The Trinity journal., 1857-01-24

appearing tedious, | shall therefore request
your patience for few minutes, while |
read from the Claptrap Cyclopedia,' by
Professor Tube Rose, the following beaut-
full tribute to the memory Of this greatest of
men
[From Tube Roses American Biography
GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON.
George Washington was one of the most
distinguished movers in the American Revo-
luton. lie was born of poor but honest
parents, at Genoa in l495. His mother
was called the mother of Washington. lie
married, early in life, widow lady, Mrs.
Martha Custis, whom Prescott describes as
the cuSSidest pretty woman south Of Mason
and Dixons line. Young Washington COM
menced business as a county-surveyor, and
was present in that character at a sham fight,
under General Braddock, when so many
guns were fired that the whole body of mill
tia were stunned by the explosion, and sat
down to supper unable to hear word that
was said. This supper was afterwards al
luded to as Braddock's deaf eat, and the sim
lie deaf as a Braddock,' subsequently vul-
CARED into deaf as q haddock had its rise
from that circumstance. Washington COM
manded several troops during the Revolu-
tionary war, and distinguished himself by
fearlessly crossing the Delaware River on
ice of very inadequate thickness, to visit
family of Hessians Of his acquaintance. He
was passonately fond Of green peas and
string beans and bis favorite motto was
In time of peace prepare for war;
Washington's most intimate friend was a
French gentleman, named Marcus Dee, who,
from his constant habits Of visibility, was
nicknamed Laughy get' His greatest
victory was achieved at Germantown, where,
coming upon the British in the night, he
completely surrounded them with wall of
cotton bales, from which lie opened a de-
structiye and terrific fire. which soon caused
the enemy to capitulate The cotton bales
being perforated with musket balls, were
much increased in weight, and consequently
in value, and the expression, playfully used,
What is the price Of cotton !? was much in
vogue after the battle.
During the action, Washington might
have been seen driving up and down the
lines, exposed to a deadly fire, in small
Concord wagon drawn by bob-tailed gray
horse His celebrated dispatch, REM, v1di,
rica,' or, came and saw in a Concord wagon,
has reference to this circumstance.
Washington has been called the Father
Of his country Can uDapt title, more prop
erly belonging to the late Mr. McCusky
parent of the celebrated pugilst y the child
has grown however, to that extent that its
own father would not know it. General
Walker (William Walker is also called the
Father of Nicaragua, and we have no
doubt, in case of his demise, his children, the
native Nicaraguans, would erect a suitable
monument over his remains, with the in
scrption, Go, father, and fare worse
Washington was a member of the Know
Nothing order, and directed that none but
Americans should be put on guard, which
greatly annoyed the Americans, their com
fort being entirely destroyed by perpetual
turns of guard duty.
lie was twice elected President of the
United States by the Celebrated Wing and
Know Nothing parties, the Democrats and
Abolitionists voting against him and served
out his time with great credit to himself and
the country-drawing his salary with reg
ularity and precision worthy Of all commen-
daton.
Although, for the time in which lie lived,
a very distinguished man, the ignorance of
Washington is something perfectly incredi- |
BILE. He never Travelled on n steamboat
never saw a railroad or a locomotive engine,
or Stcam-coach was perfectly ignorant OF
the principle of the magnetic telegraph
never had daguerrotype, Colts pistol,
Sharp's rifle or used a friction match lie
ate his meals with an iron fork, never used
postage stamps on his letters, and knew
nothing of the application of chloroform to
alleviate suffering, or the use of gas for ilu-
mination. Such man as this could hardly
be elected President Of the United States in
these times, although, it must be confessed,
we occasionally have candidate who proves
not much better informed about matters in
general.
Washington died from exposure on the
summit of Mount Vernon, in the year 1856,
leaving behind name that will endure for
ever, if posterty persist in calling their
children after him to the same extent that
has hitherto been fashionable. He is men
toned in history as having been first in
peace first in war, and first in the hearts Of
his countrymen : in other words he was No
in everything, and it was equally his in
terest and his pleasure to look out for that
number, and he took precious good care to
do SO. A portrait by Gilbert Stuart, of
this great soldier and Statesman may be
seen very badly engraved, on the History
of the United States : but as it was taken
when the general was in the act Of chewing
tobacco, the left cheek is distended ont of
proportion and the likeness rendered very
unsatisfactory. Upon the whole, General
George Washington was a very excellent
man though unfamiliar with SCOTS In
fantry Tactics he was tolerable officer
though he married widow, he was fond
husband and though he did not know the
Beechcr family, (and would have despised
them if he had, he was sincere Christian.