The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-29
HOW WARRINGTON BEHAVED WHEN HE
WAS IN THE WRONG.

An incident in the Virginians, representing
Washington as ready to accept challenge, has
led Leslie's Illustrated paper to reprint the fol-
lowing pertinent anecdote from Weems's Life
of Washington:
ain LIZA, Washington was stationed at Alex.
andria with his regiment, the only one of the
colony, of which he was colonel. There hap
pened 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.. Elizey. Washington was a warm
friend of Col. Fairfax, and a Mr.. Payne headed
the friends of Mr.. Elizey. A dispute taking
place in the courthouse yard, Washington, al
this time not twenty-five years of age, contrary
to his usual manner, became excited, and, what
was still more uncommon, said something that
offended Mr.. Payne, whereupon the little gen.
tleman, who, though but cub in size,' raised
his sturdy hickory, and by q single blow brought
Washington to the ground.
"Several of Washington's officers being pres
ent, they whipped out their irons in an instant,
and it was supposed that there would be muir.
der off hand. To make bad worse, the mem.
bers of the regiment, hearing how their COM
mander had been treated, bolted out of the
barracks, every man with his weapon, threaten.
ing vengeance on those who dared to knock
down their loved Colonel.
"Happy for Mr.. Payne and his party, Wash.
ington recovered time enough to 90 out and
meet his enraged soldiers, and, after thanking
them for their expression of attachment, as
sured them that he was not hurt in the least,
and begged them, as they loved him and their
duty, to return to their barracks. AS to Wash.
ington himself, he went to his room, and find
ing, on mature reflection, that he had been the
AGGRESSION, he 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 calm.
ness of manner, dressed himself, and went to a
ball, behaving as if nothing had happened.
"The next day he went TO tavern, and
wrote polite note to Mr.. Payne, requesting to
see him. Mr.. Payne presumed the import Of
it was a challenge for a duel, and repaired to
the place appointed for the meeting, expecting
to see pair of pistols introduced. But con.
ceive his surprise upon entering the chamber
where Washington was, he discovered de.
canter of wine and glasses upon the table, and
upon his entering, Washington arose, and in a
very friendly manner met him, and presented
him his hand, saying:
"Mr. Payne, to err sometimes is nature /; to
rectify error is always glory. l find | was wrong
in the affair yesterday; you have had, think,
some satisfaction, and if you think that is suf.
fcient, here's my hand, let us be friends. 1t
is only necessary to say, that from this time
Mr.. Payne became one Of Washington's most
enthusiastic admirers and friends. If this con.
duct had not been deemed in Washington to
arise from magnanimity, and not from fear,
then he could not have become the immortal
hero he is regarded in history"
The PLACE FOR ScHooLMA'Ms.-Prent of
the Louisville Journal, relates the following ex.
perience of his in sending schoolma'ms South :
Some may think it strange lit isn't, thought
that ever since the time when we remarked in
our paper that nine.tenths of all the hundreds
of young women sent by US to the South as
teachers have got married there, we have been
literally overwhelmed with applications from
New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and
Ohio.
ave do not think that, in justice to such of
our Southern friends as are in want of teachers.
we can send any girl that will not pledge her,
self to us to continue at least six months in the
business. We know that the conditions seem
hard, but really we shall have to be memorable.
About three years ago, the trustees of a
fine female academy in one of the Southern
States wrote to us to send them a teacher.
We sent them q very beautiful and accomplish
ed young Lady, and they promptly wrote us a
letter of warm thanks for the selection. In
about three months they wrote us again, telling
rs that their teacher had got married, and
requesting rs to send them another. We did
send them another, quite as beautiful and &C.
complished as the first, and they were, as they
might be, very much delighted with her. In
inst ahouf three unouths hoveyer thew annlied
to us third time, begging us to send them
still another, the second having got married
like the first.
ain their last application, however, they in.
sisted that the lady next sent should be plain
looking, and not less than thirty-6ve years old.
The conditions were difficult, and We did not
succeed in complying with them. We prevail.
ed upon our friends, the trustees, TO accept a
richly talented young lady, who was neither old
nor ugly, she giving us her honor that abe
would not marry in less than half a year. We
understand that abe held ont like brave. good
girl to the end Of the specified time, but not a
dav aftarwardaO