The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-04-07
CT THOUGHT I WOULDN'T"
PERSONAL TRAITS OF WASHINGTON.

Circlefon. "
"I THOUGHT l WOULDN'T"
PERSONAL TRAITS OF WASHINGTON.
A volume Of recollections and private
memoirs Of Washington, by his adopted
son, with q memoir Of he author, by Ais
daughter, is just out. There is much IN it
that will be read with great interest.
HOW WASHINGTON RODE AFTER HIS POUNDS.
During the interval between 1859 and
l7Y4, the time which Washington could
spare from his building and agricultural
improvements was devoted in great meas
ure, to the pleasures of the chase. lie ap'
pears to have no taste for shooting or fish.
ing I; but fox-hunting was sport in entire
accordance with his athletic habits and his
fondness for equestrian exercises. His
kennel was situated GEAR the family vault,
in which his remains were a: first deposited
1t was rude structure, but afforded COM
Portable quarters for the hounds. The
pack was very numerous and select. Every
morning and evening, Washington visited
and inspected the kennels, in the same man
ner as be did his stables. He took pride in
the disipline of his hounds. If in running,
one of them lost the scent, another was at
when in full cry in sporting phrase, you
might cover the pack with blanket. lie
kept register of his horses and hounds in
which might be found the names, ages, and
marks of each, and with these companions
Of the chase, he was as punctual in his At
tentions, as to any other business OF his
life. At the commencement OF the season,
Mount Vernon became crowded With guests
from the neighborhood, from Maryland,
and elsewhere. Their visits were prolonged
not only for days but for weeks, and they
were entertained with the exuberant hospi-
tality of the Old Dominion. Washington
was always superbly mounted, and in the
genuine costume of the chase. He wore .
hlue coat, scarlet waistcoat, buckskin
breeches, top boots and velvet cap. With
his ong-thonged whip in hand, he took the
field at daybreak. Will Lee, his huntsmans,
and brave array of friends, and neighbors,
followed in the train, but none rode
more gallantly in tho chase, or with more
CHEEKY voice awoke the echoes of the wood.
land, than the host of Mount Vernon.
After the close Of the Revolution, the
hunting establishment, which had gone down
during the war, was renewed BY the arrival
| of a pack of French hounds, sent by Lafay- :
ette. These dogs were of great strength,
and fierce courage. They would have been
able to encounter the wolf or bear, even to
grapple with the lion on his native sands,
as we'll as to pull down the stag in the
American forest. 1t was necessary to keep
them in close confinement, as from their
ferocious disposition, they would not hesi-
| tate to devour a stranger, who might pass
their kennel after nightfall, should the gates
be Enclosed. The huntsman always pre-
sided at their meals, and it was only by the
vigorous use of the lash that any degree Of
law and order could be preserved among
these savage animals. II the weather per-
mitted, there was hunt three times a
week. Breakfast was served on those
mornings by candle light. Washington, -
usual, took nothing but an Indian cake and
bowl of milk. Before sunrise, the whole
cavalcade would often have left the house,
and unkenneled the fox. Washington was
one of the most accomplished cavaliers. lie
rode with ease, elegance and power. He
took no account of any vicious propensities
of his horse. The only quality which hs
demanded of horse, was that be should 70
along, and ridiculed the idea that he could
be unseated, provided the animal kept on
bis legs. Indeed, with bis siuewy frame
and iron muscles, he had such q tenacious
grip with his knees, that Torso might 40
easily throw off his saddle as such rider.
His favorite animal for the chase was q
horse called Blueskin, Of dark iron gray
color, approaching.to blue. He was q fine,
fiery steed, and of great endurance in long
run. The huntsman Will, better known in
Revolutionary lore as Billy, rode horse
called Chnkling, wonderful leaper, and
very much like its rider, low, but sturdy,
and of great bone and muscle. The only
duty Of Will was to keep with the hounds.
Gallantly did he perform his task. Mounted
on Chinkling, throwing himself almost full
length on the animal, with French horn at
his back, and his spur in flank, this bold
rider would rush, at full speed, through
brake or tangled wood, in u style at which
modern hunt men would stand aghast.-
There were roads cut through tho woods id
various directions, by which timid bunters
and even ladies could enjoy the celebrating
cry, without risk of life or limb but Wash.
ington rode gaily up to his dogs, nor spared
his impetuous steed. as the distended nos
trils Of Blueskip would often show. He
was ALWAYS in at the death, and yielded to
no man ,ie honor Of the brush, After tho
chasc, the party would return to the man.
sion house, where at the well. spread board
aud with flowing glass, the incidents of
the field were discussed; while Washington,
never deviating from his orderly habits for
the sake Of convivial pleasures, would after
few glasses Of Madeira, retire supperess
to bed At nine O'Clock.
HOW wAsnrNGToN's HORSES WE'RE GRooxED
WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT.
During the whole Of bis Presidency,
Washington preserved the habit Of rising
at four O'Clock and retiring to bed at nine.
On Saturdays, he rested somewhat from his
labors, by either riding into the country,
attended by groom, or with his family in
his coach drawn by six horses. His stables
were always in the finest order and his
equippage excellent both in taste and quali-
ty. Washington's master of horse was an
old fellow named Bishop, who had been the
body servant of General Brsddock. At
cock crow the stable boys were at::work, at
sunrise, Bishop stalked into the stables,
muslin handkerchief in his hand, which he
applied to the coats of the animals; if the
slightest stain was perceptble on the mus
lin, the luckless stable boys were at once
subjected to due punishmens by the veteran
disciplinarian. In Philadelphia, the stables
were under the care Of German John, whose
grooming of the white chargers was study.