit'-toii stndi d book
keep n ui d surveying, h.s natural tasto
for iniiMieinatics leading h.m in that diree
t mi. Win n he was s tocn bis nli tv as a
siirvcyor wat sin h lh.it Lord l'airlax em
p'oyi d him t ' survey l it vi.sf estates iu iln
M c::.t: o.ili v: !.. . a"d u- t I le- Was n m
tee I: ).. uid eoiistelit im I li;. r. ' :'. ' -.n-pley.nent
in tins busiues,. So accurate
ii in I pirn -la ; nt Was he that tn in- of li H
in.ips. ti ld notes or surveys have everb -er.
queiioiied.
Ilur.ng tins per'nd, too, he fell in love,
his lirsL love, ninl actually wrote verses in
I raise of bis '-low land leality.'' Who tbe
IskIv was has never been ascertain' d. lie
lived mi. ill of th.s tiiiii ih his brothel
1 awreiice, who had named hit estate Mount
Vcriioe, iu In nor of Admiral Vernon, id
ti e P.r.iish navy, whom Lawrence hud met
v h ie engaged iu military service in tin
West Indies.
ticorge in i-onipanied Lawrence on a trij
to the West liiii.e when he was llineteeti,
nti I at N.irbadoes had an at t ick of small
pox, w im h lelt its marks on his face for the
remainder of his life.
Tho next year, 17.V.', Lawrence died, leav
ing lleorge executor of his estate, and in
tho event of the death of his only child, a
daughter, devising ull hisestate, including
Mount Vernon, to him. The ch Id survived
but a few months, und Washington became
the owner of that line estate. Under such
c rcuinstuncea he caters upou the threshold
of in. in hood.
II.-I KONTII ItsMAX .M SOI IIKH.
His expor, eiices as surveyor had made
him familiar witu woodcraft, and with In
dian customs and hun ts. Hefore the death
of his I rothcr, Governor lUtiwuldio had
appointed h m Adjutant, (iencr.ilof one of
tne Virginia military distru ta.with the rank
of Mijor, and bia
&-t f business was to re
cruit anl tirin tne
nt ierstiiou in ord,-i'
-'fir bl protect tl-.e a
JS, V V ing seltlements
row-
s on
uible
was now brewing be-
$&ily4Jl tvv..-n llnglan-l and
''ii)-rM ,'"u",,'-v- France was
' ' f designing to build
w .vsiiim.iun atkohty. a chain of forts to ex
tend from Montreal by way of the Ohio
river to yw Orleans. Virginia also laid
chum to a largo part of tho northwestern
country. To seo what the French were
doing and to protect if possible the rights of
Virginia, (lovernor liinwiddie dispute bed
Major Wushingtou on a mission to Fort Krio
in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania
In the fail of 17X1. It waa an exiM'ditiou
involving much peril and hardship, ami re
quired courage and vigilance for its or
formance. lb had to cross rugged mountains piled
with snows, to ford rivers filled with float
ing ice, to fin I hia way through unbroken
forests und to keep on friendly terms with
the savages. Ho made his way to where
Pittsburgh now stands, and noted its ex
cellent position for a frontier fort. Then
proceeded up the Alleghany river, and
finally reache 1 Fort Erie, where he deliv
ered the (lovernor'a communication to tho
commandant. Receiving a sealed answer,
In returned, undergoing still greater
fatigues and dangers, beiug once thrown
from his rait into tho Alleghany amid the
floating ice, but finally returning in safety
to Williamsburg, where he reported to
the I io crnor, und received the thanks of
the tiov rtior and the Council. This trip
made h'ui familiar with the country thut
win to l-e tin scene of his llrst batlle.
The answer of the French commandant
was not satisfactory to (lovernor Iiiuwid
il if, and be set about on rais.ng u tnilit.iry
lei to take possession of the country at
the junction of tbo Monongahela and Alle
ghany rivers. A regiment of six com pa
ii.es was ivoruitod, and the command of
fered to W asliington, but he refused, ac
cepting the rank of second in command, a
gentleman named Fry being appointed
Colonel, before th- regiment was well on
ita w ay. Colonel Fry fell sick and died, and
tho full command devolved on Washing
ton. He sent a portion of the command
rapidly forward to budd a fort at tho junc
tion ef the Monongahela and Alleghany
rivers, and this was partially accomplished
when a thousand French and Indians came,
down the Alleghany a.:! took possession of
it, permitting tho Virginians to go back und
rejoin Washington. The French named it
Fort Hunuesr.e.
Tho French then continued their move
ment ugaiiist Washington, who prepared
lor them at a place called Great Meudows,
rtltST HE VnQCARTERS (17e4).
v here he had hastily oonstructcd a fort
which he named Fort Necessity.
After several days of skirmishing and
lighting 'Washington waa compelled to ca
pitulate, but marched out w ith drums boat
ing und colors flying. On his return to Vir
g nia he and his command received tho
thanks of the House of 3nrgesses. Uiffer
enees of opir.i jn arising between him and
Governor Piuwiddjo, he threw up his com
mission and returtteA to Mount Vernon.
England now declared war aguiiat
Fraucc, aud iu the spring of 17V Ueuctal
Braddock, with a force of Hrltish troops,
arrived iu Virginia bi cu ry on the war and
to tiilio i W. Umpiesiio. At th a tiiuo Wttah
iiigtou endeuvrir"1 to Cjr.iln a comniissiou
iu th ) regular iirmy, Lut hodiAimt mij
cei.'d. Knowing Washington's knowledge
or tho eountry, liraddock invited him to
serve on lus statT dnr.ng th" canitiaign, an
i IT r winch ho gladly accep e I lie did ull
in lua Hiver to avert th ' dis.is' crs of that
ineii'orablo campaign, but In waa power
less before the olslinacy of the llritish
Coinmaiidi'r Nraddoca pai l forhiaobi
i.acy of op.inoii and ignorance of Indian
warfare with his lite, and it was Washing
tnu'a k.iowledgo and skill that finally c.
tricated and aaved the rcmnai.t of tho uruc.
lu that buttle, though cxp sod fearlessly,
ho vaa the only one of a.xty tive i ftbi rs
who escaped death or wound. Ilia clothing
wua shot in muny plucea, but bo wua un
hurt. Unable to obtain a commission in the Di
gl.sh urmy, Wuthiugtoii now accept..! the
pos.tion of Coliimaader-ln-l hiof of tho Vir
p nia forces, tendered Inm by tho Virginia
Aaviubly. 'Ihis pisition involved no fur
ther military servtco of a general charact-!-.
but it led to one of the pleas'lig, but least
known, episodes of Washii g mi's b:e.
Ilv ry colony had a t'oiniii tuder-iu Chief.
Bud when forces Were joint' I, iilest.olls of
j ret edence occurred, very d ftl. ult to BO
1 1 . li, -t vi',.. ti l ash
lug ton, Commander f i
(II Uid II llilU I III"
ouy, and ( upturn r.jv
li u w o r t ti y, t o:n
inalidor of lie; Mary
land colntiy, such a
(jtll
-ti. n arose nt Fort '' K. . '
nherlan.l in Mat-.-- . G.7 4A-,
I v.-iiei-o Inch h id .'iC'" V V ! .
( 11111 tl
lan
forces st iti'ilied. TIleNr ,
- "-V v.-.
to tne jiriti-ii nm vo
n. .m I' r-in-( "ni'-f. ( leu
i ...! s :, u'. i; s-
t-' l, till' I U'.'lsti ic.'t .
w is set'f th th'-r t mihy I'll n.ii'-K.
lay t In tint! -r h-'fore him.
Oil ll s W...V he stoppetl .ti jit-'W Y"fU tO
vi.-it bis fneii I ami former s, hi-olnuife,
llevcrly Hob. a ton, w in) had left Virg.ni.i
nii't was married ti a Now York h -ircis.
Here ho met Mary l'lnl p.n', Mrs. P.obin.
son's younger mster, also an heiress. Sin
w as the daughter of Co'.otn 1 Fre b rick
Philips-', who owned an imm-'use estate on
the Hudson, und slit is said to have been
t'n most beautiful woman of her time.
The impressionable young" Virginian, bash
ful as he was 1 rave, was deeply smitten by
the I'liartus of tin: young lady, who was two
years his senior. Long he tarried, paying
his court with unmistakable aim ration,
but whether ho summoned the courage to
offer his hand and heart to th New York
beauty, is not definitely known. The
tradition in the Philipse family is that he
offered himself and was refused. The Vir
ginia tradition Is that he returned' home
without making the offer, intending to re
turn, und in the meantime, a brother officer
and friend, who had served on Nraddock's
stuff with him. Captain Roger Morris, car
nod off tho prio.
Captain Morris an 1 hia wife were Loyal
ists during the revolution an I fl d to F.u
gland, and Wushingtou use.! their mansion
on the Hudson as his hoad'iuariors for
btvorul years during the war. General
Hurley decided the
pointcf precedence in
Wasl ingt.-n"s favor,
ami for the ticit three
years his time was
employed iu protect
ing the Virginia bor
der. They were' three
I jVt . f 7-'SA excessively t r y i n g
JO M 1 fl over nor and the
' i S-tifti ' llurg- sscs and the
MAIirilA w asiiimiTiiN. newsp.ip M-s all inter
fered with him more or less. eri:icis"d and
blame 1 him. It was an -admirable school
ing for the work he was to perform twenty
years later, but it was almost unendurable,
while it lasted.
It was during this time in May, lT'c, that
ho lirst met the charming young widow,
Mrs. Martha Custis, whoso husbau I had
died the previous year, leaving her with
two children, und a iargo fortune. Ho fell
In love with her ut sight, and pressed his
suit, this time with such vigor und energy
thut he very shortly found himself an ac-
i ccpted lover, to bj marrio-l as soon a tho
campaign was over. An expedition was
egudi startod against Fort liuipiesne, and
Washington led th i advanco with his Vir
g nia regiments. The fort fell without 9
blow, and Washington r 'name 1 it Fort
Pitt in honor of the then great Knglish
minister who hail pressed on the war
against Franco with such uuparallolod
i vigor.
! In January, 175., Washington was mur
I ried to Mr. Cusiis, anl tho next year,
' lTi'sl, the war having been brought ti a
close, we tin' 1 th'tn thoroughly domesti
cated ut M unt Vernon.
III. -IT AN rut AMI I i:;isi.atok.
Mrs. Washing ill brought her husband
one hundred thousand dollars in cash and
some slaves anil other property, and tins
with what he already potscssetl made him
one of tin; wealthiest' planters in Virginia.
WASHINGTON'S F4MM.Y COACH.
His cup of happiness seemed full. To a
correspondent in London ho wrote, shortly
ufter his marriage: "I am now, I believe,
fixed iu this spot with an agreeable partner
for life; und 1 ho;w to find more happiness
in retirement than I ever experienced iu
the wide and bustling world."
He was not blessed with children of his
own, but he dearly loved tho Custis chil
dren and looked upou them and treated
them as his own.
He gave personal supervision to his largo
estate, waa methodical and exact in all his
ways, and waa careful to make his planta
tion profitable. Ho usually rose at four
o'clock in tho morning th. year round,
spending the time before breakfast in vis
iting hia stables and kennels, and in his
library. After breakfast in the busy sea
sons he would mount his horse riding ten
or twelve miles to visit every pluco on his
farms where wofk was going on, often giv
ing directions in detail to his overseers.
His usual hour for retirement was nine
o'clock, summer and winter.
He grew tobacM) and shipped it to En
gland. Hia wheat he manufactured into
Hour in his own mills, and shipped it
principally to the West Indies, where his
brand had a great reputation for its high
quality.
Like other wealthy colonists of the time
Washington sent to London for almost ev
ery article of domestic use, from farming
Implements to clothea for himself and hia
family. 'Jao order for a suit for himself is
interesting. "I want neither lace nor em
broidery, rialn clothea, with gold or sil
ver buttons. If worn on genteel dress, are
all that I desire. 1 inclose a measure; and
for a turtnar direction I taiuk it not amUs
a
to add. thut my stature la alx foot; other.
Wise rather altuder than corpulent."
Ho was, indeed, at thl time admirably
proportioned, aparo in flesh, weighing
u bout two hundred pounds. ILa hair waa
a rich, dark brown, and hia eyea were gray
ish blue, penetrating and expressive. His
complexion wis florid, and hia features
regular. He wua a skillful horaeman, and
hla aupnrb llguro und dignified bearing
m a Jo hia aUvuy an attractive araoa
when mounted on ouo of his thorough
breds. Ho waa very fond of fox hunting, and hia
Uiarica contain muny eutr ea giving tho ro
ulkt cf '.ho day's chuso. Tliu hunting days
HI'ECIMEM Or WASHINGTON'S fl ATS.
pcnerally i inled In a dinner at Mount Ver
non or sotuo other of the mansions of tho
line gentry of tho neighborhood.
Guests, especially sportsmen, wcro enter
taiiied at Mount Veruon for woeka during
the hunting season, and tho round of visit
ing and enjoyment went on in thia way for
years iu u stylo and at un expense which
only a wealthy planter could ufforJ.
Mr and Mrs. Washington ulso attended
balls ami parties given by wealthy pooplo
at Alexandria and Annapolis. They were
f'Mi I -f iheai ricalpcrfornianees.which wcro
given sometimes by strolling companies In
tlii'i.M-it , s ami at Williamsburg, and they
w'-re particular too in all their church
duties, U'.ish.ngtou being a vestryman iu
two pa. iilic-t.
Li short ho lived and enjoyed himself
much niter tho fashiou of a rich luuded
Fnel.sh country gentleman of tho time.
lie had been' electel a member of tho
Virginia Hon c of Nurgcsscs first in 17&S
an. 1 continued a member year after year.
He ha I large influence in that body, but no
taste or ubil ty for publ.c speaking. Ho
was a judge also or the county court, a
thoroughly public spirited and progressive
man. He proposed numerous measures for
puhde improvements, explored the Dismal
Swamp, an I originated the methods after
wards adopted for ita improvement And
thus year after year he grew in favor with
all the people, and aoon began to be looked
upon as tho foreciost Virgiuian of tlia
lime.
He was in favor of the first Continental
Congress, ami wua ono of the three dele
gates that rcpreaenti'd Virginia in that
memorable body in the fall of 1774.
At this period there wua very littls
thought in the minds of any of thecolonl9ts
of a separation from Great Britain, the one
burning thought beiug no submission to
the tyranny of parliament They still be
lieved themselves loyal subjects of tha
King, and their petitions and remon
strances were couched iu bold, but loyal
language. But events moved faster than
thought. The spring of 1775 saw success
ively Lexington, Concord und Hunker HilL
oil the day before the buttle of Hunker
1111. th Kith of June, 177., the Continental
Congress iu session ut Philadelphia ud ipted
the inntley host half besieging tho llritish
General, Gage, at Huston, as the "Conti
nental Army," and elected Colonel Georgti
Washmct'in to he its Coinmuiider-iii Chief.
He net-pled thish gh trust on tho conlition
that h" should receive no compt usation for
his services, only having his necessary ex
penses paid. He ut once left Philinieiphia
und reached Cambridge on the 3d of July,
where hit formally assumed command of
tin urmy.
For the space of six years ho did not
again see his beloved Mount Vernon.
IV. CO MM A N l K It-1 N-C II I KF.
It is not with'ii our purpose to enter par
ticularly into tho various cainpaigusof the
revolution, nor to describe minutely the
varying fortunes of tho wur. Thero have
r-v . -
k m
MOl'ST VEUNON IN 1S5.
been critics who have denied to Washing
ton the merits of a great commander, and
it may be onceded that he w is not a
i ii's.ii- Frederick nor a Nanoleon. Put
he was undoubtedly the right man in the
' r ght place. With the means at his disposal
! he act timp'islied what ia universally con
! ceded licit h -r of those great soldiers could
! have iiccomi lnhed. Out of a mob he or-
g;,n !"dtm army; out of defeat he wrung
victory an 1 independence. No one can risy
from a perusal of the history of the revolu
tion without feeling that for six years tho
cause dep 'tiled solely upon him, that tha
whole weight was U(on his shoulders, and
that if he had failed, when nil else seemed
to fail, Groat Britain would havo con
quered. The army he found nt Cambridge waa
such only in name. It was without disci
pline, without clothing and without animu
liou It was little better than a mob, every
man was as good as every other, with lit
tle thought of obedlenee to orders, and a
general disposition to put every question
und plan to a vot, as in town meeting. For
months they hud not powder enough to
have fought half an hour with General
Gago and his eleven thousand well-armed
and disciplined British troops. Such as
they were, when Washington took com
maud, they numbered fourtoen thousand
men. !
Ho subjected them to military discipline,
he brought some order out of tho chaos,
ho cashiered and otherwise punished a few
! officers, and he finally forced the British
army to evacuate the city m March, 1J.
A more daring or brilliant General might,
possibly, havo accomplished this result
some months sooner, but such a temper
and spirit could never have borue the suc
cessive burden and' difficulties which ro-,
muined to be encountered and dealt with.
Now came into prominence the great at
tributes of hia mind, hia constancy and
patience. His whole naturo was under
jK'rfect sell-control. Ho ha.1 naturally a
passionate temp?r. Several bouta of his
wrath have been described to ns, ard, on
occaaiou, ho could use swift and vei y hot,
expletives to give force to his feelingbut,
during his command of the army, he never
lost sight of his responsibility to the Souti
try. Nor could cabals in Cougrtas, nor de
feats in tin field, turu him lrom hi firm,
aod resolute purpoto to at las; conquer.
He met with revjrses on tha field, but
Mver emerged from one without lmmedi-
"iiW 1 ' Ax