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

Character of George Washington as
| Shown by Incidents In His Life.
John s. C. Abbott's characterization Of
| George Washington fittingly introduces the
anecdotes of the Father of his Country, which
have been selected for presentation here:
GAS Columbus and La Sale were the most
prominent Of the pioneers of America, so
was Washington the most illustrious of its
patriots. In the career of Columbus we
| have a vivid sketch of life in the tropical
| portions of the New World 400 years ago.
''The adventures of La Sale in exploring
this continent 200 years age, from the northern
lakes to the Mexican gulf, are almost without
parallel, even in the pages of romance. His
narrative gives information, such as can no
where else be found, of the native inhabi-
tants, their number, character and mode of
life when the white man first reached these
shores
''The history of George Washington il as
replete with marvels as that of either of his
predecessors The world during the last
century has made more progress than during
the preceding five. The life of Washington
reveals to us, in a remarkable degree, the
state of society in our land, the manners and
customs of the people, their joys and griefs,
100 years ago. We search history in vain to
find parallel to Washington. AS states
man, as general, as a thoroughly good man,
he stands pre-eminent. He was so emphati-
cally the Father of his Country that it may
almost be said that he created the republic.
And it is fitting that VIC should recall, with
grateful hearts, the memory of our illustri-
Gus benefactor, George Washington"
From early boyhood to his last hour, &C
cording to all authentic history, Washington
never relaxed for a moment that dignified
manner that now seems inseparable from his
character. Whether at home in the peaceful
life of Mount Vernon, in battle, in council,
in after public life, his somewhat reserved
stateliness was always maintained, and it
had been a trait fostered from his youth,
partly from teaching and partly from an adj
miration he had conceived while almost
child for some one whose severe dignity had
especially charmed him.
Al one tIIne,=On the 18th OF July, ITO,
when in New York for the defense Of that
city, Lord Howe and his brother, Sir William
Howe, made a concerted movement to To-
possession of the river above the city
rally the Tories around them. These two
naughty men, declaring the Americans to be
rebels, refused to recognize the officers by
their proper titles. Admiral Howe sent a
letter by Lieut.. Brown, with a flag of truce,
which was directed to Mr.. Washington, and
which Col Reed, Washington's adjutant gen.
eral, former secretary and intimate friend,
declined to receive. He dismissed the lieu
tenant very courteously, however, but as
sured him that no such communication could
be conveyed to the commander-in-chief Of
the armies of America
Lieut.. Brown was greatly agitated and en-
barrassed. On the 18th Gen. Howe sent an
aide, with flag, to inquire if Col. Patterson,
| the British adjutant general, could be adj
| mitted to an interview with Gen. Washing
| ton. Col Reed assured him that there could
| be no difficulty, and that he would pledge his
| honor for the safety of Col Patterson.
The next morning Col Reed and another
| officer met the flag in the harbor and took
| Col. Patterson into their barge and conveyed
the officer to Washington's headquarters
l Washington was in full dress and his guards
| were in attendance in military array. Col
| Patterson seemed much embarrassed, but
l finally handed over adocument, after having
| addressed Washington as "Your excel
| lency" This document was addressed to
"George Washington, Esq, ETC." He sug-
i gested that the ct cetera might imply
anything which Washington could wish it to
| imply.
II IdDD6TSOH WIS IQdD
i no such communications could be received,
and after brief desultory conversation the
conference terminated. Irving says: wash
ington received the applause of congress and
i of the public for sustaining the dignity of the
l station. His conduct in this particular was
4 recommended as a model to all American
officers in corresponding with the enemy.
And Lord Howe informed his government
that thenceforth it would be polite to change
the superscription of his letters"
Washington was not beyond the ills that
beset mankind, as the loss of his teeth testi-
fies, and on this account he could not eat the
i juicy mutton or beef or game which his vast
estate supplied, and we find a letter wherein
he orders a special envoy of picked tripe
from Bristol, which must have been very
good, since it was quite commerce in itself,
| and one man named Hamlin used to prepare
/ it and send it over to Barbados and New
Orleans, as well as other places, and it was
this kind that he seemed to prefer. His
friend and business agent, Cary, sent him
from England two huge jars of this picked
tripe, and he wrote as q means of keeping up
the supply the following letter:
DEAR CARY-Mrs. Washington joins me in warm
/ thanks 10 you for your consderate present of
| two large stone jars Of picked tripe, which
l reached Mount Vernon in perfect condition
must ask you to arrange for foHr similar jars, in
wicker basket castings, packed in outer cask, TO
be shipped for my account direct from the curers
In Bristol early in the season, when vessel win
l be leaving that port for New York. II consigned
to Messrs. Barclay, those gentlemen will give the
| little matter their unvarying care Dental In
flrmity inpels my caring for this necessary item
in our domestic commissariat.
To those who scan the portraits of Wash
ington, and End there but the express on Of
unhinching courage and stern d. entity, it
may seem that Washington was incapable of
feeling for the woesof others, and that as he
sent men into battle he cared nothing for
them other than as mere fighting machines;
but history ia full of instances which prove
that he had a compassionate heart, and that
more than once he shed tears over the suffer-
ings and sorrows Of others. Some Of them
were his soldiers, and sometimes his SYM
patty was aroused for others To the New
York convention he wrotei "When con-
slider that the city Of New York win, In all
human probability, very soon be the scene Of
q bloody conflict, I cannot but view the great
numbers Of women, children and inflrm per-
sons remaining In II with the most melan.
choly concern. Can no method be devised
for their removalP
When on Aug. 81 the British began to land
their empowering numbers, they found Il
. necessary to fight every step Of the way
Seven days fhis terrible conflict continued
J and there were some scenes Of awful slaughter
where the Hessians Swarmed like locustG
: upon the slender army trying to oppose them
As Washington watched one OF these In
stances, where detachment Of heroic troop.
was literally butchered by the klungine
IL