New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.
PERSONAL MEMORIES OF SOME OLD-TIMF,
CELEBRATIONS.
wAsHINeTOE SOCIETY IN THE TIMES or JEFFERSON
MONROE AND JAcKsOE-A sATURNALiA
OF wHIsKEY AND DEMOCRACY

| MONROE AND JACkSOk-A bAIDhSAbA~
OF wHIsKEY AND DEMOCRACY
THE WHITE HOUSE.
PrrrsBURG. Feb. 1s.-On December 30 1909
the Senate and House OF Representatives OF tho
United States in Joint session, passed the following
| resolution: Resolved, That the people OF the
Unitcd States are recommended 10 assemble on the
22d day OF February next in such numbers and
manner as may be convenient, publicly TO testify
their grief for the death OF General George Wash
irgton, by suitable euOlgies, orations and dis
COURSES or by public prayers And il is further
resolved that the President be requested to issue
a proclamation for the purpose of carrying the
foregoing reso. ut on into effect" This was de
signed as a fitting celebration OF the birthday OF
the Father n His Country, who had died AZ Mount
Vernon on the 1ith day Of that month The
Recommendation Of Congress and the Presidents
proclamation on the subject were universally OBJ
served. and from that time the 22d of February
has been generally regarded great National
holiday.
Like many ether once popular and elaborateIy
celebrated fest vals. Washington's Birthday seems
to have fallen with the past few decades into
the sere and yellow leaf Of neglect. but during
many years after the death Of the hero whose
nativity it commentaries it was one of the most
generally and deliberately observed Of all our Ma
tonal holidays, especially in that governmental
city which has been honored with his name. 10
Colonel James d. btinroll. who though now
resident OF Western city, passed the greater
part Of his nearly ninety-fve years In the Ma
tional Capital, l am indebted for some personal
"reminiscences of the earlier celebrations of Wash
ingtons Birthday at the seat Of Government. De
spite his great age, the Colonel perfectly retains
all his faculties, and as his family connections
highest official, diplomatic and social circles
and as he had pretty large crop of wild oats
to SOW in his youth. he an active participant
in TIE stirring and amusing scenes he so Vlvldly
describes
"Of the first and second celebrations Of Wash
incton's Birthday in 1900 and 1901. during the
Administration Of John Adams" he said recently
in talking of the matter. II remember nothing
for was then little shaver, only six or seven
years old nor can / recall much Of that OF loo2
in Thomas JeGerson's time, but wildly remem-
Der how as a youth Of fourteen, was taken by
nv father to the Presidents reception and pre-
sented to jefferson February %, 1903, the
last Washingtons Birthday which the great
author of the Declaration of Independence passed
in the Presidential chair. From my earliest
childhood had been taught to reverence Thomas
Jefferson as a veritable king of men, and every
word that he uttered in brief dialogue with my
father who had been his old playfeliow and
schoomate. Is indeibly craven on my memory
The conversation turning upon the day anu us
observances jefferson remarked that he Thought
the words Of John Adams concerning the Fourth
Of July might well be applied to II; that IKE
Indenendence Day It would ever be observed by
the American people as a great anniversary lescl-
val and that il deserved to be celebrated with
IN ~ frOr nj or
OF this continent to the other for it was great
and glorious occasion I had formed such an
exalted idea OF this distinguished mans great
abilities that had confidently pictured his per-
sonality TO be as striking as his mentality and
the gorgeousress Of his apparel to correspond
with the brilancy Of both. was therefore
much disappointed to see him very plainly dressed
IN i'll fitting garments Of q butternut-hrown hue
and to find that instead of being a slender and
, sinewv man with auburn hair as l had always
heard him described. he was thin, raw-boned and
awkward with locks of fiery red
"Durfng Nadison's Administration I rem"m-
Der one exciting celebration of washington
Birthday distingu shed by great deal OF lighting
and rioting on small scale in the streets
There were many people who entertained nit'er
feelings against Madison, believing that he Ind I'M
necessarily punged the country into the wat
Of 1912 with CIR at Britain. Whiskey always
flowed very Freely in those days and on the occa
sion Of any public demonstration never failed 20
act as sort Of liquid dynamite, producing many
angry expl sions On the day of which speak
there was a grand parade IN which the PresdehO
and his Cabinet took part An immense crowd as
senbled a. the White House gate 70 see them come
ont When Mr. Mad son emerged. distingu shed
member Of a noted Maryland Tory family there
was a good deal Of local feeling anyhow between
Marvlandcrs and virgnsns at that time made
himself particularly obnoxious By his remarks
and finally shouted out that Madison ought e. he
hung Every man of the thrOng was full OF patri-
otisro and something else good deal stronger
and the way We handled that Marylander was
caution, can tell you If the crowd had not
contained q large number OF his personal friends
il is not unlikely that he would have suffered Vhe
fate OF which be dec AIRED Madison worthy As u
was, he was very glad TO escape with fractured
nose and law, O punched eye and the loss OF
many teeth.
~Tallling of the universal custom OF drinking
which prevailed at that period 1t is worthy u
remark that Madison was notable exception IN
that resLect TO most public men OF his TINE Ills
confidential slave and body servant, Paul Jen-
ninps. remarkably intelligent man, assured me
that Madison never drank a quart OF brandy III
his life and never took any kind of alcohollc
beverage. except at dinner, when be would drink
barely one 81 s. of wine. largely diluted WIN
water. During the last fifteen years o his h'C
be abandoned even that custom and never tasted
stimulants OF any kind
! "1be celehrarion OF Washingtons Birthday
that occurred during the ei Sht years adminlsFa
ton OF James Monroe were even more briIlah
\ than any that had preceded them. The country
vos rapidlv advancing in wealth and culture
The travelled portion of society was steadily
u increasing in number and sought to introduce II
our social and dom site observaceS the rehh.hien
and elegance which they had noticed abroad ~
Z must be con essed, however, that there was SUI
great room for Improvement IL Wa cu''"ih"r'