Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

mel Washington was killed, and some Of
his troops who were stationed at Alex
andria rushed in and would ave made
short work of Payne had Washington not
prevented them: He pointed to his black
eye and told them tina this was a per-
Sonal matter and that he knew how to
handle it. Every one thought hat this
meant a duel. The e day Payne got a
note from Washington liking him to come
to the hotel. He ext cted a duel, but
went. Washington, however, was in an
amicable mood. He felt that he had been
in the wrong. and said, Mr.. Payne, I was
wrong yesterday, but If you have had SUI
hclent satisfaction, let US be friends There
was a decanter of wine and two glasses on
smooth over the quarrel. The two drank
together and became such strong friends
after that that Payne was one of the pail
bearers at W~ashington's funeral.
Washington as a Drinking Man,
Every one drank in the days of Washing
ton. and the father of his country always
had wines on his table. l nave nowhere
seen it stated hat he ever drank to excess.
although he usually consumed five glasses
OF Madeira wine at dessert. During his
youth he was a very fair politician, and
among the items of his election expenses
when he was a candidate for the house of
burgesses of Virginia We're a hogshead and
a barrel Of whisky. thirty-tive gallons of
wine and forty-three gallons of beer.
George Washington was simple in his
saShSsy aiio oullliS lis Youth ne WIS an
enormous eater. but was not particular as
to what he had. He wanted plain food and
plenty Of it. During, his later years he ate
was of corn cakes. honey and tea, with pos
sibly an egg, and after that he ate no more
until dinner. He kept, however, a good
table. and usually had friends with him.
His table manners were not of the best.
l have a book written by Maclay, which
gives his experiences when he was in the
United States senate at the time Wash
1nPtnn UaG nraSi6pnf Afon1axy 1i,1l -.
Washington a number of times, and scat
tered through his diary are bits of gossip
about Washington. At two of the dinners
he describes Washington as amusing him
self between the course by playing the
devils tattoo upon the table with his fork.
At another time he says: THE president
was taken away. I thought it was for the
purpose of picking nuts. He ate no nuts,
but played with the fork, striking on the
edge of the table with it,"
A George Warrington Fish Story,
Washington. at this time, had some
trouble in keeping up his establishment.
When the Revolutionary war closed he had
plenty of land, but little money. He had
exhausted his private fortune during the
war. n he had to borrow enough to take
him to New York to be inaugurated as
president. The result was he was quite
careful OF his expenses. and would not
kind occurred one day when he found the
first shad of the season on his table, The
president was very fond OF fish, and when
the shad was brought into the dining room
his nostrils dilated as the savory odor
struck them. and he Asked:
What fish is that?"
"A shad." replied the steward, excitedly;
"a very fine shad. / knew your excellency
was e~xtravagantly fond of this fish, and
was SO fortunate as to procure this one in
the market. 1t was the only one, sir, and
the first of the season."
But the price. man? The price? The
price?" demanded Washington, sternly.
"Three-three-three dollars" stammered
the steward.
Take it away! Take It away" said
Washington. 1T shall never be said that
and extravaganza"
And so the s. fish was taken from the
room. to be devoured by the servants.
The Richest Man of His Time.
As the years went on washington's lands
increased in value, and when he died he
was one of the richest men of his time,
He owned lands and stock and negroes,
and his estates amounted to thousands OF
acres. He had houses in Alexandria and
| property in Washington. He had valuable
He was throughout his life a money maker,
and I was told at Alexandra that when he
was a boy he got IS a day and upward for
his surveying. He put his surplus money
into lands. and an advertisement in a Bal
timore paper in 1773 states that he had
% 900 acres of land for sale on the Ohio
river. His will. which is now kept about
twenty miles from Washington. in the
safe Of the old court house at Fairfax. Va.
! gives. a detailed statement of every article
he possessed down to the calves and sheep.
l His personal estate was then put down at