Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-11
INTERVENING "REMINISCENCES OF
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
By THE COOLEST INHABITANr.n
L POTOMAC RIyRE.


On Board Steamer ArroC, Sept. Q, 1873
Editor Sdr.-There was quite large number
OF visitors to Mount Vernon to-day from all Sec
tons OF the country-New England, New York
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Mis-
souri,, California, Maryland, Virginia, and the
Territory being well and beautifully represent
ed In addition ID the msuy objects of interest
to be found there, we had the pleasure and the
privilege, never before enjoyed by pilgrims to
the "American Mecca of meeting the veneer
able nonogenarian, Noble Hurdle, o., of
Georgetown, ID. O., and of listening to yerv
interesting speech delivered by him from the
portico OF the old marsioB. Mr.. Hurdle was
appropriately Introduced = his audience and
prefacing his remarks with an original and very
credltable ode commemorative OF the se. c.
o, Washington and his soldiers he stated that
ne was nlnety-two years OF age, and was per-
fectly sound in mind heart and body; that he
had he glorious privilege of having seen Wash
ington often and known him well; that he re-
membered his appearance as well as IL he hal
seen him but day since, and that the like
nesses OF him, especially those of Stuart and
Peale, now hanging on the walls of the old dim
ing hall at Mount Vernon, were as faithful ps if
they mad been Photographed from life; that
with his own hands he had cleared the bushes
from the site of the Capitol, and was present at
the laying a It's cornerstone by Washington;
and that he had enjoyed the privilege of shak-
ing hands with every President of the United
States from Washington to Graneinclus1ve.
He concluded his speech, which was replete
dotes, genuine humor, and pleasant 'small
talk" and sound advice for the ladies, by stat
ing that he was the veritable coolest inhabi-
tant'' of Georgetown; that not one person 5
now living there who was living when he first
settled there in 1903; that his youngest daughter,
who now keeps house for him, Is the grand
mother Of seven grandchildren; and that, If it
was any recommer dation to him, he is the
grandfather and great-grandfather of over one
hundred and forty grand children and great
grand children now living, many of whom he
had never seen; and many of those he had seem
Numerous, to recognize when he met them He
laid he would like to see them all assembled to-
gether once in his life, but he dared not under
take such an enterprise, being to poor to feed
them for a single day.
The speech was attentively listened to by old
and young, and was roundly applauded, as the
old man took his seat.
As an evidence Of Mr.. Hurdles physical pre-
servation, it may be stated that he ascended and
descended the long, steep hill, via the Corcoran
walk from the landing to the mansion, unaided
with apparently as much ease as any one; that
he discovered, and with alacrity, picked up DIN
lying among the pebbles in the walk and that on
reaching the steamer he ran down the gang
plank and Jumped aboard, saying that he had
enjoyed his visit to Mount Vernon co much that
he felt that he was twenty seven again, and
wanted to live as long as he saw anybody else
living.
Long may the old man humorous live; and
afford other visitors to Mount Vernon the
pleasure OF his company-and above all. may
he enjoy at least one union of his progeny be-
fore he dies. ONO