Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-07-23
Country.

kas saIr,ants s,a1ns th.t 10 Wash. sS.
N ever slept there,
49, hx says the New York
Times. The chief
distinction Of the
hostelry is that 1t is very old and IS
very much as it was 100 years ago. It
was for many years the principal Inn
and tavern of the historical town ami
had for its customers "Old Ironsides'
Stewart, the father of Mrs. Parnell;
Prince Murat, Joseph Bonaparte.
TON" Paine, Francis Hopkinson, the
signer Of the declaration Of independ-
ence, and scores of men known to both
state and national history. The exact
age of the present building is not
known. 1t Is a matter Of tradition
that 1t is 120 years at least and is the
natural successor of the first inn ever
established in the town.
One of the early bonifaces was Jos-
eph Richards, who kept the Washing
ton inn In 1742 1t was at its little low
counter that Prince Murat, the French
spendthrift, whose father was king OF
Sicily. and who afterward became one
of the marshals of the empire of
France, spent his leisure time throwing
dice with the citizens and even the
farm hands. He was an inyeterate
gambler, frequently without change to
pay his score, and did not hesitate,
when he needed his gin, to shake the
bones with the hostler. 1t is matter
of record that here he ran heavy ac-
count, which at intervals he would
liquidate when there was remittance,
but the last chalking on the slate was
not obliterated by coin but by time.
The inn was the Pewter Platter" Of
the town. Here the local celebrities.
and not few Of them without literary
bent, gathered night after night to
drink their punch. Prominent among
them was TON" Paine. who spent
part Of his time in the town, where he
owned some property ard did consider
able writing. He makes reference In
letter to a lady: II had rather see my
horse. Button, eating the grass Of Bor-
dentown or Morrisania than see all the
pomp and show of Europe"
He owned the property on the corner
Of Farnsworth avenue and church
street. His home is now the site of a
female college. Tradition hands him
down as slovenly man, who was al
ways inviting a bath. He spent his
early days lettering about the town, his
early evenings drinking brandy and
burned considerable of the midnight
oil.
His principal amusement was play
ing violin. 1t was not SO many years
ago that. in making some changes at
this old hotel, was found in the loft
stringless fiddle on which were the let
ters ct. p" cut with knife and the
only way they could account for both
the instrument and the lettering was
that 1t was the one that Tom" Paine
used when the litterateur of the town
became merry and that 1t came into the
possession of the saloonkeeper through
Paine's failure to settle his account.
Paine had some very peculiar expert
ences in this small town. He never got
much further than the old Washington
inn for the reason that every door in
the place was closed against him. Col,
Kirkbride, one of the town celebrities
although churchman, did tolerate
Paine's extreme religious views and ad-
mired him and enjoyed his company
for his general wit. But in doing so
Col. Kirkbride endangered his social
position, for 1t is related that one even
ing, while strolling out with Paine, he
induced him to call upon Samuel Rog-
ers, who was Col. Kirkbride's brother
in-law, and when presented Mr.. Rogers
refused to take Paine's hand, and tho
interview, although brief, was strained.
Paine was referred to by the plain town
folks as man in league with Belize
bub. There were some of the old-fash-
ioned citizens who would not walk on
the same side of the street with him
and children were taught to shun him.
In October. 1902, Paine paid his
second visit to America. He wanted
to wind up his affairs in this country
and, having property in Bordentown,
he paid visit there. He was the guest
for the few days he was in town of Col.
Kirkbride. Having finished his busi-
ness, he decided to return to New York.
The excitement of his visit had spread
through all the surrounding country
and in every small community, in the
country stores and taverns, there were
indignation meetings held, to think
that the author of THE Age Of Reason
should have any ground whatever to
stand on in religious America, while in
the vicinity of Bordentown there was
much Indignation expressed and NUT
terings of disapprobation.
1t took more violent form when
Col. Kirkbride drove him to Trenton,
that he might take the stage to New
York. His coming was known and
large crowds gathered about the streets
to see him. When he asked for book
Ing 1t was refused him for no other
reason than that he was the notorious
Tom" Paine. He was in dilemma
and, while trying to extricate himself
from the awkward position, the citizens
OF the town gathered together in a
mob, headed by band, and served no.
tice on him that he must leave at once.
which he did. He secured a private
conveyance and was escorted to tho
edge of the city, while the band played
"The Rogues' March" and the citizena
ieered.