The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-04-06
wAsHIEGToH,s AAGKAEnEITY
He Agreed with the Man Who Re-
fused TO stop in the Road
to Let H5n Pass


Here iz an incident II Washingtcn's
Life in my possession Illustrating his
maguanimiiy. which has neVsr been
given 10 the general public:
Some years ago, il MoIson. Mass, at
q FOURTH Of July celebration, il re-
Spouse ID 2 sentiment concerning
George Washington, ReE. Alfred Fly,
D. D., related the following incident,
Of which he was an eyewitness. I give
II IN his own words:
when . boy / re<iled in West
Springfield, Mass, ard worked on
farm. In the autumn Of the year 1853
I was engaged with ny employer in
gathering load Of eorHstalks from
field not far distant from the Connec-
ticut river. Ny employer had driven
the loaded team from the lo- and left
me as usual 10 put up the bars. While
thus occupied / noticed lhe approach
Of four fine horses and large vehicle
There was 10 driver upon the carriage.
but astride the nigh horse Of each span
was . young mulatto position. There
were also tv0 Outrider< and : fOotman-
The vehicle-in which wsS seated q
gentleman whose striking personal aP-
pearance impressed n.e-Eas called IN
those days : chariot. II was entirely
unique and unike anything noE N Use,
except its running part I saw the out
riders gallop OF In advance CT the char
lot and hold pzrley with ny employ
er, who occupied tie entire road with
his loaded cart. The roads At that time
were 50 narrow that two teams could
not pass unless one yielded the way to
the other. l perceived that ~ en-
ployer yielded zone Of his right 70 the
road. and that the chariot was detained
BY thecart until they reached turnout
where the <oEtege passed BY. 1 soon I
oTertO0k uly employer and inquired I
Who the distinguished parsonage vas
who had Just passed u, and was IL
formed that il was George Washing 4
tor. I obtained permission 20 run o. I
and see 4 / could catch another glmpse ]
Of the great ehi@ftain whose deeds dur
ing the war bad 20 filed ny wondering
fancy. As there was 10 bridge across
the Connecticut river Al that tine,
hoped that the ferry boat u -ght be On
the opposite side, and thai might
reach the bank before It arrived In
this I was rot disappointed found
Gen. Washington standing on The bank
u the river. dressed il . suuI-co-ored
aurtout with a long laPeI-ed vest Of the
sane color and material and il small
clothes ard boots. and he most majez-
tie and dignifed looking man he Was
that I ever saw.
while was gazing upon him. one q
his poztilions drove up and, disrnount-
ing and uncovering his head, said ir tbs
most ceferentiaI manner. and with 81
expression Of injured dignity.
Your. exceliercy. a. we we're driv-
r9 along, q little way back, re over
took a nan with loaded cart. who &C.
rupied The entire road. asked him 70
stop his team that We might p@ss b..
he declired. / then told him that Pres-
dent Washinzt0n vas II he chariot
be again refused and said that be
would Tot sfop--that be had ss good
-ight 70 he read Is George Washing
ton had
The simple reply Of WashiHgto1 f
wass And 20 he had The position,
.fter . moments look q wcnder and
az the coudescension q
he president o. the Unitec states,
yuietiy put On his bat and mounted his
bore. watched the cortege until j
vas out q sight. buf ny iupresrion
nd memory of Wathing1onars asviTid
nd distinct this moment as i I had
zen the great mar Only -e-fsra-r-
7er. Frederick Aivord.