Page 309 [309]
—————— ms
HisTORIC) GARDENS OF ViIReUNTA
are so indelibly impressed upon our minds that their peculiarities
of shape and form cling to our memories. In this way the Amer¬
ican people must always picture George Washington as the dignified
statesman, in full suit of richest black velvet, with diamond knee¬
buckles, and square silver buckles set upon shoes polished with the
most scrupulous neatness, black silk stockings, ruffles at breast and
wrists, his hair profusely powdered and projecting at the sides, tied
at the back with a large bow of black ribbon.
But in writing a description of Mount Vernon, we must go back
to him as he first became its owner; a young man, a young engineer,
tall, rather large-boned, with deep-brown hair, his face rather long
and slightly marred by illness, a sunburnt complexion. A young
man, sensible, composed and thoughtful, gentle in manner, in temper
reserved, a total stranger to religious prejudices, in morals irre¬
proachable, a young man of determined bravery and independence
of spirit. For such a man was Washington when he became the
owner of Mount Vernon, at twenty years of age, in 1752.
Later his young wife of great charm came with her two little
children, a boy of six and a girl of four. Then there were the four
little children of John Park Custis and his wife, Eleanor Calvert.
Two of these children, Eleanor and George Washington Custis,
were brought up at Mount Vernon by General and Mrs. Wash¬
ington, who took charge of them after the death of their father,
the girl being at the tender age of two years and the boy only six
months; in fact, there were ten children born or reared at Mount
Vernon. Later came Washington’s nephew, LaFayette Washing-.
ton, who was entrusted to the General on the death of his father;
also, young George Washington LaFayette stayed at Mount
Vernon. Later came Washington’s nephew, LaFayette Washing¬
imprisonment at Olmuts by the Prussians.
Let us, therefore, have before us in memory’s picture a Vitr¬
ginian, young and vigorous, his gentle wife, and the little children
always playing around them. Let us forget the lace and frills
and seek a kinder view of the great man and great woman. Besides
L190]