El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-19
WashiuRton's Laughter.

The Continental congress adjourned,
in June, 1888, from Philadelphia to
Princeton. 1t had been surrounded by
the raw recruits of the Pennsylvania
line, soldiers of the day." who mutin-
ously demanded their pay.
Congress asked the state authorities
to call out the militia to restore order,
and upon their refusal it fastened to
Princeton and requested Washington
to remove his quarters to the neighbor-
hood of that town.
William Dunlap, who years after be-
came the vice president of the Nation
al Academy Of Design, was then a boy
of seventeen years, amusing himself
with painting crayon portraits. He
visited Princeton at this time, and was
the guest of Mr.. Van Horne, whose
house at Rock Hill, being short
walk from Washington's quarters, was
visited by the general.
Young Dunlap was introduced to the
commander-in-chief, who praised the
boys crayon portraits of Mr.. and Mrs.
Van Horne. and consented to sit to
him. A triumphant moment for boy
of seventeen, but also one of anxiety,
fear and trembling.
Washington was so much pleased
with the youthful artist that he often
invited him to breakfast and to dine at
headquarters, where he met members
of congress and other distinguished
men. His portrait of Washington led
to the sitting of Mrs. Washington, and
both were highly praised.
In his History of the Arts of De-
sign," written fifty years after the
Princeton episode, Mr.. Dunlap says
that Washington "was not an austere
man either in appearance or manners,
but was unaffectedly dignified and ha-
polite.''
The assertion that he never laughed
bit formed by the fact that from yout;:
he had been employed in public affairs
and conversant with public men, and
thus had been taught the necessity of
taking heed to his words.
There" said John Adams, as he
gazed for the first time on Stuart's
portrait of Washington, sis a man who
kept his lips shut-which this old fool
never could!"
81 remember" writes Dunlap, dur
ing my opportunity of observing his
department two instances of unre
laughter. The first and most
moderate was at bon mot, or anec-
dote, from Judge Peters, then a mem
Der of congress, and dining with The
general
1t is not strange that Washington
laughed at Judge Peters humorous
stories. Even dignifed, reserved In
dams could not withstand his humor.
When a young man he accompanied a
delegation from Pennsylvania to the
Six Nations. So delighted were the
chiefs with his vivacity and wit that
they adopted him into their tribe.
The second instance of Washington
laughing immoderately was ceased by
his friend Van Horne's race after a
pig. Van Horne was of uncommon
size, very bulky and strong. One day
he ordered black boy to catch a
young pig, that it might be roasted for
dinner.
The boy was chasing the pig as Van
Horne and Dunlap arrived from a walk.
The pig, not wishing to be roasted, re-
fused to be caught.
STAND aside, you awkward boy"
said Van Horne, throwing off his coat
and hat, "I'1l show you how to catch
pig"
After many twistings and turnings
which amused the negroes, Van Horne
caught the pig, and holding it up in
triumph, while big drops of perspira-
ton ran down his face, exclaimed in
a voice that was heard above the
of the captive:
There, boy, that's the way to run
down a pig"
AS he spoke, he turned around, and
there was Washington, who, with his
suite, had entered the yard Van
Horne, with ludicrous expression Of
surprise and confusion, tried to speak