Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-03-19
lth great respect sl'
Your oh servant.
ERASTUS FAIRBANKS.
St. Johnsbury, March 3, 1888.


How WAsHNGToN BEHAVED WHEN HE
WAS is THE WRoNG.-An incident in THE
Firgiaiaus, representing Washington as ready
to accept challenge has led Les'ie's Illus
rqte3 Paper to reprint the following pertinent
anecdoto from Vcem's Gossipipg Life of
Washington:
In 1854, Washington was stationed at
Alexandria with his regiment, the only one of
the colony, Of which he was Colonel There
happened to be at this time an election in the
town for members of the Assembly and the
contest ran high between Col. George Fairfax
and Mr.. Flzey. Washington was warm
friend Of Col Fairfax, and Mr. Payne headed
the friends of Mr.. Flzey. A dispute taking
place in the Courthouse yard, Washington,
at this time not twenty-five years Of age, con-
trary to his usual manner, became excited,
and, what was still more uncommon, said
something that offended Mr. Payne, whore
upon the little gentleman, who, though a
cup in size. raised his sturdy hickory, and by
a single blow brought Washington to the
ground.
Several of Washingtons officers being
present, they whipped out their irons in an
instant, and it was supposed that there would
be murder of-hand To make bad worse.
their commander had been treated, boted out
of the barracks, every man with his weapon,
threatng vengence on those who dared TO
knock down their beloved Colonel. Happily
for Mr. Payne and his party, Washington re-
covered time enough to 60 out and meet his
onraged soldiers, and after thanking them for
their expression of attachment, assured them
that he was not hurt in th5-loast, and begged
A.. nd, tt,,. 1,,-oI ;,,, and fhoi, I,,t,r no
turn to their barracks. As to Washington
himself, he went to his room, and finding, on
mature reflection, that he had been the ag-
grcssor, ne determined to make Mr.. Payne
honorable reparation by asking his pardon on
the morrow. No sooner had he made this
noble resolution than he recovered his natural
calmness Of manner, dressed himself and
went to ball, behaving as if nothing had
happened.
The next day he went to the tavern and
wrote polite note to Mr.. Payne, requesting
I to see him Mr. Payne presumed the import
of it was challenge for duel and repaired
to the place appointed for the meeting, ex-
pecting to see pair of pistols introduced
! But conceive his surprise on entering the
! chamber where Washington was, he discoy-
4 cred decanter of wine and glasses upon the
thDlcs anu upoh no N'L.N''i'b " "'ii'Nn WI
D arose and in a very friendly manner met him
and presented his hand, saying:
"Mr. Payne, to err sometimes is nature, to
p rcctify error is always glory. find wa.
wrong in the affair yesterday you have had
r think, some satisfaction, and if you thinh
5 that is sufficient, here is my hand, let us b'
: friends 1t is only necessary to say tina
i from this time Mr.. Payne became one o
I Washington's most enthusiastic admirers anC
a friends If this conduct had not beer deem
IS ed in Washington to have arisen from ma 2
= nanimity and not from fear, then he could no
have become the immortal hero he is regard
r ed in history"
~ The sunshine Of life is made up of yer.
little beams that are bright all the times
e 10 Debt is the worst kind of poverty.