Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-10-20
A Dinner with Washington.

SVh0
The dinner usually consisted of three
courses-meat and vegetables, followed
oy some kind ofpastry, andlast hickory
t and apples, of which Washington
was very fond. The meal lasted about
two hours, when the table was cleared
on, n the leaves taken out, so as to
allow it to be shut up in a circle, when
Mrs. Washington presided, and from
her own silver tea service served the
guests with tea and coffee, which were
handed round by black servants. Sup
per was at nine, and the table remained
spread till eleven. 1t consisted of three
or four light dishes, with fruit and wal
nuts. When the cloth was removed
each guest in turn was called upon fora
toast, which was drank by all, followed
by conversation, toasts, and general
c%onviviality. General Chastellux. a
member of the French Academy, who
came out, with Rochambeau as his aide,
with the rank of Major General. trav-
eled over the country and published
an account of his travels. In this he
speaks of his visits to Washington, and
describes these entertainments as de-
lightful, and says that General Wash
lngton toasted and %conversed all the
while," and adds: ''The nuts are served
half open. and the company are never
done eating and picking them" Wash
lngton entertained a grcatdeal. Not only
French officers but the leading states
men Of the country visited him to CON
suit on the state of affairs. Baron
%Steuben's headquarters Were on the
Fiskhill side of the river, and he fire.
quently came over to drill the Life
Guard in military tactics, with q view
OF making officers of them, should the
war continue. Their encampment was
just back of headquarters.
On these occasions he was accustomed
to dine with Washington. Onue several
guests were present, and among them
Robert Morris, who had CONE up to
consult with Washington about the
State finances. During the dinner he
spoke very bitterly of the bankrupt con-
dition of the Treasury, and his utter in
ability to replenish it, when Steuben
said, why, are you not tinancier? Why
do you not create funds?"
II have done all I CAM replied
Morris, land it is impossible for me to
do more"
"What!' said the baron; "youremain
financier without finances? Then I do
not think you as honest q man as my
cook. He came to me one day at
Valley Forge, and said, Baron, 1 am
your cook, and you have nothing to
cook but a piece of lean beef, which is
hung up by a string before the fire.
Your wagner a turn the string, and
do as well as lean. You have promised
me ten dollars q month; but us you
have nothing to cook, 1 wish to be
discharged, and not longer be charge
able to YOU That is an honest fellow,
Norris"
Morris did not join very heartily in
the laugh that followed.
Washington was accustomed to hold
a levee every week, while the officers
and, not to morfify those who we're Yer too
poor to furnish expensive entertain
ments, it was resolved that they should
consist only Of apples and nuts. There
was no dancing or amusement Of any
kind except singing. Every lady or
gentleman who could sing was called
upon for a song. Once Mrs. Knox broke
over the rule, and gave what at that
time was considered a grand ball,
which Washington opened with the beau
tiful Maria Golden, of Coldenham. She
and City Wynkoop and Sally Jansen,
the latter two living near old Paltz,
were great bellies in the sparsely settled
country, and the three wrote their names
on a window-glass with a diamond ring,
and there they remain to this day
j. Z. Headley, IN HarYer''s Magazine.