Part 4 (1/2)
RELATIONS WITH THE FAIR sex
The book froton derived almost the whole of his education warned its readers,--
”Young Men have ever more a special care That Womanish Allurements prove not a snare;”
but, however carefully the lad studied the rest, this particular admonition took little root in histhe whole of his life had a soft heart for wo ones, and both in his personal intercourse and in his letters he shows himself very much more at ease with them than in his relations with his own sex Late in life, when the strong passions of his earlier years were under better control, he was able to write,--
”Love is said to be an involuntary passion, and it is, therefore, contended that it cannot be resisted This is true in part only, for like all things else, when nourished and supplied plentifully with aliress; but let these be withdrawn and it rowth For example, a woman (the same may be said of the other sex) all beautiful and accomplished will, while her hand and heart are undisposed of, turn the heads and set the circle in which she moves on fire Let her marry, and what is the consequence? The ain Why? not because there is any diminution in the charms of the lady, but because there is an end of hope
Hence it follows, that love uidance of reason, for although we cannot avoid first iuard”
To write thus in one's sixty-sixth year and to practise one's theory in youth were, however, very different undertakings Even while discussing love so philosophically, the writer had to acknowledge that ”in the coood deal of inflammable matter,” and few have had better cause to know it When he saw in the pree that it would ”in a greatladies thatthe attention, contribute not a little to divide the affection,” it is easy to think of hi, it is to be hoped with a ss he owed to pretty faces and neatly turned ankles
While still a school-boy, Washi+ngton was one day caught ”roirls,” and very quickly s followed As early as 1748, when only sixteen years of age, his heart was so engaged that while at Lord Fairfax's and enjoying the society of Mary Cary he poured out his feelings to his youthful correspondents ”Dear Robin” and ”Dear John” and ”Dear Sally” as follows:
”My place of Residence is at present at His Lordshi+ps where I 'd passLady Lives in the sae Fairfax's Wife's Sister) but as thats only adding Fuel to fire itin Company with her revives my former Passion for your Low Land Beauty whereas was I to live ht in so that chast and troublesoetfulness for as I am very well assured thats the only antidote or remedy that I shall be releivd by or only recess that can administer any cure or help toI should only get a denial which would be only adding grief to uneasiness”
”Was ht perhaps for Lady as theres one now Lives in the same house with me but as that is only nourishs the other into my remembrance whereas perhaps was she not often & (unavoidably) presenting herself tothe other in the grave of Oblivion I am well convinced iven it cause enough to dread a second assault and from a different Quarter tho' I well know let it have as many attacks as it will from others they cant be more fierce than it has been”
”I Pass the tiined I should as there's a very agrewable Young Lady lives in the sae Fairfax's Wife's Sister) that in a great Measure cheats ether from your Parts I could wish to be with you down there with allalmost Impractakable shall restsome Minutes of your transactions in your Parts which will be very welcomely receiv'd”
Who this ”Low Land Beauty” was has been the source of much speculation, but the question is still unsolved, every suggested damsel--Lucy Gry either impossible or the evidence wholly inadequate But in the sahts of these letters is a motto poem--
”Twas Perfect Love before But Now I do adore”--
followed by the words ”Young MA his W[ife?],” and as it was a fashi+on of the time to couple the initials of one's well-beloved with such sentiht clue is possibly furnished Nor was this the only rhy in his journal: and he confided to it the following:
”Oh Ye Gods why should ht and Power At Last surrender to cupids feather'd Dart And now lays Bleeding every Hour For her that's Pityless of st ladness never wish to wake In deluding sleepings let my Eyelids close That in an enraptured Dreaentle repose Possess those joys denied by Day”
However woe-begone the young lover was, he does not seem to have been wholly lost to others of the sex, and at this same time he was able to indite an acrostic to another charmer, which, if incomplete, nevertheless proves that there was a ” presumptively some member of the family of Alexanders, who had a plantation near Mount Vernon
”Fro Eyes I was undone; Rays, you have; lory in the rising Day None can you equal in your bright array; Constant in your calm and unspotted Mind; Equal to all, but will to none Prove kind, So knowing, seldo, you'l Find
Ah! woe'shave I wish'd, but never dare reveal, Even though severely Loves Pains I feel; Xerxes that great, was't free froreatest Heroes, felt the ston noted in his journal hislady,” and later he ith her to see some fireworks on Guy Fawkes day Apparently, however, the ladies of that island made little impression on hireeable but by ill custoro style” This sudden insensibility is explained by a letter he wrote to Williainia:
”Sir: I should have been down long before this, but er than I expected, and immediately upon my return from thence I was taken with a violent Pleurise, but purpose as soon as I recover th, to wait on Miss Betsy, in hopes of a revocation of the former cruel sentence, and see if I can meet with any alteration in my favor I have enclosed a letter to her, which should beto add but ood lady and family, and that I am, Sir, Your most ob't humble serv't”