Word that he would attend a play always insured a "full house," and upon his entrance to his box the orchestra would play _Hail Columbia_ and _Washington's March_ amid great enthusiasm.
The _Federal Gazette_ described a performance of _The Maid of the Mill,_ which he attended in 1792, as follows: "When Mr.Hodgkinson as Lord Ainsworth exhibited nobleness of mind in his generosity to the humble miller and his daughter, Patty; when he found her blessed with all the qualities that captivate and endear life, and knew she was capable of adorning a higher sphere; when he had interviews with her upon the subject in which was painted the amiableness of an honorable passion; and after his connection, when he bestowed his benefactions on the relatives, etc., of the old miller, the great and good Washington manifested his approbation of this interesting part of the opera by the tribute of a tear." Another amusement that both the Farmer and his wife enjoyed greatly was dancing.

In his youth he attended balls and "routs" whenever possible and when fighting French and Indians on the frontier he felt as one of his main deprivations his inability to attend the "Assemblies." After his marriage he and his wife went often to balls in Alexandria, attired no doubt in all the bravery of imported English clothes.

He describes a ball of 1760 in these terms: "Went to a ball at Alexandria, where Musick and dancing was the chief entertainment, however, in a convenient room detached for the purpose abounded great plenty of bread and butter, some biscuits, with tea and coffee, which the drinkers of could not distinguish from hot water sweet'ned--Be it remembered that pocket handkerchiefs served the purposes of Table cloths & Napkins and that no apologies were made for either.

I shall therefore distinguish this ball by the stile and title of the Bread & Butter Ball." A certain Mr.Christian conducted a dancing school which met at the homes of the patrons, and the Custis children, John Parke and Martha, were members, as were Elizabeth French of Rose Hill, Milly Posey and others of the neighborhood young people.

In 1770 the class met four times at Mount Vernon and we can not doubt that occasionally the host danced with some of the young misses and enjoyed it.
An established institution was the election ball, which took place on the night following the choice of the delegate to the Burgesses.
Washington often contributed to the expenses of these balls, particularly when he was himself elected.