The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-02-21

awakened out of Il sleep and run and
jump about We ring in a most comicle
manner. He is followed by We rest. Then
begins their musicians to play. Ye musick
is a Pot half of water with Il deerskin
stretched over it as tight as it can be
goard with some shot in it to Rattle and
Il Piece of an horses tail tied to ii to make
it look fine. Ye one keeps rafting and
We other drumming all We while We other
is dancing"
Pleased with Anniversary Rcinem-
If there is any doubt about Washing
toms satisfaction in the observance of
his birthday anniversary, the following
letters, now on file in the State Depart
ment. are reproduced here as testimony.
Rochambeau wrote Washington:
yesterday was the anniversary of
Your EXccllency's birthday. We have
put off celebrating that holiday until to-
day, by reason of the Lords day, and we
will celebrate it, with the sole regret that
Your EXcellency be not IA witness of the
e~ffusion and gladnesS of our hearts.
DE ROCHAMBEAU."
To which Washington, with much feel
ing, replied:
The flattering distinction paid to the
anniversary of my birthday is an honor
for which | dare not attempt to express
my gratitude.
81 conide in Your EXcellency's sensi-
bility to interpret my feelings for this.
and for the obliging manner in which you
are pleased to announce it.
HGEORGE WASHINGTON.'
How Uncle Davy "Sassed" the Pres
ident.
Uncle Davy Burnes was probably the
only man who ever dared to sass the
Father of His Country to his face. Wash
ington had just shortly alighted at Mount
Vernon from that cream-colored coach
which had borne him on his triumphal
tour of 1000 miles throughout the coun-
try. and had found Major L'Enfant, the
French surveyor, at the door waiting to
show him the completed plan of the city
of Washington.
Thomas Johnson, David Stuart and
Daniel Carroll, the three commissioners
put in charge by Congress. informed
Washington that at last matters had been
fixed up with all the settlers excepting
Uncle Davy Burnes.' This old Scotch
farmer had refused to come to any
terms" they declared, and 1.-THE President
would have to see him" 1t was an I'M
portant point, for David Burnes' farm
of 600 acres included the land on which
the Executive Mansion was to be built
and east to the Patent Office site, over
parts of which the values now range from
50 to $40 Il square foot.
When Washington rode over to the
humble cottage of Uncle Davy. and be-
gan to urge him mildly to submit to rea-
son. the little Scotchman quite lost his
temper and dcfied the great General and
President. his wealthy %neighbor.
You may tell your Congress folks that
David Burnes won't be forced out of his
home; that he won't sell, and that he
won't talk any more about it. finally
burst out the planter, and h flung this
famous sarcasm at his imagined adver-
sary, very likely accompanied with a
grin: Il suppose that you think people
are going to take every grist that comes
from YOU as pure grain: but what would
YOU have been, Mr.. Washington, if you
had not married the rich widow Gusts,
with all her nagurs:"
Whether this vulgar shaft took effect
within the armOr of Washington, the
im~perturbable. the self-silent and self
controlled, not even tradition has an an
swer. But in several of his letters we
find reference to that obstinate Mr..
Burnes." The visits were repeated. AT
last. after many and wearisOme argu-
ments, the patience of Washington evil
IDENTIFY became exhausted, and he said