Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-03-31
AMUSING AND INTERES STING RE.
MINIsCENCE OF GEORGE WASH
INGTON.

AMUSING AND lNTERES STING RE.
MINIsCENCEO OF GEORGE WASH
INGTON. p"
A correspondent of the Norfolk (Va)
Herald, furnished that paper the following
interesting reminiscence OF Washington,
taken from Curtis "Privats Memoirs" ol
Of the great and good man. The author
Of the "Msmoirs' introduced it A. one,
and not the least characteristic, among the
many illustrations that exist, Of Washing
tons we'll knowa particularly and method
in oil his business transactions, and exen-
pliies his habit of reducing to writing -v,
en- such bargains aud Understandings as.
from their apparent want Of importauce,
would BY most men be trusted to memory
only. ..t ....... .. ...E.
For full understanding Of the matter.
it must be promised that Barter had been
for some time, prior to this contract, in
the service Of Washington, and had on
several occasions manifested so decided a
prediction for the bottle, as to have es-
tablishsd the fact of its being confirmed
habit with him, and thus to have induced
Washington to draw up tho bond specify
ing the particular occasions on which Bar
ter could get drunk, and how long at each
occasion he nigh. remain so, as we'll as
prescribing the number of his ordinary
daily drains.
That Washington must have had in bis
nposition n considerable slice Of sly
humor, is evident from his having used for
such q trihing matter the proIix, verbose,
legal forms usually employed in importan,
contracts, instead Of . brief. simple ME
morandum and from his having called in
such men as Tabias Dear to formerly at
test = bargain in which matters of no
greater import were involved than a gard
eners food for one year, and eight dollars
to be expended in sprees on certain speci.
fed occasions within that period.
ARTICLES Of agreement me de this twelfi h
day Of April, Ammo Domini one thousand
seven hundred and eighty. seven, by and
between George Washington, ESQ, Of tho
parish Of Turo, in the county of Fairfax,
State OF Virginia, on one part, and Philip
Barter gardener, on the other--witness,
that the said Philip Barter. for and 10 con
sideration Of the covenants hereafter men
toned, doth promise and agree to serve
the said George Washington for the term
of one year, as a gardener, and that he
will, during the said time, conduct himsell
soberly, diligently and honestly and that
he will faithfully and industrious'y perform
all and every part Of his duty as gardener
10 the best of his knowledge ard abilities.
and that he will not at any time suffer
himself to be disguised with liquor excent
on times hereinafter mentioned
In consideration Of these things being
performed on the part of Philip Barter,
the .aid George Washington doth agree
to allow him (the said Philip the same
kind and quality of provisions he has
heretofore had, and likewise. annually. a
decent suit of clothes, beftting man in
his station; aworking jacket and breeehes
Of homespun, besides two white shirts,
three check do. two linen overalls, ms
many pairs Of shoes as are necessary !;
four dollars at Christmas, with which he
may be drunk four days and four nights
two dollars at Easter to effect thu same
purpose two dollars at Whitsuntide. to
be drunk for two davs; and II dram in the
morning and drink Of grog at dinner AT
noon.
For the true and faithful performance
of all and each part of these things, the
parties have hereunto set their hands this
twen,y-,hird day Of April, Anno Domini.
1887. His
"PHlLIP X BARTER.
a... Mark
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Witness:
George A. Washington.