The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-04-18
George Washington.
BY JOHN PHGNIx.+

olutIon.
He was born OF poor but honest parents,
at Genoa, in the year 1892. His mother
was called the mother OF Washington. He
married, early in life, a single widow lSdy,
Mrs. Martha Custis, whom Prescott des
cribes rs the cussidest prettiest woman south
Of Mason and Dixon's line. Young Wash
ineton commenced business as q county sur.
veyor, and was present in that character in
a sham fight under General Paddock, where
so many guns were fired that the who = ody
OF militia were stunned by the explosion,
and sat down to supper unable to hear o
word that was said. This supper was after
wards alluded TO as Braddock's deaf eat and
The smile, "dead as Braddock," and subse.
quen,ly vu!gurized "denf as n haddock, had
| its rise in that circumstance. Washington
! commended several troops during the Revo
| lutionary War, and distinguished himself by
crossing the Delaware river on ice of very
inadequate thickness, to visit family of
Hessisns Of his acquaintance. He was pas.
sionately fond Of green pees and string
beans; and his favorite motto was: "In
time of peas prepare for war;"
Washington's most intimate friend was
French gentleman, named Marcus Dee, who
from his constant habits OF risibility, was
nicknamed 'auey yet His greatest victo
ry was achieved at Germantown, where
coming upon the British in the night, he
completely surrounded them with wall Of
cotton bales, from which he opened des-
truCive and terrific FIRE, which soon cpuspd
the enemy TO capi'uIate. The cotton bales
being perforated with musket balls, were
much increased in weight and cons qnentIy
in value, nnd the expression pIayfuIy used
"Whot is the price of cotton :" was much
| in vogue after the battle.
During the action, Washington NIGH
have been seen driving up and down the
lines, exposed in a small Concord wagon
drawn by bobtail gray horse. His cee
brated despatch, "veni, Ved, Vec," or
came and saw in Concord wagon, has ref.
erpnce to this circumsf ance.
! w shingfon has been called the "Father
CT bi- Country" (an unapt title, more prop
erly belonging to the late Mr. McClnskey
parent of the celebrated pugiist;) the chlc
has grown, however, to that extent lis own
father would not know it. Gen. Walker
| (WIIliam WakeD is also "Fether of Nicn
raaun," and we have no doubt, in case of his
demise. his children, the native Nicaraguens
would erect suitable monument over hi:
remans with the inscription G. father ant
| fair worse"
Washington was a member Of the know
othing order, and directed that none bu
Americans should be put on guard. whicl
greatly annoyed the Americans, their dut,
being entirely destroyed by perpetual turn
Of guard duty.
He was twire elected President Of tn
United States by the combined whig an
know nothing parties, the fedetalists n
aboli,ionists voting against him, and serve
out his time with great credit to himself an
the country drawing his salary with
! regularity and precision worthy all commen
dation.
: Although, for the time in which he liveC
a very distinguished man, the ignorance c
Washington is something perfectly incred
BILE. He never travelled on q steamboat
! never saw a railroad, or locomotive engine
was perfectly ignorant of the principle @
!. the magnetic telegraph; never had a da
guerreotpye, Colts pistol, Sharp's rifle, c
used friction match.
He ate his meals with an iron fork, neve
used postage stamps on his letters, an
! knew nothing of the application OF chlorc
/ form to alleviate suffering, or the use Of g,
for illumination. Such man as this cou
hardly be elected President of the Unite
: Stntes in these times, although, it must b
g confessed, we occasionally have candidat
I who proves not much better informed abou
matters in general.
Washington died from exposure on III
!, summit OF Mount Vernon, in the year l7st
leaving behind him name that will endur
forever if posterity persist in calling the
t children after him to the same extent thu
: has been fashionable.
J He is mentioned in history as having bee
first in peace, first in war, and first in tn
, hearts of his countrymen;" in other word
he was No. in everything, aud it wr
, equally his interest and his pleasure to loo
out for that number, and he took precior
good care to do go.
, A portrait, by Gilbert Stuart, of this gre,
soldier and statesman may be seen, yer
, badly engraved, 10 the "History Of the Tn
ted States," but as it was taken when th
General was in the act OF chewing tobacco
the lett cheek 10 diste nded out of proportion
and the likeness rendered very unsatisia,
tory.
, Upon the whole, Gen. George Washing
, ton was very excellent man; though ul
familiar with "Scott's Infantry Tactics" :"
was a tolerable officer, though he married
widow, he was fond husband, and thoug
, he did not know the Beecher family, he W,
, a sincere christian. t-.
Il A monument has been commenced In Il