Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-09-02
The Private Life Of Washington.

~ WAS JoHn AdanS VINO wrote, as late
as the year 1873, "the inpious idolatary
to Washington destroyed all character; J;
| The alusioD was to the period of his
own administration, when he took the
Presidency encumbered, as he thought.
with the hyperbolical veneration which
had been felt for his predecessor. On
the other hand, Jefferson, writing in 1914.
summed up the estimate which he had
deliberately formed of Washington, in
these words:
His mind was great and powerful,
without being OF the first order, and, as
tar as he saw, no judgment was ever
sounder. 1t was slow in operation, but
sure in conclusion. lie was incapable of
fear Perhaps the strongest feature in
his character was prudence. His integ-
rlty was most pure, his justice the most
lnfieXible | have ever known, no motive
OF interest or consanguinity, of friend.
ship or hatred, being able to bias lis de-
cision. He was, indeed, in every sense
OF the word, wise, good. and great
man. His temper was naturally irrita-
bile and high toned, but reflection and
resolution had obtained firm and habit
ual ascendancy over it. If ever, how
ever, it broke its bonds, he was most tre-
mendous in his wrath. His heart was
not warm in its affections. His COLO
quail talents were not above mediocritv,
possessing neither copiousness of ideas
nor huency OF words. In public, when
called upon for sudden opinion, he was
unready, short and embarrassed. Yet he
wrote readily, rather difTiusely, in an easy
aud correct style"
This mastery analysis of fWashinrton's
character, by the most subtle and pene-
trating intellect of his time, and one
who had known him intimately tor thir-
ty years, may be accepted with the more
confidence as 1t comes from the head of
an opposite school OF politics. No diff
ference of opinion, however wide and ir-
reconcilable, could prevent Jefferson
from doing impartial justice to the great
qualities of Washington.
Some characteristic traits in the daily
habits of this first Of Presidents NAV be
here noted, as derived from variety of
scattered sources. Washington was al
ways particular and remarkably neat in
his personal appearance. During his
Presidency he usually wore full black
velvet suit, with silk stockings, ana
shoes with buckles of shining silver. His
hair was powdered and tied in an ele.
CANT black queue behind. He kept ex-
traordinary early hours, making it his
practice as well in the Presidency as
in the army and at Mount Vernon. to
rise at o'clock III the morning, and to
retire to bed at g. He had a healthy
mans enjoyment Of the pleasures of the
table. Though at no time of his life of
conviyal habits, be liked the cheerful
converse of the social board, and at din
ner (Which he always had punctuaIly
served at o'clock) he drank to the
health OF every person present, giving
as his one invarlable toast: "All our
friends" He ate heartily, but was not
particular in his diet, except as to fish,
OF which he was very fond, and he al
ways ate Goldfish for his Saturdays din
ner, having formed an attachment to
that article of diet from the deliciouslv
cooked fish he found in Boston during
the New England campaign. He drank
homemade beer, with four to five glasses
of Madeira wine, every day at dinner.
lie INDUCED in no games of chance,
except when required to make up a party
at whist, in playing for tride. In his
early life he was fond of dancing, and
the last time he danced a minuet was at
a grand ball at Fredericksburg, Virginia,
in 1871, in honor of the French and
American officers returning from the tri-
umphant siege of Yorktown. Tobacco
in all its forms, Washington ahhorred.
lie was not fond of music, nor did he
either play or sing.
The finest horseman of his day, Wash.
ington always spent much of his time in
the saddle. He had love for fine
horse, and his care to secure animals of
the most spirited breed, and to always
have them scrupulously well groomed,
was marked trait in his character. The |
vicious propensitics Of any horse ne
might mount were OF no moment to this |
skilltul and daring rider. He always
said that he required but one good quail
ity in horse-to go olOng-and ridi-
culed the idea that he could ever be un
horsed, provided the animal kept on his |
legs. While President, his stables were
on Minor street, below Sixth, and he
kept ten fine bays and two white charg-
ers. The latter always had their hoots
blackened and polished before the Gen
eral would nouns for ride After the
horses were grooned he would test the
of the stable-boys by ap-
plying a muslin handkerchief to their
glossy coats if the slightest stain was
visible upon the white handkerchief, woe
to the unlucky wight who had sighted
his proper duty. When he took out
Mrs. Washington for drive, they rode
in beautiful cream.colored coach. OF
English build with six spanking bay
horses before it.
Nothing so aggravated Washington's
naturally quick temper as neglect of
lnty or want of punctuality. Colonel
relates that on occasion OF n
Cabinet meeting, the General was likely
20 be detained by the shoe-black beyond
he exact time. The Secretaries, in pro-
'eeding to the appointed room for the
meeting, had TO pass small chamber
where the Presidents boots were to have
been placed by certain moment. AS
pick arinO antaraH ha ohSaruad IVosh;n..