Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-03-23
wA1sHAlaA SOUTH CAROLINA, 1HARCH 49, 1898.
WASHINGTON AND HIS COACH.
lBy William Elliot Grifis. ]

By William Elllot Gr1mS.
Certain States of the 0rigina
Thirteen are peculiarly associated
with the life of Washington. II
Virginia, he spent his earliest, posi-
bly, his happiest, days. In Massachu
setts, he made a grand military be-
ginning, aud, in later life, tour il
State. In New York, he experienced
disaster and grief, though these were
afterwards eclipsed by the pomp oI
his inauguration In New Jersey
the darkest shadows and brightest
lights in both achievement and char.
acter were manifest. In Pennsylva
MIA, he first began to be an explorer
and soldier, here first displaying
the greatness of his character. Here
also his greatest work as statesman
was done.
In Philadelphia, in accordance
with the spirit Of the times, and with
what Washington believed to be the
proprieties of bis station, he lived ii
stately style. Not the least strik.
ing indication of the Importance o1
the President and of the government
was the splendid coach in which
Washington rode to church, and
when travelling or on outings fol
health. Made in Europe, and espe-
cially imported for the Presidential
use, it was of white decorated with
medallions. When travelling, this
white coach with four bay horses
two uniformed optriders and the
same number of footmen and postil-
lions, with its ferce-mustachioed
coachman in white and red livery.
with cooked hat and well-encased
queue, ssthe Presidents chariot" was
sight to overawe the rural specta-
tors. In our day, such splendor OF
official dignity would not be relished
We are more democratic than our
fathers.
OF Washington's coming to church,
John Hardy, of whom we once wrote
in these columns, has often told. Liv-
ing on Second Street, not far from
Christ Church above High or Market
Street, in the days when green fields
lay all around, East, North, West,
he was often one of the crowd that
gathered to behold the Sunday morn
ing sight. AS the four shining bays
drew up at the gateway, held firmly
and promptly stopped by Fritz the
coachman, all eyes turned from the
equipage to the lady and gentleman
soon to emerge. Fritz had been a
Hessiangsoldier. None sooner OF
more than Washington saw into the
true character of these worthy Ger
mans, victims OF the very spirit
against which Washington had
fought. With Fritz on the box, the
coach was safe, and the horses sure
to be well held in when confronted
by danger on the road. Amid pro-
found and even reverent silence the
stately form moved across the pave
ment, up the church yard, and into
the old edifce which has no door at
the Oriental, but only on the South
ern, side.~
Many time did John Harby's
children, as they have often told US,
stray across the grassy meadows,
from the ole Lutheran Church at
Fifth and Cherry Streets, to Christ
Church, in order to look with child
ish awe on the Father of his Coun-
try. 1t was John Harby's German
countrymen, or descendants of them,
who first gave Washington this af-
fectionate title. Most worthy Of the
honor was this tolerant and far
sighted man. Already he saw that
tie United States was not an Eng
llsh nation, not new England, not
people with single strain OF blood.
Even in his own time ne understood
clearly that this country is a new
Europe, a new Chrisdendom. The
old names of New France, New
Sweden, New Netherland, New Eng
land, must pass away, and the Uni
ted States of America be the only
name worth keeping. Hence his
recognition of the virtues, the merits,
the sterling character, of the French,
German, Dutch, Irish, Scotch, Welsh,
as we'll as of Englisb-descended peo-
pie in the army, in the government,
and in the country at large.
Despite his great personal dignity,
reserved manners, and his aristo-
cratic bearing, Washington had a
warm heart for the humblest, and,
especially after his Revolutionary
experiences, sympathy with COM
mon folks. Besides the many anec-
dotes in print and we'll known, the
following, we think, illustrates strik-
ingly this trait. 1t was first told by
Alfred Ely, D. D., who was, we be-
lieve, an eye and ear witness of the
incident. DR.. Ely was afterwards
for sixty years pastor OF the church
in Monson, Massachusetts,, and from
his daughter have heard it. We
quote from 'sthe written word :"
ssJn the autumn of 1889, during
Washington's first Presidential term,
! he made journey to Boston, follow
| ing up the West side of the Connec-
tticut River, and crossing it at Spring
field. He travelled in his English
coach drawn by four horses, with
footmen, postillions, and outriders.
GAS hey approached the river in
the tcxn Of West Springfield, one Of
the outriders galloped ahead and held
a pafley with .be-dril:or of loaded
hav-wagonYto induce hint turn
out and allow w"-Aington's chario,
to pass. He refused tSa-1a an inch
J of the road, and the state 'en>;e =,
patiently followed the wagon 60
Some distance. until; at safe point