The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-10-08

AN EVENING WITH THE PAST.
DY GRACE GREENWOOD.

Iqucstioncd our friend Mr.. Gray in re-
gard to Washington's dignity ofmanncr-
"Was it," asked, of such lofty and SUI
perhuman quality as has been represented
Did it impose on small boys and foreign
ambassadors alike? ?"
"Why, as for that, Madam" he replied,
II can safely say that 1 have seen nothing
alike il in these latter times 1t has gone
out of fashion, even with Presidents 2"
Again l was skeptical and irrevcrent
enough to ask: GLOW much of it was in
the man, George Washington, and how
much in the station and in the clothes p
The costume Of gentlemen of that day was,
you remember, elaborate and what we
should call stiff. A man in the Contincn-
tai uniform of Major General, or in full
dress suit of black or purple velvet, with
rich lace rutfles, with a sword at his side,
with his hair tightly queued and thorough
ly powdered, was somehow compelled to be
dignified"
perhaps so /; still, Washington was i'm
pressivc even for that time and its costume
remember hearing, when | was o child,
with something like horror, story of q
young Englishman of rank-a traveller in
this country, who laid wager with an
American officer that he would dare to &C
cost Washington with familiarity, at one
of his own receptions. Accordingly at the
next leoee, he just walked boldly up to the
President, and laying his hand on his shout
der, he says: "How are you, General p
What's new ?"
"They said Washington never uttered
one word in reply, nor even made move
ment of surprise; but he turned slowly and
looked at the offender, who afterward said,
He almost looked me through the floor )
then he crossed to the other side of the
room. don't think the young man ever
cared to repeat his little experiment.
This anecdote has been told of Gouvern-
eur Morris, but Mr.. Gray seemed quite pos
tive that the rash individual who thus
playfully laid his hand on the name of the
Lion of the Republic, was a sort of repre-
sentative of the British Lion-a sprig of
the nobility-one who had looked on the
face Of great George the Third, and per-
haps knew 10y sight that other George,
most profigatc of princes in morals and
prodigal in waistcoats.
Mr.. Gray continued "Commonly, Gen
eral Washington walked out in the morn
ing without any attendants. He used to
go. from his house down High street to
Second street, on which he often stopped
for q few moments, at his watch-maker's.
to compare his time with that in the shop.
Sometimes, believe, he set his watch by
the clock in the old State House. He
walked down Second to Chestnut; and up
Chestnut to the corner of Fifth, where he
would stop for a half hour or so at the
War Office. From thence, he walked UP
to Sixth street, and then home. He was
so regular and punctual, that the people
knew just when and where to meet him on
his walks. Every body knew him, and
every body made way for him most respect
fully-the men, unless Quakers, removing
their hats, and the women bowling OF cour-
tesying. Washington always acknowledged
such marks ofrespect, even from the poorest
and humblest in his own grand wav."
Mr.. Gray spoke highly of Timothy Pick
ering, Washingtons Secretary of War, say
ing che was an eminently honest man. and
prodigious worker" He illustrated this
Secretarys tireless industry and rigid sys-
tenn by singular account given him by a
family friend or relative, named, believe,
White, who for some years was employed
in the War Cfice
"Mr. White" he said, heard that Picker
ing wanted clerk, and he applied for the
position early one morning, with letter of
recommendation. Mr.. Pickering said lit
tie, but gave him paper to copy. He was
pleased with Whites handwriting and dis
patch he had used, and set him to work ut
once They wrote there in almost total
silence till noon. Then Mr. Pickering