The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1869-09-04
BY GRACE GREEN WOOD.

BY GRACE GREENWOOD.
Iquestioned our friend Mr.. Gray in regard tt
Washingtous dignity of manner. "Was il"
asked, of such lofty and superhuman quality al
has been represented Did it impose on small
boys and foreign ambassadors alike y
''Why, Us Tor that, Madam" he replied g
can safely say that have seen nothing like 1t ii
these later times 1t has gone out of fashion
even with Presidents?"
Again was skeptical and irreverent enough
To ask "How much of ii was in the man George
Washington, and how much in the station and
in the clothes The costume OF gentlemen o
that day wts you remember, elaborate, and
what we should call stiff man in the Con-
linental uniform of a Major General, or in full
dress suit of black or purple velvet, with rich
lace ruffies, with sword at his side, with bis
hair tightly queued and thoroughly powdered,
was somehow compelled to be digni6ed.
perhaps so still, Washington was impress
sive even tor that time, and its costume. | re-
member hearing, when | was child, with
something like horror, story OF a young
Euglishman of rank-a traveller in this country,
who laid wager with an American officer that
he would dare to accost Washington with
familiarity, at ore Of his own receptions. Ac-
csrdingly, at the next levee, he just walked
boldly up to the President, and laying his hand
on his shoulder, be says: How are you, Generalf I
What's new p
''They said Washington. never uttered one
word in reply, nor even made movement 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 Gouverneur
Morris, but Mr.. Gray seemed quite positive that
the rash individual who thus playfully laid his
hand on the name of the Lion of the Republic,
was sort of representative of the British Lion
a spring of the nobility-one who had looked on
the face of great George the Third, and perhaps
knew by sight that other George, most prohigate
OF princes in morals and prodgal in waistcoats.
Mr.. Gray continued Commonly, General
Washington walked out in the morning without
,any attendants. He used to go from his house
down High-street 10 Second-strect on which he
.Often stopped for few moments, at his watch
makers, 10 compare his time with that in the
shop. Sometimes, believe he set his watch by
ahe 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 people
knew just when and where TO meet him on his
walks Every body knew him, and every body
made way for him most respectfnlly-the men,
unless Quakers, removing their hats, and the
women bowling or courtesying. Washington
always acknowledged such marks of respect,
even from the poorest and humblest, in his own
grand way"
Mr. Gray spoke highly OF Timothy Pickering,
Washington Secretary Of War, saying The was
an eminently honest man, and a prodigious
worker He illustrated this Secretary's tireless
industry and rigid system by a singular account
given him by family friend or relative, named,
il believe, White, who for some years was en-
ployed in the War Office.
''Mr White" be said, ;" heard that Pickering
wanted clerk, and he applied for the position,
early one morning, with letter of recommenda-
tioa Mr.. Pickering said little, but gave him a
paper to copy. He was pleased with Whites
handwriting and the dispatch he had used, and
set him to work at once. They wrote there in
almost total silence till noon. Then Mr..
Pickering said Now, Mr.. White, we take an
hour tor dinner. Be here promptly at one, if
you please From one to six they worked, then
Mr. Pickering says Now, Mr.. White, we go
to tea shall expect 10 meet you here at seven
precisely, to work till nine At nine the poor
clerk was dismissed for the night, but was told to
report for duty at seven in the morning, which
he did.
''This day was sample of most of the days
in that office, and the work Of both the Secretary
desks There was but one chair in the room,
and that was sacredly set apart for the President.
Nobody ever sat in it but General Washington.
He would come in the same hour to minute,
every day, for a certain length of time, and
always say, 'Good-morning, Colonel Pickering j
in the same measured tone. Then he would lay
his hat, gloves, and gold-headed cane on the
table, and sit down in the big armchair. Then
the Secretary would hand him papers 10 be ex-
esrx cto bafn tn vp
his orders, saying little himself After business
was over, Washington never staid to chat about
lighter matters, not even to talk horse but
took up his hat, gloves, and cane, and with
another stately Good morning. Colonel
Pickering went out, and left the Secretary and
his man TO their work"
spray tell me what salary your friend, Mr..
White, received"
'sThree or four hundred dollars year The
Secretary himself had fifteen hundred
What chief clerk of any department of Gov
rrnment, however we'll paid, feels called upon
nowadays, to labor like this old-time official
asked Mr. Gray what he thought of Robert
: Morris.
81 think what Washington thought of him,
he said-s'that his talent for financiering and
his patriotic devotion did very much toward
saving the nation.
sMy father was Washington's confidential
courier, and | have often heard him tell of call
made by the mander-in-Chief on Mr. Morris
at a very critical time, and how nobly it was
responded to.
was nearly out OF supplies, and quite out OF
money.
'sOne morning, my father was summoned to
Washinpton's tent, and the General said to him I:
GRAY. in how short time could you ride down
to Philadelphia ? | want you to take letter to
Mr.. Robert Morris, and there is the utmost need
for Dispatch
"My father named the shortest time possible
for making the journey with fleet horse.
s'Then Just take the best horse in the army,
and set off at once with this letter, said Wash
ington;, IT,. ,.,.
"Well, General said my father, the best
horse know of in the army is your chestnut
sorrel.'
''He did not expect that Washington would
allow him to take that horse, for it was his
favorite, but he said at once: Take him. And
my father rode him to Philadelpha, and made
good time with him.
"When Robert Morris read the letter, he asked +:
How soon can you start for Trenton with my
reply to General Washington, Mr.. Gray 2
''As soon, sir, as can get fresh horse, SAID
my father 1T won't do to ride back General
Washington's chestnut sorrel.'
.stOfcourse not said Mr.. Morris. Go TO my
stable, and take the best horse you can find.
am in haste to assure General Washington that
will do all can to meet his wishes
''My father got safely back to headquarters
with the reply of Mr.. Morris. He said Wash
ington's face lighted up when he read it; but be
must have known pretty much what it would be,
for he had every thing ready for marching, and
in FIVE minutes the drums beat and the bugles
sounded, and the whole army was in motion.
You see, be had written to Morris to supply
money and provisions, and Morris had consented,
and set to work with all his energy. The morn
ing after my fathers hurried vsitto Philadelphia,
my mother returned from market, at about six