The early biographers of Washington erred in representing him as an ideal being of almost superhuman excellence. The criticism of later times deems it but honest to portray the man as he was. There are writers who, forgetting that balance of genius is rarer and more commendable often than brilliance, are inclined to rate him below Hamilton o• Jefferson in political wis dom; but even these eeho the tributes paid by the world to his unselfish devotion to duty, espevia Hy to the cause of independence, to his courage, his suhlime hopefulness under defeat, his strong will, his marvelous insight into character, his abiding faith in God, and his absolute in tegrity and purity of motives. When these virtues are considered, few, if any, heroes of history can be placed beside him.
Washington's wife, who was of nearly the same age with him, is described as having been amiable in character and lovely in person. She was the daughter of Colonel John Dandridge, of New Kent County, and was born in May, 1732. Iler first husband, to whom she was married in -June, 1749, was Daniel Parke Cristis, a wealthy planter.
By the courtesy of the period she was vatted Lady Washington, and whether in her own home or at the `federal court,' she presided with great dignity and grace. She died at Mount Vernon, Slay 22, 1802.
Consult: Sparks, Life and Writings of Wash ington (12 vols., Boston, 1834-37) : Life of Wash ington, by Chief Justice Marshall (5 vols., Phila delphia, 1804) ; Life of Washington, by Wash ington Irving (5 vols., New York, 1855-59), and the abridged edition, ;John Fiske (New York, 1888) ; The Writing.s of Washington, collected and edited by W. C. Ford (14 vols., New York, 1889) ; lives by Hale (18874, Lodge ("AinCrican Statesmen," 2 vols., 1889) , 13. '1', Johnston ( 1894), P. L. Ford and Woodrow ( 1896 ) . See also the many publications of Lossing and Baker, and histories of the Revolution, such as those by Fiske and by Trevelyan. For the history of Washington's administrations, see Sehouler's and KeMaster's histories of the United States.