Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-13

A volume Of recohections and private me
moirs Of Washington, by his adopted son
with a memoir ofthe author, by his daughter,
is just out. There is much in It that viii b
read with great interest
ROW WASHINGTON RODE AETEB MS HOUNDS.
Dnnng the interval between 1859 and I774
the time which Washington could spare from
his building and agricultural improvements wa
devoted, in great measure, to the pleasures
ofthe chase. BE appears to have had no taste
for shooting or fishing; but fox-hunting was a
sport in entire accordance with his athletic hab
its and his fOndness for equestrian exercises
/ His kennel was situated near the family vault,
in which his remains were at first deposited
! Il was rude structure, but afforded eomforta.
bic quarters for the hounds. The pack was
very numerous and select. Every morning and
evening, Washington visited and inspected the
kennels, in the same manner as he did his sta
bles. He took pride in the discipline of his
hounds. If in running, one Of them lost the
scent, another was at hands Immediately to re
cover it. and thus when in full cry In sporting
phrase, you might cover the pack with blan-
ket He kept register of his horses and hounds
in which might be found the names, ages, and
marks of each, and with these companions of
!
as to any other business of his life. At the
commencement of the season, Mount Vernon
became crowded with guests from the neigh
borhood, from Maryland, and elsewhere. Their
visits were prolonged not only for days but for
weeks, and they were entertained with the
exuberant hospitality of the Old dominion.
Washington was always supeTbly mounted,
and in the genuine costume of the chase
He wore blue coat scarlet Waiscoat, buck
skin breeches, top boots, and velvet cap. With
his longSthonged whip in hand, he took the
field at daJbrsak. Will Lee, his huntsman,
and brave array of friends and neighbors,
followed In the train, but none rode more gal,
lAhtly in the chase, or with more CHEEKY voice
aEoke the echose Of the woodland, than the
host of Mount Vernon.
After the cloes OF the Revolution, the hunt
ing establishment, which had gone down during
theI war, was renewed by the arrival of a
PACK of French hounds, sent by Lafayette -
These dogs were Of great strength, and fierce
courage. They Wouli have been able to en-
counter the wolf or bear, even to grapple with
the lion on his native sands, as well 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 hesitate to deVour a stranger, who might
pass their kennel after nightfall, should the
gates be unelosed. The huntsman alwDysp 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 saw
age animals. If the weather permitted, there
was a hunt three times week. Breakfast was
served on those mornings by candle light
Washington, as usual, took nothing but an In
dian cake and bowl of milk. Before sunrise,
II, r.h.o1o 10 ryou1d offap b,v,a l.et 2bo
house, and unkenneled the fox. Washington
was one of the most accomplished cavaliers
He rode with ease. elegance, and power. He
took no account of any vicious propensities of
his horse. The only quality which he deman-
ded of horse, was that he should 60 along,
aud ridcuIed the idea that he could be unseated,
provided that the animal kept on his legs
Indeed with his sinewy frame and iron mus
cles, he had such a tenacious grip with his
knees, that horse might as easily throw eff
his saddle as such G rider. His favor 10
animal for the chase was horse called Blue
skin, Of dark iron gray color, approaching to
blue. This was fine, but fiery steed, and OF
great endurance in longrun. The huntsman
VIII, better known in Revolutionary lore as
Billy, rode a horse called Chipkling, wonder
fol leapeT, and very much like its rider, low,
but sturdy, and of great bone and muscle The
only duty of viii was to keep with the hounds.
Gallantly did he perform his task. Mounted
on ChinkTng, 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 a style ct which modern huntsnen
would stand aghast. There were roads cut
| through the woods in various directions, BY
which tinid hunters and even ladies could en-,
Joy the exhilarating cry, without risk of Life OF
limb; but Washington rode gaily up to his
dogs, nor spared his impetuous steed, as the
distended nostrails of Blueskin would often
show. He was always in at the death, and
yielded TO no man the honor of the brush
After the chase, the party would return to the
mansion house, where at the Widespread board
and with the flowing glass, the incidents Of
the field were discussed; while Washington
never deYisting from his orderly habits for thC
sake Of conEiviaI pleasures, would, after few
glasses of Madeira, retire EuPperless to bed a
nine O'Clock. a.-
how wAsHINeToN's HORSES WHERE aRooNEI
| WHEN he WAS PRESIDENT.
! During the whole of his Presidency, Wash
ington preserved the habit of rising at four o.
clock and retiring TO bed ct nine. On Satur.
days, he rested somewhat from his labors, by
either riding into the country, attended by
groom, or with his family in his coach draw1
BY six horses. His stables were always in the
finest order and his equipage excellent both Il
taste and quality. Washington's master o.
horse was an old fellow named Bishop, Wit
had been the body servant of General Brad
/ dock. At cock crow the stable boys were a
work, at sunrise, Bishop staiked into the tables
muslin handkerchief in bin hand, which b
applied to the coats of the animals; if the slight
est stain was psEOePtible on the muslin, the
luckless stable boys were at Ionce subjected t
! due punishment BY the veteran disciphhrian. Il
Philadelphia, the stables were under the care o
German John, whose grooming of the white
chargers was study. The night before thl
horses were to be ridden, they were covered
over with paste made of whiting; then the
were sWathed in body cloths, and left to sleeI
upon clean straw in the morning the comp o i
tion had become hard, was well rubbed in, anC
i eurried and brushed, which process gave to th,
coats beautiful satin-iks gloss. The hoof
were then blaeked and polished, the mouths
washed and the teeth picked and cleaned
The Leopard skin housings were then pToDerl,
! IL u