New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-23
THAT wAsHINGToNIAN KISS.
THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY AT OYSTER BAT

THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY AT OYSTER BAY.
To TIE NEdIor OF TAe Trtbuns
Sir: 1t is nearly ninety-nine years since President
Washington made bis tour through Long Island. Al
though few lines In his diary record all that he con-
sdered worthy OF comment. many pages have been
written which have added little OF interest, except
few facts and imaginary tales. One of these tacts.
from The Tribune of last Sunday, under tho heading
a Washlngtoni9n Kiss,' from writer whose name
will be accepted authority by all who know him. IS
somewhat erroneous The story as told the writer by
ex-Chancelor McCOun was undoubtedly confused With
that of some other maiden whom he had in mind.
That President washington was the guest OF Captain
Daniel Youngs for night I'm April, 1870, Is I'M
doubted that he impressed hearty Kiss on captain
YounCss daughter then blooming girl OF seventeen
IS also true that the spot kissed was held sacred rom
like Intrusion is undoubted fact. The name nifty
ia Incorrect Neither 1t correct that she remained
a maiden. Her name was Keziah, and she was mar
ried 10 Major william Jones, of Cold Spring, l. l., in
October 1900 One OF her daughters was the wife OF
General Thomas Floyd Jones' of South Oyster Bay an
other OF James H. Weeks Of TaphanR; another OF tho
Hon. William Sidney Smith, Of Long Wood and an
other OF the Rev. Samuel seabury, d. D., OF the Ineo
logical Seminary, New-Yerk. Each OF these has leis
children The present writer is assured that his oid
friend James Hogg VIII receive this correction Kndy
and will youch for its authenticity, when told that II is
from information derived directly from Mrs Jones ana
from personal intercourse with others then living
Witnesses and that 1t is written In the room wneie
Washington slept, which IS little changed.
The looking glass, framed In mahogany ana gle'
stfll hangs upon the wroughtiron hook where wash
nrton used IT, whilo portraits Of Major Jones and MS
VII. adotn the opposte wall Tho high post bedstead
,hs ohiusz curtains the mound Of feathers and the
blankets and spreads, all homespun and homo-wovcn'
ara vivid in remembrance.
Tho district school-house, Just opposite St Johns
Episcopal Church, the highway leading from oys'er
Bay TO Cold Spring affords another Item IN "asnins
toms journey. IN passing tho raising OF tne H@ne
IN process Of erection. nearly finished Leaving
bs cariace the General helped to raise pair Of the
rafters Tho little one-story building stl remains
with the historic rafters place, the building lens1n
ened at esch end until It might almost De mistaAeh 'or
\ bowling alley but II has done yeoman's ana praise
worthy service in the cause OF education among "
generations who have lived in It's neghporhoou Sn00
the cdlnce was built. Tradition says that oeiore pur
sping the tourney washington gave the men doiiar
% hvv Gallon OF Jamaica rum sufficiently true, no
doubt TO hsvor the recent story OF pGadng anu Hin
The writer well remembers thsI hIs gst to Ss
,er nav often reced TO the curious al tnat occuIou
on that occasion, and showed the simple Yea ss, ~
wnca aT 10 entertain General Washington but not
so with his cOachmsn in charge OF Aunt yonIsSs
tbe autocrnt Of the kitchen ~ n hNOI'SS'
oyster Bay, L. l.. Feb Z. 1882
% PERSONALISMo IN The CbE' th-~ND oA-'6SNA -
tn me EDITOR OF TIE Tr1o"ne'
Sir. II will doubtless be remembered by every ono
AZ ali familiar with criticisms upon Republican RCD
sra Administrations that none was moo persiseh'i'
omnloyed than that OF personalsm, which was bitterly
denounced and declared to be the ruling consderson'
rather than proper respect for public opinion or uu'
regard for the welfare Of tho country "heh anu
whore has personallsm moro aboundcd than In and
NON, the expiring days of the Cleveland dynasty and,
T., t,ct throughout HIS entire Administration when,
xc.nt perhaps in absolute subserviency TO Southern
rogance and dictaton, has he sought or respected
the Judgment of the best equipped and most saSacos
Northern Democrats respecting the important posi-
| ,o,s thu nominations TO which devolved upon him
Nav. more Has he not invariably, whom sounu
| no,tt,oal counsel has been profiered by the most
saracious Democrats mot so much for his indvlduSl
cement as for what they regarded the larger
nd mora essential advantage OF the Democratic party
and "A they presumably believed, for the actuai
hspcat OF tho country Scorned and utterly ignored
!, because Of that inordlnae vanity and self con-
ssrco the inevitable results Of temporary elevation
~ nublIo pos!tlon operating upon contracted mind
sddcnIy dlstended by success, that has enabled nm
IN strut brief hour upon the public stage, from when
a, aroused public sentiment has expelled him, ana
declared that he cannot longer perform his harlequin
tricks under the disguise of Civil Service reformer
Verify a public office is public trust,' and such
an one as he is not worthy TO fll Thus have inc
peoulo most emphatically pronounced, not through
The intervention OF spanish lnqulsitlon, but Dy as
honest vote and fair count, that lin the Language "
ono OF Secretary Falrchllds notices OF dismissal "
honest and faithful customs onicer, his services WIZ
not be required after the Attn of March, 1889
That will DO glory enough for one day IN
NEVER A BARNI3U Err, ALWAYS A DEMOCRAT
| New-York, Feb. ~, 1859.