EORGE WASHINGTON wan
I f accustomed to say Hint for
tT everything he was nnl linil
- and did he wm Indebted to hi
mother. Mnrtha Washington, who
bared his life, In A fnmllinr ehnrncter,
but Mary Washington, the mother. In
comparatively nn unknown woman.
Tortrnlt painters were not numerous
in the early days, nnd not a picture
was left of the mother of Washington.
She la described, however, as having
been of medium height, with a round
ed, matronly figure, and having a
clearly marked face, strong nnd firm,
which that of her son Is said to have
resembled. Indeed, there were those
.who said that her rugged features
were more like those of a man than a
woman.
George was the oldest of six chil
dren, nnd he wa.i only twelve yenrs of
Age when his father died nnd Mnry
Washington wns compelled to assume
the duties of both fnther and mother.
The family wns dwelling nenr Freder
Icksbnrg nt the time, for the birthplace
of Georgo lind been destroyed by fire
end n new house built nenr the Rap
pahannock. Mrs. Wasulngton was
kind In her manner, but not de
monstrative. There wns devout re
ligions Atmosphere In tin home.
(From Leslie's Monthly.)
THB BIRTHPLACE OF WASHINGTON,
WESTMOBKLAKD COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
(The house is no longer standing, but its
site is marked by an appropriate mon
ument.) Tlia style of living was almost severe
In Its simplicity. This was a part of
her faltn, for In after years, when the
problem of existence was happily
solved and she might have bad a share
In what was considered luxury for the
times, she still maintained the quiet
and simplicity of her early life. Strong-,
true, decided, Lafayette described her
ns being a mother who belonged to the
type of earlier days like tho Spartan
"or the Roman, rather than to the wom
en of her own times. And George's
half-brother, Lawrence, for Mary Ball
wns the second wife of Augustine
Washington, was accustomed to any
that in all bis life he hnd never met a
womnn of whom be stood moro In awe
or whom he more deeply respected
than Mnry Washington.
The enro of the estate wns left to
Mrs. Washington by her husband, and
like the pruuent woman that she wns,
sho looked well to tho ways of her
household. In an old-fnshloncd opon
chaise she used to drive to her little
farm nenr Fredericksburg.- She rode
about the fields, Inspected her crops
and buildings and Insisted upon the
men whom she employed doing exactly
wbnt she told them. It Is recorded
thnt one time one of her agents bad
ventured to follow his own judgment
Instead of her directions. She re
buked him sharply, snylng: "I com
mand you, there Is nothing left for
you but to obey." In the duties of
GKNEHA1, WAHHINOTON
the home and rare of her lands the
, time passed, aud at last hot- sou was
appointed Commander-in-Chief of the
armies of the newly-born nation. Her
love and counsels hud aided him thus
Xar.
Matha Washington could In a meas
ure share' In some of the camp expe
riences of her husband, but Mary, the
mother, must be kept In quiet and se
clusion mors appropriate to her nge.
(Near Fredericksburg the General found.
nice protected nd secluded place
Cor bv, and from tUua to tLTs ber
. i s i fw, r it it v m j v
penso wns relieved by the messages he
sent her. One Incident In particular
Is recalled. It wns after the bnttle of
Trenton, nnd the hearts of nil the pa
triots hnd been stirred to fresh cour
age. The men who brought her word
were loud In their praises of her son,
nnd their praises were Just, but Mnry
Washington received the message
calmly, although she did not attempt
to coneenl her plensure while she dls
clnlmed all the plaudits of her son.
When the word was brought to her
m
IF you pleue. you may Ieu4 George
up to the aklee.
At tho man who won battlea and'
" nevor told Ilea,
Voa'miyTeH ol his virtues Hi lloif
and aon; '
How ha carefully "lifted the right;
from the wrenf ; J. .
Of tila wtadom In ifounaet. la
bravery In war
How ho drove, tho frlm . British "
t away from our trior.
.You may cherlih forever hit hat
and hit word,"
And up to the aklea out . brave
Washington laid. '
Lonf. long may we hold him an
v' eiample to youth, v
Foe tioneity. ' temperance, courage '
" " and trvtk.' "
that Cornwallls had surrendered at
Yorktown she lifted ber hands toward
heaven, but without a tear, and speak
ing calmly, she said: "Thank GodI
War will now be ended, and peace, In
dependence and happiness bless our
UOKClIBNT TO If ART, MOTHBB OF WASH
INOT0N, AT FBBDBBICKSBUBa.
country!" Then she said: "I am not
surprised at what George has done, for
he was always a very good boy."
Alone, except with his friend Lafay
ette, without horses or attendants, the
great commander came back to bis
AMD HI8 AGED MOTHEB.
mother's house. She was told that the
hero of the times, the man whom all
the country was praising, was nt the
door. Dut wbutever he was to others
he was still her boy, and in a moment
she bad folded him In a warm em
brace, such as she used to give him
when as little fellow be climbed Into
ber lap. Again aba called him by the
fond names she bad used In his child
hood, and though she marked the fur
rows which bis struggles had traced
deep In bis face, ber every thought was
mem, isr
A
A'"'
p m x
mm
1 p
:j yiMx.',
and we are told thnt In thnt Interview
between mother nnd sou she said not
one word of his fame or glory,
Washington hnd Just been ejected
the first President of the United States,
lint before he accepted the high olhVe
he Went onre more to see his mother,
who wns suffering nt the time from nn
acute dlsense. Tho story of tho Inter
view Is simple yet Almost sublime.
"The people, madam," snld Washing
ton, "have been pleased, with the
most flattering unanimity, to elect me
to the Chief Magistracy of tho United
Stntes, but before I enn assume tho
functions of thnt ofllce I hnve come to
bid you nn nffeotlonnte farewell. 80
soon ns the public business enn be dis
posed of I shall hasten to Virginia,
nnd " He could any no more, but
the mother, strong even In her weak
ness, rcplicd:"You will see me no more.
My great nge nnd the dlsense thnt Is
rapidly nppronehlng my vitals, wnrn
me thnt I nm not long for this worhl,
I trust In God, I nm somewhat pre
pared for a better. But go. George,
fulfil the high destinies which heaven
nppenrs to nsslgn to you; go, my sou,
nnd may heaven's nnd your mother's
blessing be with you always."
Before tho President's return to Vlr
gluln Mary Wnshlngton hnd pnssed
nway at the ripe age of elghty-flve. A
monument nt Fredericksburg marked
the plnce where all thnt wns mortal
wns plnccd.
WASHINGTON'S WEDDING.
Attended With aa Mnrti Pomp and Splen
dor as a Koyal MarrlMRe.
"In a ault of bluo and silver with
scarlet trimmings, and a waistcoat of
white sntin embroidered with buckles
of gold on his knee garters nnd on his
shoes, bis hnlr powdered and by his
side a dress sword, the bridegroom
(Washington) towered above most of
bis companions," writes William Tor
rlne, of "When Washington wns Mar
ried," in tho Lndies' Home Journal.
"Mrs. Custis, his bride, did not reach
higher thnn his shoulders when she
atood with him before the old Episco
pal clergyman In his full canonicals.
The mistress of the 'White House'
wore a costume which had also como
from London, In her hnlr and cars
were ornaments of penrl; she wore
white satin slippers, and ou the buckle
of each was a diamond. The sprightly
little matron, with light brown bnlr
and hazel eyes, hnd a plump aud pleas
ing figure, an cany aud graceful car
riage, a comely face and fine shoul
ders, and with her three brldesmalcV,
nnd with the fine women of the fami
lies of the neighboring domnlns In at
tendance, there wns a splendid display
of the charms and graces of Virginia
womanhood. Nor were the uieu less
distinguished. ' The country gentle
men In their gayest raiment, and the
provincial officers from Williamsburg
In their uniforms, were beaded by the
gallant Lleutennnt-Governor Fnuqulre.
Around him stood a group of English
officers, bnrdly less showy In their
trappings, together with members of
the Legislature and other civilians.
When tho bride enterei the conch,
which was bright with the Washing
ton colors of red and while, and drawn
by six horses guided by black postil
ions In livery, the bridegroom did not
enter with ber. There was bis favor
ite horse, with his tall body servant
holding tae reins aud waiting for him
to mount. When Washington mounted
the richly caparisoned charger he rode
by the side of the bridal coach, closely
followed by a cortege of gentlemen on
horseback,"
WHEN WASHINGTON WAS A BOY
Portrait That Must Have Keen Made About
the Tlins Ua Cut Down the Cherry Tree.
This portrait was given by Wash
ington to bis old friend. Captain Venn
mon, with whose family he wns Inti
mate. Captain Veuainou died seventy
five years ago, aud was burled at Mar
cus Hook, Delaware County, Pennsyl
vania, ubout fifteen miles south of
Philadelphia. The family homestead
Is still to be seen there. After tho
Captain's death the picture pnssed
Into the hands of his wife, who be
queathed It to ber niece, Mnrla Venn
mon Williamson, who In turn left It to
ber daughter, who was named after
the Veuamon family. This daughter
mnrrled a Mr. Baker, and died about
seven years ago. The picture then be
came the property of her daughter,
Miss Margaretta II. Baker. Miss Ba
ker' uncle (her mother's brother), Mr.
Williamson, it still 11 v log at St. Mich-
art's, Md. Ho Is now seventy-ona
yenvt of age. His wire Is also living
with him. Mr. Williamson remem
hers thnt the picture wns given by
IPi Jk.
Mm,; mm
i ' 1 1
Mrs. Vennmnn to his mother, Maria
Vennmoii Williamson, who gave It to
her own daughter.
flaying of Washington.
Observe good fnr.h nnd justice
toward nil nations nnd cultivate peace
nnd harmony with nil.
Sly anxious recollections, my sym
pathetic feelings nnd my best wishes
lire Irresistibly attracted wheresoever
V'IML; we a: "U delight on a
t V f tructiue to grjnd.
Lei us honor the builder who drew '
out the plan.
And added, through yeart of Infinlta ;
care..
Small tlone upon none, firmly (!
Ing'them there ;
And though til may be but a glrl't
point of view. .
Let ua give credit where II la cet-l
talnly due.
And plack from hla iaurele one leaf I
for another,
Coerce, and
in nny country I see an oppressed na
tion unfurl tho banner of freedom.
The bnttle-fleld should be the last
resource, the dernier resort of nntlons.
Keep nlivo In your brenst thnt little
spark of celcstlul flro called con
science. Leulty will opernte with greater
force lu most instances thnn rigor; it
Is therefore my first wish to hnve
my whole conduct distinguished by
It.
There Is nn Indissoluble union be
tween a mngunnliunus policy nnd the
solid rewards of public prosperity and
felicity.
The duty of holding a neutral con
duct inny be Inferred, without anything
more, from tho obligation which jus
tice and humanity Impose, on every
nation, In cases where It is free to
act, to maintain inviolate the relntloos
of pence and amity toward other na
tions. . Though I prize ns I ought the good
opinion of my fellow-cltlsous, yet If
I know myself I would not seek or
retain popularity at the expense of
oue social duty or moral virtue.
n Believed That Acta Spoke.
So early as 1700, six years before
the outbreak of hostilities, Washing
ton wrote to his friend George Mnson:
"Thnt no mon should scruple, or hesi
tate a moment to use arms in defense
of so valuable a blessing (as American
freedom) Is clearly my opinion."
In the Congress of 1774 Mr. Gadsden,
of South Curollna, presented a motion
that Congress should call out nn armed
force to attack Gage's army In Boa
ton. The motion was voted down as
premature, but among the few who
voted aye, according to Gadsden him
self, was Colonel Washington.
Wlieu Congress rcnscmbled In 1775
Washington was the only member who
came in military uniform, as if to
testify that the time bad come to
use powder. He wns attired as the
Colonel of the Twenty-second Vlrglnlu
Infantry, In dark blue cont with senr
let facings, nnd scarlet vest, scarlet
breeches, top boots, and a black three
cornered hat with a blnck and red
"Wolfe cockade" at the left. A red
kiisIi fell aslant from the right shoul
der, nnd a steel plnte, called a gorget,
hung upon tho brenst, supported by
u silver chain. -
This gorget nnd the hat now belong
lo the Massachusetts Historical Soci
ety. It wns in this uuiforui that Peale
had painted, in 1772, perhnps the best
picture we posses of Washington in
early life.
On the very dny be received bis
com ulsslou from Cougreri Washington
started for the seat of war before
Hoston, escorted by the Philadelphia
Light Horse.
The wnr had, begun for him long
ngo.' At the earliest possible moment
' l:a took his place In Hue,
The California newspapers are re
joicing over the discovery that while
U00 Mediterranean luaious yield only
19.70 ounces of citric acid, 300 Cttllfoi
ila buttons yield 20.W ounces.
S5
ooooooooooooaoooooooocooc
r FARM TOPICS !
O399OOOOOOOOOO00OOOOOOOOC0
A rnttea nf Scours.
It Is hn old maxim among those who
raise calves thnt nny milk not fit for
the farmer's table Is unfit for the cnlf.
Pour or very fold milk will cans
snnrs, nnd nny filth In the milk will
Inrnrlnlily show Its effects lu the con
dition of the rnlf.
Cut of farm Imnlpinrnl.
Fiirtn Implements do not wenr nut
so much ns they rust out. Tlows, cul
tlvntors. hniTows. etc., thnt nrp left In
the open nlr usually end their useful
ness In one senson Instead of lusting
for Severn! yenrs. A mower or binder
thnt Is not kept perfectly dry will be
almost useless when desired for use.
There should be n plnce for every ma
chine or tool, nnd each should bp ex
amined before spring. Every blade
should be shnrp. nnd oil should be now
applied freely to nil Implements.
A Tool Cnrrirr and ItnMnr.
The cut shows a long box, to which
handles hnve been nnlled nnd nn old
Whet'lbnrrow wheel ndded. Into this
go smnll tools, bocs, shovels, etc., to
gether with fertiliser nnd nny smnll
articles needed, nnd nil wheeled to
A TOOt) BOX FOR FIELD WORK.
the garden or field, where crops nre
being planted. The top of this box
enn bo mnde watertight. It enn then
be left In the field with tho tools In It
until the work Is done. American.!
Agriculturist.
t The Silo and Milage Corn,
We have nothing more economical or
thnt makes better silage thnn the tub
silo. The stnves should be about six
Inches wide. The edges need not be
beveled, but they should be straight.
Woven wire makes the best, hoops. The
silo should be watertight except nt the
door. In preparing the ground for
corn. It should be cultivated In a way
thnt It will not hake down hnrd. It
should be loose nnd light nt the time
of planting. I prefer to do the most of
the cult I vnt loti nfter planting. I would
barrow light soils soon nfter plowing.
Corn needs plenty of sunshine, so I
would plnnt it thinly. Tho distance
apart depends on the vnrlety plnnted.
As soon as you c-nn see the rows start
the cultivator. Frequent cultivation
Is an important factor lu making the
crop. Seal the silo with oat chnff, first
putting on building paper. If the corn
Is so dry thnt It does not contain sev-pnty-fivo
per cent, water, the sllngo
will be Improved by milling wnter
when filling the silo. I. P. Itoberls, of
Cornell Kxperlnieiit Station.
Starting Karljr Potatoes.
The plan tested nt the Rhode Island
stations of sprouting seed pot n toes In
trays so thnt they would be fairly
grown, or ns large ns they usually nre
nt tho first hoeing, when they were set
In the field, seems to bo so simple nnd
to buve so Increased the yield, as well
as given an earlier crop, that we can
not refrain from mentioning it again;
In. the hope thnt some of our readers
will try it. They used trnys three nnd
threo quarter feet long aud one and a
half feet wide, a convenient size for
one man to handle, and holding ubout
r bushel each when they were spread
out. The sides of the trays were but
about an inch high, nnd tho bottom
was of laths placed an Inch npnrt.
Then these were plnced on a rack so
as to leave eight or nlno Inches be
tween them, nnd thnt placed so nB to
give each trny air nnd sunshine above
nnd bolow, In a room only moderately
warm. Thus they bad on each piece
a strong vigorous sprout three or four
Inches high when ready to set them
out nnd they found that the Increase
in yield at the time they were ready
for digging or when first fit to sell wns
twenty-seven per cent, over those kept
In a cool cellar and plnnted in the open
ground, while when fully mnttire the
gnln wns forty per cent, with more
lurge potatoes.
Exhaustion or Soils.
Tho exhnustlon of soils Is largely In
fluenced nlso by tho period of ripeness
of a crop at the time of harvesting.
Those plants thnt nre cut In the green
stage, or whllo In flower, nre largely
composed of water, and therefore ex
hnust the soil but little; but from tin?
time when the seed begins to form un
til full maturity of the .plants the
whole system of nourishment Is
changed. In the effort of perfecting
Its seed tho plant takes from the
stalks and roots the juices which It
had secreted uud sends them upward
to nourish the seed, both the stnlks
and roots becoming dry r.s tho plnnt
eliminates the moisture after deposit
tug the solid material in tho seeds.
When a crop matures before It Is har
vested it therefore takes up more of
the mlueral matter of tho soli than
when the plants are green, nnd when n
crop is cut while the seeds are just
forming (the milky stage) the stalks
and leaves are then more nourishing
is food for stock, becauso tho mineral
matter Intended for the seeds is ar
rested In the stalks. The same rule
applies to crops Intended to be. plowed
under, which is that the nearer tbelr
approach to maturity without perfect
lug the seed the greater the beueftt
Imparted to the soil. No law con be
made for rotatiou, but that the farm
er nut vary bis crops and ndupt his
farm to them, Instead, of attempting
to grow crops on soils not suited there
tor, Is admitted by all who have und
sxperlence.Phliad-.'lphla Record.
HUM STATE HI CONDENSES
PENSIONS GRANTED.
Collcgo Student's Exciting Encounter with at
Wildcat Death ol Drummer Boy ol
Khiloh," Goorge n. Br.ntntll.
Tlic following pcnsi.nis were granted 1
last week: John W. Kern. Blaire Mills,
! 1 4 : Harrison Fridity, Kookl'in, $K,
Stephen M. Conkliu, Prosperity,
Jiinies H. Joins. Scottdalc. lf8; William
M. Duke. Kural Valley. $8; Amos llin
derleitcr, Hrookville. $14: William 1L
Kelly, Spceimnn, $10; George W. Dic
Kouevil!c.($M; Mary J. Wolfe, Cnchrnn i
Mills. $8: Eliza Cousin. Dee, $8; Maty
K. Morrow, l.incsville, $8.
James IT. Holmes, Jr., is now the hcrj
oi State College becsi"e of a liand-ti--liuml
fight in the woods with a monster
wildcat, in winch Holmes came off vic
torious. Holmes choked the animal to
death. The cnt weighed 2J pounds, was
1(1 inches high nnd ji inches in lengt'i..
A-ddc from n few scratches Holmes t-s-ciped
without injury. He will have thi
cat mounted.
A coal boom has struck the souther
part tif Washington county. In Ea-t
lletlilehein township a new coal held has.
been recently opened up by the Clyde
Coal Company, of Pittsburg. The com
pany is putting out about 8.000 bttshel
of coal daily. A big electric plant in
being built in connection with the
plant.
George V. Brintnall, who died at
Lancaster Friday, was one of the Ta
nious soldiers of the Rebellion. When
scarcely more than 15 years of age he
enlisted ns a drummer boy. At the bat
tle of Shiloh he displayed remarkable
coolness and bravery nnd was after
ward known by the sobriquet "Tlu
Drummer Hoy of Shiloh."
In his cell in the l.ttzerne county jail
Ralph White, an aged farmer, convicted
of murder in the second degree, huutf
himself with n sheet. The prisoner, in
a quarrel at Sweet Valley, opened fire
on bis three; nepluws. Joseph was in
stantly killed, and Brother nephew was.
mortally wounded. White was jentcni-
ed to 15 years in the penitentiary.
The German Alscn-Portland Cement
Company, of Hamburg, has just acquir
ed possession of the Charles Mann prop
erty, near Narnreth, and the water rigli:.
connected with it. The property is an
old Moravian landmark, and around it
hangs much interesting history of the
early Moravian emigrants to America.
A 14-ycar-old girl was married nt
Wilkcsbarrc to a J7-year-old man. and
he signed a contract agreeing to let her
live with her parents until she is :b
The bride was Mary Jane Reaker. of
Plymouth township, and the bridegroom
Nicholas Uurkhart, a prosperous young
butcher.
General orders have been issued from
the headquarters of the National Guard
of Pennsylvania, announcing the ap
pointment of Col. W. Fred Reynolds, of
Ucllefonte as an aide- on Gov. Stone's
staff, to fill the vacancy created by ths
resignation of Col. George A. lluber,
of Philadelphia.
John J. Carter, president of the Tittis
ville board of school controllers, pre
sented the school children of the city
(iiiitc active and reads the daily papers.
She is a .intive of Massachusetts and has
two children living.
Armed with a search warrant. Union
town officers found several hundred dol
lars' worth of goods stolen in recent
robberies and arrested Charles Hender
son, nnd another negro, who will be
charged with burglary.
The employes of W. K. Nivcr & Co.'s,
coal mine at Niverton, strifck- Monday
against the discharge of 8g union min
ers. Two Polish interpreters were :,r-
restcd, charged with threatening
lives of the superintendent and
The grinding mill of the Rand pi
works at rairchance, rayette
was destroyed by fire. A large i
of nitrate of soda nnd charco;S
burned. The loss is about $2.0
W. B. Duff, a wealthy oil man 01"
lington, has completed the purchase of
the James Harbinson farm in White
township, adjoining Beaver Falls, for a.
fair ground.
At New Castle leaking gasolene in a.
car he was unloading saturated the
clothing of Benjamin Ball. When he
went to a stove it took fire and he was
horribly burned. He will probably die.
At New Castle, Edward Moblry is.
thought to be dying from the effects of
burns received by being struck by ' a.
lighted lamp thrown by Joseph Davis..
The latter is in jail.
Two cases of smallpox have dcve!opel
in the Bristoria oil field, Greene countv.
Both arc quarantined. Thee are the
first cases of smallpox in Greene county
in 34 years.
Andrew Kendor, a crippled Hun
garian, who lives at Coalbrook, Fayette
county, is missing, and it is feared he ha.
fror.cn to death,
Mrs. Mary Rapp Hampton, wu
shook hands with Lafayette, died at her
home in , Phoenixville, Sunday, at till
age of 101 years.
John Fetko's 6-year-old son Charles'..'
near Hastings, was found frozen to
death. He had fallen into an old coal'
shaiX
Joseph Lawrence was convicted at
Greensburg of illegal liquor selling and
sentenced to pay a fine of $500 and
stand committed.
The opera house at McDonald was
partly burned. A church fair was irt
progress at the timi-. ' A number w:re
slightly hurt, but none seriously.
.eariy 50 cases 01 typhoid lever have
been traced to the water from a priii(f
in tne iniru wara, uraaiora.
Matsa Evanyans and Jacob Soooff,.
iU - . d ; 1 , r ,
uic iwy nimsiuus uurueil in IOC powu.-l
r.xjnuMoo near 1 1 wui. are ootn acau If
the eltccts of their wounds.
John Campbell, formerly of the To
recnsyivama regiment had his
ground off by a train nt Greens)
The First National Bank of N'
tie is suing that city for $5,50,
claim L'r'w out ol the Blevn
The unfurling of the flag is1
icuiure id me niaiory. ttf
New Zealand. - -
with what is familiarly called the ball j
grounds." The gift consists oi five acres
in the eastern part of the city and is to
be used as a field for athletics. m
The oldest woman in Meadville. Mrs.
Mary Smith, Wednesday celebrated her '
07th birthday in good health. She is
r
a
r
1
j
1
J
of bus, not of tht nam to bad .woo,
V