The National tribune., 1902-09-04

Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers,
called the Northern Neck, our steamboat
turned to the right and entered narrow
but deep stream or channel, which, if my
memory serves, was called Popes Greek,
up which we made our way perhaps four
or five miles until the stream became so
narrow that we might almost reach shore
on either side at one jump. Then we tied
up to a tree on the north bank, or right
hand of the stream going upward, and
there we landed. about sunset; in the heart
Of Westmoreland County, Va.-the very
county, as well as State, in which George
Washington was born. and where little
George. when about six years old, tried
his little hatchet on his fathers favOrite
cherry tree, which stood by the old rail
fence just back of the barn-at least,
there is where it stood when l saw it, and
as matter of course it was just as dead
as it was the year after little George
peeled its bark, but there it still stood,
an everlasting monument to the honor of
''the boy who could not tell a lie"
In my whole life l never enjoyed a,
higher privilege, prOuder honor. than
this visit to the County of Washington's S
nativity--to the very homestead and Or
chard wherein, with his little hatchet.
the Father of His Country" accomplished
his first great historical work. Many peo-
pie of this day and generation are of the
opinion that the story of George and the
cherry tree is a myth. They say that it
was not like Washington-that the mis-
chievOus prank did not foreshadow the
man: that man of WashingtOn's wisdom
must have possessed little sense when
a boy, and il he had been on mischief
bent and peeled the cherry tree out of pure
cussedness, as boys sometimes do, he
would have tried, smart-bOy fashion, to
lie out of it. But have unbounded conf
dence in the truth of that cherry tree
story for two good and sufficient reasons,
either Of which should convince any rea-
sonable person. In the first place, Wash
ington was a born peelcr, and. like poets.
peelers are born, not made. This act of
his boyhood was symbolic of the manhood
the future held in store for him. 1t was
necessary for him to begin early in life in
order to become proficient in his calling,
when his call came. The peeling of the
cherry tree by Washington the boy was
the harbnger of the peeling Of King
George III by Washington the man. Here
is proof that the boy is father to the man.
No one, not even Canadian, can deny
or doubt that Washington was peeler
from his boyhood.
My second reason is even more cOnvinc-
ing. When | made that visit to West
moreland County in the Spring of 1863,
took great pains to investigate this whole
cherry-tree question. If the proof of the
pudding is in chewing the string, then why
should not the proof of the cherry tree
be in gathering and chewing the fruit of
its bearing? And surely it was the fruit
of that old cherry tree, and luscious fruit
it was, that we gathered. Do not mis-
judge me, kind reader. This may at first
glance seem apocryphal but wait till I
| finish. l can tell lie when hard-pressed,
but here there is no need, and l assure
you this is true story.
My visit to the County Of Washington's
nativity was a two-fold honor, from the
fact that James Monroe as well as George
Washington first saw the light of day
in Westmoreland County, Va. Monroe,
| like Washington, was something of a
peeler himself. and closely followed in the
footsteps of his great predecessor 1t is
not recorded of James that he peeled his
old mans cherry tree, and possibly his
early education was neglected, but it is
| recorded that in 1919 he peeled Florida,
with all its cherry trees, orange trees, and
cypress trees from Spain; just as beauti-
| fully as Washington peelel his colonial
possessions from King George; then, lit
tie later, he peeled Spain again by ac-
1 knowledging the independence of the
Spanish American Republics, which, taken
she ever received until 1898, when this
Yankee Nation gave her final and ever.
lasting peeling.
1t is also recorded Of James that in 1922
he pealed forth the Monroe Doctrine
loud and clear, so all the nations heard and
still they hear. That doctrine so dear tt
the heart of every American citizen, has
never been and never will be repealed
while the United States of America holds
life dear and liberty worth maintaining
Surely it was a grand privilege to visit the
county wherein two such eminent Ameri
can peelers were born.
| Immediately after selecting conven
lent and safe camping-ground and estab
fishing guard and picket lines, we brok,
ranks and leisurely proceeded to investi
gate the condition of Westmoreland County
Va, in the year of Our Lord 1868. IL
order that this investigation should b,
made in thoroughly satisfactory manner