Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-18
WASHINGTON IN NEW JERSEY.
Bret Harte,s Visit to the MorristOSvn
Headquarters.

NJ. Bret II rte writes rs follows to the
New York Tribune concerning Il visit to
Wastington's Headquarters at Morris
town. New Jersey:
Il have been to Washington's Head
quorters, at Morristown. The adult
American who has Lot al sometime sto I'd
Heneath the same roof that once sheltered
the Father of his country is to lie piticd
and feared. The opportunities for per
forming this simple patriotic act are so
ample and varied thata studlous disre-
gard of them is, am satisfied. consistent
only with moral turptude. Such per-
son may, indeed offer an excuse that he
has sat in chair once occupi ed by
Washington; that h. has drink from IA
mug once used hy Washington, or that
he has in his extreme youth talked with
AN aged person who distinctly remem-
berel w ,shinston; but these are super
ogatory acts which do not take the place
of this obligation. When We consider
the number of roofs that Washington has
apparently slept under; when We reflect
upon the infinite toll and travel which
the great and good man must have nnder-
gone to place this proud privilege within
the. easy reach of -.erv American citizen.
the omission to anvil on self of II Is sim
ply despisable. The Valley Forge eApe
rience has always been deemed II spec
tacle of noble devotion and unparalleled
self-ss,criice; but l have preferred. l
confess, to lay awake III .hts thinking OF
ihis unstlish hero. rIsinI ere II WIS day.
hurry away. accompanied only by HIS
one hundred and fry coloIed body Ser
want. each with longevity and garrulitI
depicted on their faces. hurryins away
to reach the uext town III time tn IN Ike.
another roof tree historical. l have
thought of hun pursuing this noble
to pat the heads of todding infants,
who in after Years We're destined to dis
tinctly remember it, until the tears have
risen to my eyes.
So that when I heard that Washing
tons headquarters ut Morristown was
to be Sid al public auction on the 18th
l determined to go aud see it. 1t WAS
my first intimation that ii was still Ill
existence. had perhaps often PASSED
it without knowing the fact, Tor 1t Is
peculiarly of this kind Of property that
Its historic quality is always sprung
upon You like trap: that you are
hardly safe i'll any old tenement; that
you drop unconsciously into the Wash
Ington chair or imbibe secretly from the
Washington ulug and that The fact Is
brought sharply upon you like IL pin III
the cushion on Il fly in the milk. In the
cours e of time this expectation naturally
excites ii morbid activity of the intellect;
but only once do | rem, mber being mis-
taken in tine result. 1t was a Slerran
solitude where l had encamped and
where was solicited to take supper III
the newly built cabin of an eastern emig
rant. At supper l was supplied with an
ordinary looking China mug of pale
blue willow p ,ttern. That mug" said
my host. has IL little story connected
on it. 1t has been in our family nigh
on hundred year. 1t belonged to my
grandfather. In the siege of Yorktown
he lived convenient to the battlefield,
and the guns was posted all around the
house. All of a sudden Il remem-
her. ~ interposed hastily. Suddenly
a commanding form d;lIkened the door
way. and dignified but courteous voice
asked for a drink of water. Your grand |
father rose" Il was gOin' on to say"
confined my host calmly, that the
boomin' o. them guns broke every bit OF |
father had to buy a new set next day.
and this yer one is the last of them"
I put down my cup and gazed long and