Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-12
WELLS & COLL, 267 Main ST.

must have seemed very strange, inacces
sible and uuenvisble little personages t.
all the happy, free-and-easy children O.
the neighborhood
"Do you remember Washington
levees and Mrs. Washington's drawing
rooms2" | asked.
"Yes, remember hearing about them
All the evening parties were over by nine
o'clock, and the Presidents house wal
dark and silent by ten. They were grea,
affairs, but was too young to know much
, about them. / attedded his horse lerees
l was very fond of visiting his stables
early in the morning, at the hour when he
always went to inspect them. / liked to
see him at that work, for he seemed to
enjoy it himself. Like President Grant
he was great lover of horses. can oil.
most think see him now, come striding
out of his house across the yard to the
stables, booted and spurred, but bare
headed and in his shirt-sleeves"
Washington in his shirt-sleeves
Yes, madam; but be was always
Washington. The grooms stood aside,
silent and respectful, while he examined
every stall and manger, and regularly
went over every horse-I mean he passed
over portion of its coat his large, white
hand, always looking to see if it was soiled,
or if any loose hairs had come of. on it.
If so, the groom was reprimanded and
ordered to do his work over. Generally
however, Washington would say: Very
we'll. Now, John, get out Jackson and
Prescott, his white chargers. 'Pll be
ready by the time you come round"
did he ride at so early an hour ;"
:" Yes. Generally between five and six
of pleasant morning he was off; and he
almost always rode up to Point-no-P Point,
on the Delaware, little way above Rich
mond. He was fue horseman, and,
being long-bodied man, looked grandly
on horseback. 1t was sight worth get
ting up early to see.
Here came pause, and then | pro-
pounded the momentous old question:
Did Washington ever swear p
"Well, as for that, cannot speak from
my own observation. Washington had
great self-control--he was moral man
"a religious man, for those times, and
did not swear upon small occasions, and,
| should say, never before children; but,
from what have heard my father and
old soldiers say, I think he must have
blazed away considerably in times of
great excitement He was very tender
to his favorite horses, and at one time
remember to have heard young aide or
secretary ask leave to ride one of his
white chargers, on the way TO Mount
Vernon, and the General allowed him to,
but cautioned him not to rein up the
horse too tightly. After a while, Wash
ington saw he was worrying the animal,
and cautioned him again; but the fellow
kept on pulling and jerking at the bit,
until the creature became almost unman-
sgeable.
"Then Washington broke upon him,
like whole battery, ordered him to dis
mount, aud swore tremendously. | re-
member, too, that once heard an army
officer tell about bis cursing some Gen
eral who disobeyed him in battle"
Lee, at Monmouth p
"Yes, ! believe so. Anyhow, my in
formant said it was the greatest sort of
swearing, yet wasn't so awful as Wash.
ington's face at the time, He said,
remember Inever saw the devil before.
These things we're told of him, but
not told against hin, i was the fashion
of those times, However, ] never heard
a rough word from him, or saw his face
when it was not peaceful and pleasant"