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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1908)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGOMAX, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 23, 190S. Sl -lll!? 1 X.J .J-J A lay 1 W m. AVOOv.H IMP- C-c TV ' ,1 "Thrown by Th 'LSI Young Ladies BeforeSff ... ' ''''HLS H Was Accented Ik ' - ' '. WE are so -accustomed to pictures of George Washington in arlg!d attitude, with sternly com pressed lips and generally forbidding expression, that we forget he was ever young and a human being of flesh and blood like the rest of us. Instead of being a cold-blooded prig Washington was magnetic In person ality and a great social favorite. He was the finest horseman In Virginia, an exceedingly graceful dancer and a dRndy In ruffles, gold lace, velvet, silk stockings and diamond buckles, who caused a flurry In feminine hearts whenever he appeared. Toung Washington was always fall ing In love, and after his engagement to Mrs. Custis was announced his mother wrote to a friend: "I have had a. great deal of trotfble with George, but It is all over now." His first at tack of the heart occurred when he was 15 years old. and the object of his affections was Miss Frances Alexander, aged 17, whose father's plantation ad joined Mount Vernon. To her the youthful lover addressed the following acrostic: From your bright sparkling eyes I was un done, ' . Rays yon have more transparent than the Run. Amidst it's glory In the rising Day, Jone can you equal In your bright array; 1'onstfcnt in your calm and unspotted mind. "F.qual to all, but will to none prove kind. So knowing, ncldom one so young, you'll Find. Ah! Wo'a me that I should love and conceal, l-ong have I wished but never dared reveal, Kven though severely Love's Pains r feel. Xerxes that great wasn't free from Cupid's Dart. And all the greatest Heroes felt the smart. Imagine him pining and sighing and grating hia teeth In despair, just like any young American lover In these days! It is amusing now, but at that time It was a very serious matter to George Washington! Not much Is known of this courtship, and soon after no lost his heart to Miss Lucy Grynies, whom he often referred to afterward fs his "Lowland Beauty." Here is a letter he wrote to a boy chum in which he speaks of her: 'Hear Friend Robin: My place of residence is at present at His Lord ship's where I might, was my heart dlsengased, pass my time very pleas antly, there's a very agreeable Young Lady Lives in the same house (Miss Mary Cary), but as that's only adding Fuel to the fire, it makes me the more uneasy for by often and un avoidably being in company with her revives my passion for your Lowland Beauty." About this time Washington wrote (j SEEN a mighty funny thing a bll 'I ago, corr.in through Madison Square." said the House Detec tive of the Hotel St. Reckless. "What was It?" asked the Hotel Clerk. "A breadline of recent million aires, or a society baby attended by Its own mother, or a lady with a collection of dead songbirds on her hat driving behind a dock-tailed horse to the Soci ety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to complain because eomebody has been feeding a canary German verbs to make it sing Wagner?" "It wuz a lady, all right," said the House Detective. "Leastwise, she wuz mainly dressed like a lady. A square jawed lady she wuz, vlth one of these here faces that looks like a if it wuz set with a time clock to go off at 4 o'clock. She wuz standln' on a box talkin' to an audience composed of i three other ladles similar to herself, a messenger boy with a package marked Rush,' and a couple of them literary gents that reside on park benches and, read cast-off newspapers fur a livlji.' "She wuz carrln' on, very excited, about the wrongs of some down-trod sex or other, whon a cop came along. She opened right out and dared him '.o arrest her and put her in a giooiny dungeon, but all be done wuz to sug gest that mebbe he'd better get her a dipper of water from the fountain, seeln' as how she seemed to be gettiif kinder hoarse and het-up. But she' wouldn't have it. and so 1 come away. I wonder what ailed her?" "She must have been one of the Suf fragettes," said the Hotel Clerk. "Yes, I know that; Jest from lookin' at her," said the House Detective, "but wot pertlcular trouble d'ye think she wuz sufferin' from? Wotever it wuz, Jt wuz sure serious." "You misunderstand me, Larry," ex pounded the Hotel Clerk. "Sufrrage; ting is a complaint, not a disease, al though It has alarming and distressing symptoms and many of the patients never recover. It rarely attacks one of the nice, cosy little giggle-gir.s thai's got a good figure, and plenty of her own hair,' and a regular beau to bring her flowers and theater-tickets. Most of the victims I've heard about are strong-minded ladies with features to match that have been dis appointed through getting the wrong kind of a husband or not g.-tting any at all. You know the varieiy of la.ly I mean, Larry? She has double soles on her spectacles and her walking ihoes, and she wears a man's standing collar that dpn't fit her and a placket that's suffering from the hair-lip and I shirtwaist that don't make tha proper ronnection with her skirt, so that the casual observer, is moved by pity and feels like taking off his sunpenders and Bfferlng 'em to her, and a dress that ags down behind and -Irags on the earth like a kangaroo getting ready to lump. In short, Larry, a SuiYraget'.e is i female who wants the right to vote md must have It between now and 5 9'clock thi afternoon. Tomorrow morn ing before breakfast won't do. It's go: to b dqno right away or there'll be Ynnnri Ladies Detore ft He YYasACcepiea by the Richest Widow in Virginia. a letter to "Dear Sally," in which he sai'l: "I am almost discouraged from writing to you as this is nay fourth to you since I reed any from yourself. 1 hope you'll not make the Old 1'rovt.rb good out of sight out of Mind as it's one of the greatest pleasures In living in Fairfax in often hearing from vou and hope you'll not deny -me. "I pass the time much more agree bler than what- I imagined I should as there's a very agreeable Young Lady Lives in the same house where I re side (Miss Mary Cary) that in a gveat measure cheats my sorrow and deject edness tho" net so as to draw my thoughts from your Parts. I could wish to be with you down there with all my heart but as it Is a thing al most impractakable. I shall rest .my self where I am with Ijopes of shortly having some minutes of your transac tions." So we find the susceptible George in terested in three fair damsels at once: "Sally," the "Lowland Beauty," and Miss Mary Cary, which recalls the story of the man who could never snoot a bird, be cause just a.s he had aimed and was ready to shoot at one bird another flew in the way. In 1753 Lucy Grymes, the1 Lowland Beauty, married Henry Leo and became the mother of "Light-horse Harry," the Custer of the revolution. One Most Serious Affair. One of Washington's most serious love affairs was with Miss Mary Cary, and there Is no doubt that she was in love with him, but her fathef prevented the marriage by handing out the Alaskan negative. When Washington asked for her hand the old centleman dismissed him pompously, saying that his daughter was accustomed to ride In her own car riage. Rather a Joke on him as Wash ington was afterward, in his own right and that of his wife, the richest planter in Virginia. However, Washington con tinued to write to Miss Cary even after Colonel Cary's rejection of his suit. In fact the correspondence kept up until after his engagement to Mrs. Custis and very nearly to the time of his marriage. Miss Cary. it Is said, persistently misin terpreted his letters and answered them so warmly that he was much em- DARED UI?TTQ PUT HER 2N JL remarics, and somebody'll go to the hospital suffering from nervous pros tration of the ear-drums." "Oh, now I know what you're drivin' at." said the House Detective. "Why didn't you say so? They used to call 'em F.qual Righters. because they be lieved in epual rights for themselves and none at all for the men. But since Wen did they start in to mnkin' speeches In the parks and darin' police men to arrest 'em?" "It's a pleasing custom that comes over to us from England, whjere the new outdoor sport of Suffragettlng originated," said the Hotel Clerk. "Over there the movement has created ffreat excitement and much feeling. Siiffra getting ladles have been invading Par liament and getting themselves locked up and chaining themselves to railings outside of government building and forcing the police to file "em loose, al though why anybody should want to file loose an English Suffragette that was properly chained up is. more :han I can understand. Members of the House of Lords bas been especially 1 .u-rrNf: barrassed. Possibly, knowing him so well, she didn't take his engagement seriously. Who knows? Women were the same in those days as now, and no really feminine creature likes to see a good man get entirely ' away from her! In a letter to Miss Cary, written three months before his marriage, he gives her this gentle admonition: "You ask if I am not tired of the length of your letter: No, madam. I am not, nor never can be while the Lines are an Inch asunder to bring you in haste to the end of the Paper."" Miss Cary afterwards married a young swell. Edward Ambler, who died young, and his pretty widow was often a guest at Mount Vernon after Washington's marriage. The Cary romance extended over several years, but in the meantine there were others. It is consoling to know that Washington was human enough to occasionally , do something amateurish, and the thing lie fell down on hardest was writing poetry. The follow ing was composed when he was a Major harassed. You take a noble peer with a mind like a fruit cake, that's spent many calm and happy years of his life sleeping on a bench in the House of Lords with his high hat on, and it irks him to be suddenly waked up by an impassioned lady with the gift of con versation and a grievance, who's stand ing on his toes and shaking a damp umbrella in his face. "The King himself is said to be much disturbed over the situation. It Isn't often that the King allows himself to be disturbed. The only affair of state which interests him every day In tho week is the menu for dinner. His duties largely consist in being photo graphed for the English illustrated weeklies and In laying corner-stones. When it comes to laying coiner-stores, I regard King Edward as the prize-winning Brown Wyandotte of the world of architecture. Otherwise he leads a quiet and sedentary life, and so natur ally It worries His Majesty to be called away from the camera or the corner stone, as the case may be, to help the First Lord In Waiting- shoo an lmpas- I and about 20 years old. It was addressed, to Miss Betsey Fauntleroy: Oh. ye Gods why should my Poor Resistless Heart Stand to oppose thy Blight and Power. At lait surrender to Cupid's feathered Dart And now lays bleeding every Hous For. her that's Pityless of my grief -and woes, . And will not on me nlty take. , I'le slep amongst my most inveterate' Foes And with Gladness "never wish to wgk. In deluding slpeplngs let my eyelids close That in an nrapiured Dream I may In a soft lulling sleep, and gentle repose Possess those Joys denied by Day. There is a letter on record In which Washington asked Mr. Fauntleroy's per mission to make a proposal ofnarriage to his daughter "in the hope of a revoca tion of a former cruel sentence." - But the father's reply was unfavorable, as usual,, and Miss Betsey afterward mar ried Thomas Adams, of Williamsburg. It Is a tradition of that town that after her rejected suitor beca-me famous and visited Williamsburg as the guest of the IT HAKELy ATTACKS A 7WCE, C0SY,2sTTXLB sloned delegation of vociferating Suf fragetters off the front stoop of Buck ingham Palace. "It's like this, Larry: In England, the Suffragetters are unhappy because the authorities will lock 'em up and over here they are distressed because the authorities won't lock 'em up. When a lady of mature years has a yearning to inhabit a gloomy prison cell with leg-irons on, and be a martyr in de fense of her principles, and when she can't find anybody that'll help her along in her laudable ambition, she's exceed ingly apt to become peevish. ,A martyr that's getting the hoarse haw from the ribald populace has great trouble look ing like a real genuine smoking-hot martyr right off the griddle of perse cution. There's danger of merely look ing foolish." ".Wot business has s woman trot TV If ' f people she watched the triumphant pageant from the window and when the great hero saw her lie waved his sword and saluted her, whereupon the lady fainted away. On another occasion he fell in love with Miss Mary Phillipse.- the beauti ful daughter of a wealthy Englishman who lived in a sxiperb mansion on tho Hudson near West Point. Washington promptly proposed, but was told that somebody else's coquette was already engaged to be married. Washington said afterward that he thought things might have resulted differently if he had waited "till the lady was in the mood." There was a tragic ending to this romance years after, when the haughty creature who had spurned the hand of the commander of the Ameri can forces was arrested as an Eng lish spy. She was thrown into prison and- all iter property was confiscated. Washington was too wise to turn into a woman hatetr merely because ! he had been thrown down three times J OF THE mess in' with politics, anyway?" asked the House Detective. "Politics is a grown man's game." "That's the opinion held by many other gentlemen who object to giving women one or more votes apiece," said the Hotel Clerk. "The thought of con ferring the franchise upon a woman is deeply abhorrent to the conditions of a lot of men who either go out of town on electlbn day or else decline to vote because they'll be thrown In contact with a number of socially-Impossible persons, if they enter the' barber shop or the undertakers' parlor where the bulwark of our liberties has set up its lares and penates for the time being. They feel that a woman could never master the intricacies of the modern ballot because it's a blame sight more than they can master themselves. "That's one reason, Larry,' why the Tammany ticket always polls such un expected strength in the districts where the reformers live. Eustace von Tiltingnose. upon being shoved into a small, ill-smelling canvas booth by a Sheriff of Election who is temporarily in succession. He knew there were plenty of pretty fish in the aquarium and that it would be only a matter of time when he'd make a good catch. That time came just two yrars after he was jilted by Miss Phillipse. and it happened In this way: Colonel Wash ington was on his way to Williams burg on official -business, and while crossing Williams Ffrry was accosted by a hospitable ' old gentleman, who asked him to rest a while at his home in me neignoornooa. j b wi"nei j answered that his pressing Dusiness would not permit the time. But, as an inducement, the old gentleman men tioned that among the guests at his house was the handsomest young wiaow In all Virginia! That changed matters. 'The young colonel smiled, hesitated, and then well, then he decided that he had more time than he had supposed. Cpon reaching the house he was in troduced to the fascinating widow, Mrs. Martha Parke Custis, and we can imagine the coy glances of this enticing young croature. for it was a case of love .at first sight. And in stead of getting away in a few hours as he had intended, old Bishop, the colonel's servant, held his horse in readiness for hours and hours. But his muster didn't come. In fact his delighted host had little difficulty in persuading him to stay until the next day. Washington had Just returned from a brilliant campaign, was gallant, young and hajidsome. and the clever .widow didn't lose any time bringing down her game! . A few days later Colonel Washington visited Mrs. Cusfls at her own beautiful home and this time he offered his heart and sword with success. It Is quite evident that a propitious reception awaited him. for on the way to the house he asked a slave if Mrs. Custis was at home, and he said. "Yes. sah, I reckon you'se the ge'n'leman what's spected." They did not meet again till their marriage six months later. The engagement was so sudden that Mrs. Custis felt a bit shy in announcing it, but she said to a friend: "My dear, the truth is, my estate is getting in a bad way and I need a mian to look after it." Wealthiest Woman In Virginia. At that time Martha Custis was 27 years old just .three months younger than her fiance. She was short, had eyes that snapped, her manner was very gay. and she was thought by some to be the most beautiful woman in America. She was the wealthiest woman in the Old Dominion and the mother of four children, two of whom were living. The marriage took place at the home of the bride in January, 1759. Tho exact date is uncertain. They must have been an interesting couple, for the great height of the groom, a rosy-cheeked young athlete, said to have been the strongest man In the army, was in striking contrast to the petite VTCTZMS u&RJS detached from the treet-C!canlng De partment, becomes confused on unfold ing something that looks like a Japanese bedsheet. In a moment of aberration he imprints his mark under the emblem of tho Justly hated machine and then he hurries to the club and drinks eight or nine cocktails before he feels like him self or anyone else. He's against Woman Suffrage, and I don't blame him. What he needs Is an election law that will admit of his sending his butler to vote for him." "Wot do you suppose would happen if women wuz to get the right to vote?" asked the House Detective. "They'd elect Fairbanks President, said the Hotel Clerk. He has such a roguish way of combing the back hair forward over his bald spot." How Marbles Are Made. Philadelphia Record. Most of the stone marbles used by boys are made In Germany.' The refuse only of tho marble and agate quarries is em ployed, and this is treated in such a way figure of the bride. Colonel Washington was' feet 2 inches tal and weighed i about 210 pounds, and, though his figure; was always commanding, lie was lithe, , acil and graceful in every move. He walked with a wonderfully swift, elastic step, and stood straight as an arrow. His features were animated, not stolid, j and his- penetrating blue eyes glowed , with fire when he was talking in an in- . terested conversation. All who knew him , ay that he was full of repressed pas- j sidn. In fact, there was nothing what- : ever slow about George Washington, and the only reason he has such a reputation i for goodness raised to the power of stu- j pidity Is because of that cherry tree 1 story. The Fashionable Life. The fashionable life of the Washing tons may be imagined from the follow-' ing list sent to London In which, the General ordered clothes for himself. Mrs. . Washington and his two step-children, to whom he was devoted: For General Washington: "A superfine , velvet suit with garters for the breeches: ; pumps, riding gloves, worked ruffles, 3): shillings a pair: housings of fine cloth ! edged with embroidery, plain clothes with : gold or silver buttons." For Mrs. Washington: "A salmon colored tabby velvet with satin flowers. ; ruffles of Brussels lace, or point, to cost I 20; fine silk hose, white and black satin j shoes, six pairs of mitts, six pairs of best kid gloves, one dozen most fashionable pocket handkerchiefs, a puckered petti- ; coat, six pounds of perfumed powder, handsome breast flowers (houquets de corsage) and some sugar candy." For Master Custis, aged 8, and his liver ied servant, aged 14. there were long or ders, and for Miss Custis, aged S. " ' coat of fashionable silk, with bib apron. : ruffles and lace tucker; four fashionable i dresses of long lawn. fine cambric frocks, a satin hat and neckties, satin shoes and white kid gloves, silver shoe . buckles, sleeve buttons, aigrettes, 60w pins, a fashionable dressed doll to cost a guinea, gingerbread toys, sugar Images. . a Bible and prayer-book and one very i good spinet." Washington was fond of sitting with his guests after tlinner, a glass of Ma deira wine at his side. It was his habit to drink to the health of every person present and then give his favorite toast: "All our friends." During the 40 years of his married lif he wore suspended from his neck by a gold chain the miniature portrait of his wife. The life of this handsome young couple at their Mount Vernon home was ideal. There was only one cloud. The unsatisiied yearning to have children of his own was frequently expressed in nis diary and in letters to hia frjends. Pos terity looks with awe upon the man who was "Father of His Country." but the man himself would have got much more satisfaction out of one little pair of chubby arms around his neck made of his own flesh and blood. that there is practically no waste. Men and boys are employed to break the re fuse stone Into small cubes, ' and with their hammers they acquire a marvelous dexterity. The little cubes are then thrown Into' a mill insisting of a grooved bedstone and a revolving runner. Water is fed to the niill and the runnor 13 rapidly revolved, while the friction does the rest. In half an hour the mill is -stopped and a bushel or so of perfectly rounded marbles Is. -taken out. The whole process costs the merest trifle. . . . Making Americans. Tn Pertain sections of Chicago length of citizenship Is computed In a peculiar way. A teacher In a down-town school reports one original method of determining wheth er or not a man of foreign birth baa be come a good American. "How long has your father been in this country?" she asked a small pupil. "Oh, a long while." was the reply. "But how manyf years?" persisted the teacher who wished to get hold of a few facts. "I don't , know . anything about the years." the child replied, "but father is a real American. He has, shaved off his beard." Later the teacher made inquiry and found that In that particular neighbor hood not even a set of naturalisation pa pers Is considered so indubitable a sign of Americanism as the fact that a man has taken to patronizing the barber. Six o'clock. J. W. Foley in the New -Tori- .Times. Plx o'clock in the tower and street, Th tune and tramo of hurrying feet. The feeble flicker of smoke-dimmed stars. The clatter and clang of cabs and cars; A splah of blood from the dying sun, "Life with Its duties shirked or done, A battle lort or a battle won. And people hurrying home. Klx o'clock by the mists and marts. Ry thn murky wave where th fen-y darts, By the Hghts, like stars, that glow and gleam. B7 th ebbing tides of the human stream; By tho clicking flags and the hearth stones far Therp the Joys of waiting households are. By tho titsks laid by that make or mar. And people hurrying home. Six oloek by the forge grown cold. By the steel come chill and the hollow mould, . By the baited column and half-reared" spire, The dying blaxe .of the dampened fire; Plx o'clock by the lines grown dep In tho adder's brow; by the shades that creep To the crest of day from the caves of sleep. And people hurrying home. Pix o'clock and a mantle sorcad By the snowy riakes for the day now dead; Six o'clock by tho dreams and deeds. By the laugh that leaps and the heart that bleeds; Six o'clock by the lights that shine In a distant window yours or mine. By the emptied glass or. tha bubbling wine, And people hurrying home. Six o'clock and the tangled webs Of the day lay snarled, but the folk tide ebbs. From the pebbled shore to the sea out there. And the beach of the street lies bleak and bare; Six o'clock and the great piles there Close shut, like prison eel' for Care. Whie hollow eyes through gratings stare. And people hurrying home.
