The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-10-11
WASHINGTON AT YALE.
VAS ENTERTAINED HERE By
ISAAC BEERS IN 1879.

Interesting Facts at the Time of Raid
I'm New Haven in That Yenr-Degree
of LII. ID. Conferred Upon Washing
ton In 17s1-surrender of Corn
wall
AT the revival of her traditions at
this bicentennial season Yale will re-
call none more glorious than those of
her part in the Revolution; and not
the least cherished of these is the story
of her reception, early In the war; to
the great hero of that war. When, in
April, ITS, the alarm of Lexington
thrilled the colonies from end to end,
patriotism rose to the highest pitch.
Resistance of tyranny was the one
theme everywhere about college, Presi-
dent Daggett preached it in the old
Athenaeum Tutor Timothy Dwight
urged it in the classroom, and in de-
batting hall and study it inspired no end
of youthful eloquence. About the hrst
of June some seniors formed military
company and in their cooked hats and
knee breeches they marched and count
ermarched under the shadow of South
Middle, drilling faithfully and long.
At the end of the month came Wash
ington on his way to Cambridge where
he was to assume chief command of
the army. He was properly received
and escorted to his lodgings In the tav-
ern of Isaac Beers on the site of the
New Haven House. 1t is a pity that
this fine old hostelry has not been pre-
served. Here in the French war had
lodged Commissary General Kilbourn
and his suite, and here during the New
Haven raid in 1779 that chivalrous
Englishman, General Garth, was quar-
tered. Not only did Mr.. Beers enter
tain the wayfarer here in some SPLEEN
dor, but in the same building he kept
shop, and sold large importations of
books, besides wines, GIN brandy, pew
ter baise, calico and balloon hats.
The morning after his arrival General
washington, and his companion, Cen
eraI Lee were brought forth to receive
the honors of the town. A contempor-
airy newspaper relates with the ele-
giant artificiality of the times, they
were especially invited to inspect,
company Of young men belonging to the
seminary of this place, who made
Handsome appearance, and whose ex-
pertness in the military exercises gain
ed the appreciation of the generals
Washington could not readily have Tor
gotten the picture-the Green stretch
ing away to its far boundaries, the
white gables cleaning among the
trees, the stiff, ancient churches, the
red college walls, at once homely ana
beautiful in the radiance of the June
morning, and then this company OF
strong young men of the best the col
ony had to offer For them he foresaW
weary marches, battles, suffering ana
even martydom. And then again they
recalled. in weary days to come, that
grave. determined face from they mad
caught perhaps their first clear vision
of true manhood and heroism.
A contemporary, speaking in after
wars of this review, says that the gen.
erals expressed their surprise and
qualification at the precision with |
which the students performed the Gus |
tomary exercises then in use Ih1s
company then escorted the generals as
far as Neck Bridge, State street, near
the foot of Lawrence, and this was the
first instance of this honor conferred
mn General Washington in New Eng
land. 1t fell to my humble lot TO lead
that company with music. | was then
q freshman in Yale College. But this
was not the writer's only claim to dls-
tinction. Ills name was Noah WEBSTER.
IA number of Yale men followed Wash
ippton away into the Boston campaign
some of them not laying down their
arms until he had led them to final VIC
tory at Yorktown.
After the surrender of CORVALLIS in
1871 Yale conferred the degree of LII
D. upon washington. In letter
the diplomas, President
stiles. always a lover of ceremony, adj
dressed him as the Defender of Liberty