seful to society. If, unfortunately, as they are both
young, there should be an abatement of affection on either side,
or both, it had better precede, than follow, marriage.

"Delivering my sentiments thus freely will not, I hope, lead you
into a belief that I am desirous of breaking off the match. To
postpone it is all I have in view; for I shall recommend to the
young gentleman, with the warmth that becomes a man of honor, to
consider himself as much engaged to your daughter as if the
indissoluble knot was tied; and, as the surest means of
affecting this, to apply himself closely to his studies, by
which he will, in a great measure, avoid those little
flirtations with other young ladies, that may, by dividing the
attention, contribute not a little to divide the affections."

The result of this correspondence was that Washington took young Custis
to King's (now Columbia) College, New York City, and entered him for two
years. But love had so much more control of his heart than learning had
of his head, that he remained there only a few months, when he returned
to Mount Vernon, and was married to Miss Calvert on Feb. 3, 1774. The
couple were nineteen and seventeen years of age, respectively, and their
marriage proved a very fortunate event for themselves, and the families
on both sides.

The following incident, illustrative of Washington's fine personal
appearance, transpired when he accompanied his step-son to New York. It
is from the pen of Mr. Custis:

"It was boasted at the table of the British governor that a regiment,
just landed from England, contained among its officers some of the
finest specimens of martial elegance in his Majesty's service; in fact,
the most superb-looking fellows ever landed upon the shores of the new
World. 'I wager your excellency a pair of gloves,' said Mrs. Morris, an
American lady, 'that I will show you a finer man in the procession
to-morrow than your excellency can select from your famous
regiment;'--'Done, madam!' replied the governor. The morrow came (the
fourth of June), and the procession, in honor of the birthday of the
king, advanced through Broadway to the strains of military music. As the
troops filed before the governor, he pointed out to the lady several
officers by name, claiming her admiration for their superior persons and
brilliant equipments. In rear of the troops came a band of officers not
on duty, colonial officers,