The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-04-06
Personal Traits Of Washington.

Personal Traits Of Washington.
A volume OF recollections and private
memoirs OF Washington, by his adopted son,
with = memoir OF tho author, by bis duugh.
ter, is Just out There 10 much in il that
will be read with great interest
now WASHINGTON RODE AFTER his HOUNDS |
During tho interval between 1859 and
IVA, the time winch Washington could
spare from his building and agricultural i'm
provements, was devoted, in u great measure
to the pleasures of the chase. He appears
to have had no taste for shooting or fishing;
but fox-hunting was sport in cntro accord
anco with his athletic habits and his fond
ness for equestrian exercises. Ills konnel
was Gtua,cd near the family vault, in which
his romans woro at first deposited. IL was
u rude structure, but afforded comfortable
quarters for tho hounds Tho pack WAS
very numerous aud select. Every morning
and evening. Washington visited and in.
spectod tho kennel. in tho same manner as
he did his stables Ho took PRIDE in the
discipline oi his hounds. II in running. one
Of them lost tho scent. another was NJ hand
Immediately to recover it, and thus when in
full cry. in sporting phrase. yon might cover
the pack with blanket. He kept register
OF his horses and houDds.in which might he
found tho names, ages and marks Of each.
and Win ,beso comna,ions of tho chase be
vac ma nunc,ual in his a,,en,ions ns to any
other business of his l;fe. At the commence
ment of the scusop, Mount Vernon became
crowded with guests from tho neighborhood. !
| from Maryland aud elsewhere. Their visits
were prolonged not only for days, but for
weeks, and they wore entertained with tho
cxhubcrsnt hospitality of the Old Dominion.
and in tbo genuine co,tumo of tho cbuso.
! II. wore blue coat. .scnrlot waistcnat. buck
skin broeches. ton boots. md velvet can.
| With his long .thocpod whip In hand. ho
| took tho field az day.break. viii Lee. his
huntsman. and n brave array of friends and
neiphbors. followed in tho train, but mono
rode moro gullantIy in the chase. or with
moro chccry voice n oko the echoes of tho
woodland, than tho host of Mount Vernon.
After tho close of the Revelation. the
hunting establishment which had gone down
during tho lss, war. was renewed by tho
arrival of pack of French hounds. sent by
LAFAYETTE. These dogs wero OF great
strength and force courage. Thoy would
have been ublo 10 encounter the wolf or
bear. or oven to graphic with tho lion on his
native sands. as ~oli as to null down tho
stag in the American forest. II was neces.
s.ry TO keep them in close confinement ms
from their fcrocious deposition thcy would
not hesitate to devour stranger, who might
pass their kennol after nipbtfall, should the
gates DO unclosod. The huntsman always
presided az their meals. and il was only by
the vigorous uso of the lash that any degree
Of law aud order could DO preserved among
these savage animals. II tho weather per.
mittet, thero was hunt three times woek
Breskfast was served on thosu mornings by
candle-lipht. Washington. us usual, took
nothing but an Indian cake and bowl of
milk Before sunrise, tho whole cavaicnde
would often havo left tho house. and un-
konneled tho fox. Washington was ono Of
tho most accomplished cavaliers. Hc rode
with ease, elegance and power. He took
no account of any vicious propenstics of
his horse Tho onIv quality which he do.
manded of a horse, was that no should 60
along, and ridcued the idoa that he could
DO unseated, provided thnt the animal kept
, on his legs Indeed, with his sinewy frame
aud iron muscles, no had such tenacious
grip with his knees, that a horse might as
easily throw off his saddle ms such a ridoi.
His iavorito animal for tho chase was
horse called Blueskin. of u dark irou.erny
color. approaching to blue. This was a fne.
but merry steed, ana OF great endurance IN
long run. the huntsnnn WIZ, better known
10 % noV".u,Innary ",e,."y ,oro s nnvi 'ou" ""rsS
called oh,nK,'ng: wonuo,'u' ,eape,, anu
'SLy muon nKe e ns r,as' low. o"1 rh" 'u,u,. nu,.
and OF great bono ana muscle. lhe on,V
8 nu,y oi WI was 10 keop WIN '"o '"unus;
Calamity did no perform ms TASK. Moanson sl,,
on Cn'nk''ng, tnioN,"g n,1"solu a,.noS' .n .u,'
t length on tho animal. with q FrsnSh morn 1
, at his back, nnd ms spur 10 nank' 'n,s po'a
rider would rusn, a. iu'i speed .nrIGgn
l. brake or tangled wood. IN s'yio at ~n'cn
/, modern hnn'smen would STAND aena"'[