Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-29
RELICS OF WASHINGTON.
Megnentses Just Brought tie Light
Anecdotes OF tne Patriot.

approaching celebration of that event.
writes a Washington correspondent
TO the Philadelphia Times, there has
been wonderful revival of reminl-
scenses concerning the first patriot.
Many of these are new and curious,
and Others valuable as they afford an
additional insight into the personal
character and peculiarities of Wash
ington. Mr w. W. Corcoran, presi-
dent Of the monument ASSOCIATION,
has received a number of letters
which show the extraordinary interest
which the coming dedication is ex-
citing, and reveal the impetus which
has been given to the research for
Washington relics. Eor instance, as
to the latter, John Copperinger, 90
years Of age, writes from Columbus,
s. @, that he is the son of Henri
Coppinger, who was Washington
buglcr at the siege of Yorktown;
that he is Ia possession of the bugle
used by his father during the closing
period of the revolution, and he wants
TO come to WashiD gton to blow it on
dedication day. up to thirty years
ago, writes Mir. Coppinger, II was a
band master, as was my father after
the revolution. I must have seen
Washington, as was born IN Alexan-
dria and was 6 years old when he
died. I am somewhat infrm now,
but if could stand on the monu-
ment and blow my fathers bugle /
believe it would make me twenty
years younger"
Very few people have ever had the
temerity to charge George Washing
ton with having written poetry, but
8 Mr.. James 81. Sanderson, of San
Jose, Cal, writes that he is In posses
sion Of an old scrap book inherited
from his father, George Sanderson,
who lived and died in Wytheville,
Va, which contains a manuscript
poem of hexemeter verse in tho VERT
able handwriting of Washington, and
entitled 'An Ode to Fame" Mr..
Sanderson does not furnish a copy of
the ode, but he says there are foot
notes attached which prove beyond a
doubt that it was original" with
Washington. He wan is to read the
poem at the dedication ar have it read
by sonae eminent elocutionist of ma
tional fame" with the proviso that
the manuscript be returned to HIM
Intact.
Ga the subject of Washington man
uscripts the most valuable find of re-
cent date has been made dy Zimmer
man, Of this city. They have been in
the possession of poor family, near
Alexandria, fer the last seventy five
years. They consist OF several man
uscript letters of George Washington
and o memorandum in his own hand
writing, which latter doubtless pcs
sesses considerable value, as it sup
plies missing link in the records of
the first auditors Office in the treasury
department. It comprises list of
furniture and fittings bought for the
executive mansion between 1889 and
and 1895, the period of the presiden-
tial residence in Now York. The
memorandum skews the first pur-
chases ever made for the mansion, of
which none of the departments con-
tain a record. The chirography is
unquestionably Washiugten's. The
last page seems to have been used by
Washington to REGARD several private
matters 1t contains records of ''Eaon-
ey lent" to various individuals, of
money borrowed, and of partial pay
ments thereon.
Among the other manuscripts re-
covered by zimmerman is one which
he says would show that Gen. Wash
ipgton had taste for French pictures
of class that has so long excited the
ire of Mr.. Anthony Comstock and the
Society for the Suppression of Vice.
A paper marked LANDS Owned by
Ct. W." sets forth that the father of
his country had six farms, ranging in
extent from 70 to $40 acres. Seme OF
these tracts are marked SANDY" and
others "bottom" or SANDY and ham
mock" There is also q letter from
Washington to ''SarAuel Lawson,
Esq ;" Offering to purchase d certain
negro man. Washington explains
that he wants the Negro not SO much
to work himself, but to ''look after
the ether hands" In other words, he
was in need of "nigger driver"
Washington has generally been
credited with TIE introduction of
mules as valuable az junct TO planta-
ton appurtenanoes, but very few PEG
pie know that one Of his favorite rid
ing animals was white mule, which
was kept carefully sta bled and groom-
ed along with his blooded horses at
Mount Verhen. In the year 10Y
there was published at Alexandria for
a brief period weekly paper called
Hopkins Gazette. 4 few numbers of
this sheet are still extant. In one of
them there is an account of an excit-
ing adventure, IN which Washington,
the white mule, and one Jared Dixon
figured. From the account it appears
that Jared Dixon was Welshman.
who lived on q one hundred acre tract
Of land adj aiming the Mount Vernon
plantation. Washington always said
that the tract belonged to him and he
made several efforts to dispossess
Dixon, but without success. Accord
ing to the Gazette, Washington's over
seer had on one occasion torn down
the Dixon fence and let cattle into the
field, and various similar aanoyancss
were reserted TO IN order to force Dix