Evening star., 1896-07-04
FOURTH OF JULY HERE IN 1850

How President Taylor Sat Out scna-
tor Foote's Grafton That Day.
Grace Greenwood in the Independent.
The first Fourth of July 1 ever spent in
Washington was that of 1850. 1t was day
so intensely hot that was not tempted out
to witness the ceremonies and parades.
some of which were Of peculiar interest.
There was a grand procession. chiefly mil
ttary. passing down the avenue and through
the principal streets. the chief object Of
observation being an open harouche. In
which rode poor President Taylor. his head
bare most of the time. as he bowed right
and left. acknowledging the cheers Of the
people. who liked him well; and SO he was
toted for miles under the blazing sun.
through an air breezeless and palpitating
with heat, till the procession reached the
site Of the Washington monument, whose
corner stone was to be laid. The old gen.
eral went bravely through his part of the
Grafton. delivered by Senator Foots OF Mis-
sissippi. who prophesied eloQuently Of the
grand monument to be. and which Is. with
small thanks to such southern patriots as
he. On the platform General Taylor re-
marked that the heat was greater than
any he had encountered in Florida or Mex
leo, and against the advice of his physician.
drank freely and frequently of ice water
L ne tct1OuS EuHCClOH over, he Seemed III no
haste to go home, but walked around the
site. and then. emulating the pluck of
Holmes "Traadmilr' hero. who exclaimed
at the close of his hour of discipline:
TITS pretty sport; suppose we take
A round or two for fur"
actually strolled about the grounds. to the
dismay Of the gentlemen of his cabinet and
household, all the while, the superb i'm
prudence of a weather-beaten old soldier,
declining the protection of an umbrella.
Arrived hOmQ he RECALLED himself uffh
a generous quantity of cherries, washed
down with iced milk. Then some light re-
freshments and more cold drinks for his
thirst was Unsuitable After two hours or
and more Ice water; and after that, pain,
and more pain, and a thirst which no iciest
draft could quench-till case of violent
cholera morbus declared itself, and soon
everybody knew that there was no hope
After a few days of suffering, braveIy
borne. he met the enemy whom no mortal
hero can subdue. and quietly laid down his
arms He was not a great talker. at any
time. and seems to have said little at that
supreme hour beyond the words, II am
ready. 1t Is all right. 1 am only sorry to
leave my friends" Then he added: Il have
nothing to regret"'
A certain eolored philosopher is quoted In
The Washington Star as saying: when a
man declar's that he doan regret muffin
he ebber done. he's got a mighty good con-
science or none at ALL
tillfk L2CHdTy Taylor naQ an honest,
comfortable conscience-not morbidly sensi-
tive, on the alert to reproach and taunt
but good enough conscience for a soldier
Of determination and conquest and a slave
holder. Personally he was. as I remember
very nkable, gravely genial, unpretending
and simple in his ways and words. My
dear mother used to laugh as she recalled
little interview with him, while he was
spending a few hours in our village. She
tho the gentest and tenderest of women
loved a good flghter-had a romantic ad-
pected. loyal Clay whig tho she was of
having had a weakness for the hero of New
Orleans. 30. when presented to the soldier
President, she looked into his rugged face
with something of ave. to receive a hearty
handshake and the homely greeting Of
How -de-do. ma'am! How are your folks?"
With the death Of General Taylor Daniel
Webster saw that his pride had lest him q
second .hance of attaining the presidential
chair. through the vice presidency. But It
was stepping stone which he despised.