The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-02-24

That ne was handsome boy or finely devel-
oped figure and Of animated, intelligent feat
ures, and that under the tutelage of his no
BILE mother and kind and indul cent father he
developed a noblo character We are also
told that his physical strength, franlness,
moral courage, courtesy and high sense of
honor made him general favorite.
In school George did not manifest any par
tlcular brilliancy, but was diligent scholar.
he bad a well balanced mind without any
thing conspicuous. He left school the au-
tumn before he was To- Tho young man
passed good deal of his time during his last
summer at school surveying the fields
around the school house and in tho adjoining
plantations, of which the boundaries, angles
and measurements, the plots and calculations
are entered with formality and precision in
his books. He used logarithms and proved
the accuracy Of bic work by different
methods
History does not record whether he,was
ever called George, or whether be Ind ever.
been seen to turn d somersaalt. but. on t;se'
other hand, quotes from little MANUSCRIPT
book, which he wrote when he was Is. con
tanning ffty-four rules of behavior. Here
are some Of them:
Read no letters. hoeka or papers IN cnnar~-s-
But when there Is q necessity for doing it you
must ask leave.
Show yourself not glad at the misfortunes of
another, though he were your enemy.
Strive not with your superiors in argument,
but always submit your Judgment to others with
modesty.
Use no reproachfuI language against any one.
Associate yourself with men Of good quality If
you esteem your own reputation. for it is better
to be alone than in bad company.
nor at the table. Speak not OF melancholy things
such as death and wounds, and. II others mention
them, change, II you can, the discourse.
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little
spark Of celestial fire called conscience.
But though Washington was precise youth
he was very fond Of out door sports, such as
running, jumping, wrestling, pitching the
bar and leaping with pole Whatever
stirred his blood and brought into exercise
his stalwart limbs and muscles was delight.
His young lady cousins complained that be
cared nothing for their company and always
preferred playing out Of doors An old gen.
tleman, neighbor, is quoted as saying:
"Egadl he ran wonderfully We had nobody
hereabouts that could come near him. There
was young Langhorn Dade, of Westmore-
land, COMPOUNDED clean made, tight young
fellow, and mighty swift runner, too, but
he was no match for George
AT the age Of 16 George Washington fell
deeply in love with young girl whom he
called, in certain sentimental verses written
at that time, his ''lowland beauty" but she
married and became the mother of Gen
Henry Lee. After this disappointment his
susceptible heart was caught in the rebound
by Col George Fairfax's wife's sister, and of
her he wrote to his young friend Robin: My
residence is at present at his lordshipis, where
II y
time very pleasantly, as there is very agree
able young lady lives in the same house, but
that is only adding fuel to fire, it makes me
the moro uneasy; for, by often and unvavoid-
ably being in company with her, revives my
former passion for your Iowlani beauty
whereas, were to live more retired from
young women l might, in some measure,
alleviate my sorrows by burying that chaste
and troublesome passion in the grave of
oblivion"
And this language from boy of 1871
Lord Fairfax, who had taken up his resi-
dence in Virginia and bought an immense
territory, engaged young Washington to sur
vey it, being charmed by the manliness and
intelligence Of the youth. The task was hard
and dangerous from wild beasts and savages
still more ferocious. In March, 174S, with
an Indian guide and few white attendants,
Washington commenced the survey. For
three years he followed this laborious and
dangerous calling, bearing all the hardships
incident upon such a life, rarely sleeping in a
bed and depending principally for food upon
the game and fish they could take.
At this time tho French and English had
become embroiled ON account of their rival
claims to all the interior of the country,
and between them The Indians suffered SO
greatly that they turned and wreaked VEN
geance on both parties.
Washington was then 49, Young as he
was, he was regarded as one Of the most
prominent men Of the state. Danger threat
ened and the state was divided into districts;
over each a military commander was APP
pointed and Washington was made one of
these majors, as they were called, and the
power given him was almost dictate
rial, as the responsibilities were very great
and the mode of warfare could not follow the
tactics Of European armies. The Indians
joined first one side and then the other,
hardly understanding their own position or
rights, but finding that they were equally i'll
treated by each, though the French at first
seemed to have gained their hearts.
The nflicting countries would neither
consent to a compromise nor arbitration
The French, descending from Canada, had
established several trading posts, which were
also Notifications, In the Ohio valley. Gov
ernor Dinwiddie, under the pretense of wish
ing to protest against these encroachments
upon what he called British territory, but
really to ascertain the number, strength and
position of the French garrisons and to sur
vey route by which an army might be sent
for their capture, sent Washington to the
French post. washington was further
more to inquire diligently andby cautious
means into the number Of the French troops,
the re-enforcements they expected from
Canada, how many forts they had, where
they were, how garrisoned, and, In short, OBJ
tain all possible information regarding
Them
Washington was now 20 years and months
old, and he volunteered bis services for this
purpose. Governor Dinwiddie was delighted
and said: "Truly you are brave lad, and II
you play your cards well, you shall have no
cause to repent Of your bargain"
Accordingly on the 14th Of November. I753,
Washington set out from Williamsburg on
this perilous expedition, with only eight men,
one an Indian. Forty-one days were spent
on this journey, which resulted In his discov-
cry Of several forts and much other Informal
ton, and on his return he examined the forks
Of the Ohio river carefully Is good place
for fort