Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-02-26
Anmuruns department.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

A11t1nrolls department.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Now that workingmen are clearing away
the scaffolding from the tallest monument
in the world, we are led to inquire, who was
George Washington? He was the father of
his country for one thing. He gave this
country start that it has never fully re-
covered from. He was also first in war,
first in peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen., He did not take the position
on account of the salary. At that time the
pay was not large, yet George attended to
the work well. He would get up before
daylight and work till late in the night.
He very seldom took holiday, and used
to work right on through the 22d OF Febru-
ary as he did on other days. George Wash
ington was different from some of our mod
ern statesmen in many respects. He scorn-
ed to enter convention and grapple with
the delegates all day. He did not seek to
be president so hard as some have since
done. He simply placed himself in the
hands of his friends and let nature take her
course.
The more study the character of George
Washington the more I regret his untime-
ly death. We need him almost every day.
If he could see how badly his orphaned
country needs him sometimes, it seems that
he would almost open the door of the Mt.
Vernon smoke house and come forth.
A very curious incident occurred in the
life of George Washington which now ap-
pears in print for the first time! 1t seems
that George was given small hatchet by
his father when boy, and in an unguarded
moment the youth cut down favorite cher
ry tree belonging to his father. On the re-
turn of the old gentleman he discovered the
act, and, calling his son to him, asked him
how it occurred. George did not know at
first what to say, but finally he looked brave
ly up in his fathers face and said: "Father,
l cannot tell a lie. did it with my lietle
hatchet." .....
have often wondered that an anecdote
like this, concerning a great man, should
debted for the above facts to the friends OF
the deceased.
The monument to George Washington is
a deserved tribute to a great man. 1t is no
slouch of Job to be president the first time
and pay off the help that it takes to run
such q government as this. Let those who
think it is easy to be president try to write
an annual message once and see how their
brains will throb. A president must not
only shine in society and he able to stand on
one leg and shake hands with every ten
quiet and gentlemanly in his home life and
good provider in his household. Added
to all this he must be able at glance to
distinguish between flotilla and a reciproci-
ty. He must know how to spell at sight
and be able to sign his name so that 1t will
look like birds eye view of a stroke of
paralysis. He must be firm with foreign
powers, and still he must govern his tenn
per and avoid the unnecessary shedding
of other peoples blood. He should be Il
good business man, good statesman, a gen
tlenian and a scholar. We can readily see
that a successful president cannot be picked
up on every street. OF course, he has good
deal of help, but he alone is responsible.
George Washington was all that was great,
but the most successful thing he did was to
quit at the right time and die before he
Stopped over. This is a powerful lesson to
some of our public men not to Overdo the
matter of longevity. Long life is all right
in other walks of life, but in politics it may
be overdone.
George Washington attracted great deal
of notice, even in his time, by telling the
truth. Think what curiosity he would be
now. And yet truth is within the reach of
all. We may accustom ourselves to almost
anything if we begin gradually and work
our way up to it. George Washington to-
day would no doubt be regarded as freak
of nature, and yet he told the truth without
effort and without his notes. He used to
entertain his friends through the long win
ter evenings by allowing them to tie his
hands and feet and then bindfold him,
and on top of all this he would tell the truth
for hours at time. He was what we call
in science an anomaly. But he had to give
up at last, and finally he yielded to the un-
equal strain and death ensued. People who
l,ta h,s nj
less truth in it should see that they have
strong constitutions to begin with.-BWNye.
- >--s-<------
EX-TREAsURER SPINNER'S SIGNATURE
This fact called to the mind Of Assistant
Treasurer Graves an amusing incident
during Treasurer Spinner's administration.
'One day." said Mr.. Graves, "a letter was
received with Confederate note incl0sed.
The sender wrote that, as the United States
had confiscated the Confederate assets of
the late Confederacy, ne supposed the liza
bilities would be assumed, and he trusted
that the bill would be promptly exchanged.
The treasurer was in one of his gouty moods
that day, and in answer to my request for
instructions in replying, he growled, "tell
him to 60 to h." In obedience to the
order wrote letter in which it was stated
that, as the headquarters of the concern that
issued the note had been removed to the
place of inception, the internal regions, the
treasurer advises you to present the note
there for payment in person. MIR. Spinner
laughed dryly as he signed the letter, and
remarked that he supposed this would close
the correspondence. We heard nothing
from the writer for some time, and had
about forgotten the incident, when one day
a letter was received from him again, in
which he apologized for the delay in an
swering, and said it had been due to the
time consumed in complying with the adj
vice of the treasurer. He added:
II have been to the place indicated, and
was SO fortunate as to find the old boy him.
self behind the counter. Much to my sur
prise he cashed my note at once, with the
remark that old Spinner's Endorsement was
good there at any time"
aa~ "Prisoner," said Prosecutor Buxton,
s'you are charged with gambling"
'"Gambling? What is gambling:"
"Playing cards for money"
"But / did not play cards for money;
played cards for chips"
''Well, you got money for your chips al
the end of the game, didn't you'
"No; didn't have any chips at the end
of the game"
Rsy~ What is the worst thing about rlches:'
asked Sunday school teacher. THAT they
take unto themselves wings and ny away
promptly replied the boy at the foot OF the
class.