Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-07-30
uu.shineton,s last DAYS at Mt. Vernon.

Washington's last days at Mt. Vernon.
We find in the Washington Intelligencer, an
article, of which it says, ave have the plea
s.re to insert tile annual contribution of cur
venerable and respected friend, Mr.. Gusts, of
Arlington, from his valuable stock of sRecollec-
lions Of the last days at Mount Vernon, and
Private Memoirs of Washington As time re-
cedess these memorials increase in interest and
it is to be regretted that they are not given to
the public entire and in durable form" We
rive the article, and know that it will be read
nth avidity by all our readers.
The year 1899 was inits last month Wash
ineton had nearly completed his sixty-eighth
year: the century was fast drawing to a close,
and with it this great mans life. Yet the
uvinter'' of his age had shed its SHOWS $50 kind
lvs,upon him as to mellow without impairing
his faculties, both physical and mental, and to
give fair promise Of additional length of days.
Nor was Washington unmindfuleH of the sure
nrogress Of time, and of his liability to be CALI
ed at any moment to s.that bourne from which
no traveller returns He had for years kept q
will by him, and after mature reflection had SO
disposed of his large property as to be satisfac-
tory to himself and to the many who were SO
fortunate and happy o. to share in his testamen-
tary remembranee. 81. Ss Nm a 81
The last days, like those that preceded them
IN the course of a long and well-spent life, were
devoted to constant and useful employment.
After the active exercise of the morning. in at
tenticn to agriculture and rural affairs, in the
evening came the post-bay, loaded with letters,
papers, and pamphlets. His correspondence,
LaAl. 49, a1xv rot
was itpromptly and fully replied to. No letter
was unanswered One Of the best men Of his
time, Washington deemed il % grave offence
against the rules of good manners and propriety
to leave letters unanswered. He wrote with
great facility, and it would be . difficult matter
To find another, who had written 50 much, who
has written ~ well. His epistolatory writings
will descend to postsfty as models Of good taste,
IS well as developing superior powers Of mind
General Henry Lee once observed to the chief,
1--WE are amazed, SIR at the vast amount Of
work that you accomplish Washington re-
plied, " Sir, Irise at four o'clock, and . great
deal of my work is done while others are
asleep." f
d So punctuala man delighted in always having
about him good time-kceper. In Philadelphia
the first President regularly walked up to his
wateh-makers, Clarke, in Second street, to
IL
Vernon, the active yet always punctual farmer
invariably consulted the dial when returning
from, his morning rideaand before entering his
house. s-.a.ss a.. 4 sse.s
The affairs of the household took order from
the masters accurate and methodical arrange
ment Of time. Even the fisherman On the river
watched for the cooks signal when to pull on
shore, SO to deliver his scaly products in time
for dinner.
The establishment of Mount Vernon employ
ed perfect army of servants; yet to each one
was assigned certain special duties, and these
we're required to be strictly performed. Upon
the extensive estate, there was rigid discipline,
without severity. There could be no confusion
where all was order; and the affairs of this vast
concern, embracing thousands of acres and
hundreds Of dependents, were conducted with
as much ease, method, and regularity as the af-
fairs Of an ordinary homestead.
Mrs. Washington, an accomplished Virginia
housewife Of the olden time, gave her constant
attention TO all matters Of her domestic house
hold, and by her skill and superior management
greatly contributed to the comfortable reception
and entertainment of the crowds Of guests al
ways to be found In the hospitable mansion of
Mount Vernon.
Invariably neat and clean in his person, with
clothes of old-fashioned cut, but made Of the
best materials. Washington required less wait
ing upon, than any man of his age and condition
inthe world. A single body-seryant attended
inhis room to brush his clothes, comb and tie
bis hair, (become very thin in his last days,
worn in the old-fashioned queue, and rarely with
powder, and to arrange the materials of his
toilet. This toilet he made himself, in the simp-
lest and most expeditions manner, giving the
least possible amount of his precious time to
49, ,I-Asr - L.
ct four o'clock, he lighted his own candles, made
up his FIRE, and went diligently to work, without
disturbing the slumbers of his numerous house
hold q x
In the last days at Mount Vernon, DESTROYS of
riding pleasantly, the General procured from the
North, two horses Of the Narragansett breed,
celebrated as saddle horses. They were well to
look at, and were pleasantly gated under the
saddle, but were scary, and therefore unified
Tor the service of one who liked to ride quietly
on his farm, occasionally dismounting and walk |
ing in his fields to inspect his improvements. |
From one Of these horses, the General sustained /
: heavy fall, probably the only fall he ever had /
from horse in his life. 1t was in November, /
hts in the evening. The General, accompanied /
" Major Lewis, Mr.. Peake, Ia gentleman resi- |
ding In the neighborhood.1 the author Of the /
restrictions, and the groom, were returning /
aiUlH AIexdn0f1A TO MOUNT vernon. HHSiHS I
halted for few moments, the General dismount- |
Cd, and upon rising in. his stirrup again. the +
Nlragansett alarmed at'the glare from > FIRE
near the roadside, sprang from under bis rider,
Who came heavily to the ground. Our saddles T
were emptysin m instant, and We rushedeup to
give our assistance, fsaring he MAS hurt; It was
unnecessary. The vigorous old man was upon
Gs feet again, brushing thedustfrom his clothes I
md, sitter thanking us for our prompt assistance,
ybservcd that he was not hurt that he had had /
Avery complete tumble, and that it was owing
% . cause that no horseman could we'll avoid or I
scdtrol: that he was only poised in his stirrup,
ND had not Jet gained his saddle, when the
vary animal sprang from under him. Mean |
ne, all our horses had gone of at a full speed. I
Is was night, and over four miles we're to be won
~ We could reach our destination. The chief
eAseEed, that az our horses had disappeared, it I
remained for us 70 take it on foot, and with
nanly strides led the way. Wehad proceeded
~ short distance on our march, as dismount-
cayaliers, when our horses hove III sight.
1lppily for ~, some Of the seryants Of Mr.. E
xAke Whose plantatlen Was hard BY, in return
home from their labor, encountered cur ~ L
steeds, captured them, and brought them to
We were speedy resnounted, and sosns the
hehts 1t Mount Vernon were seen glimuerine
w distance. 1 i 2 y ]. sa sa Z ~ ~
8 Upon WashingtOn's first retirement, in 1883,
=. ~ became convinced of the defective nature Of
Ne working animals empIOyed IN the aOricnI-