The Washington times., 1904-12-18

- TRENUOUS life I'm the White
House began with George Wash
ington. who was one OF the best
an-around sportsmen Of his day.
and who even when he was commander
in-chief Of the Colonial armies and Pres
ident exercised at running nigh jumps
over a rope. wherein he seems 10 have
outdone even the present occupant Of
the White House.
The Father Of His country" dashing
to the 'take-off. then ieaping high IN
air and leading Gn the other side OF the
rope. may present a somewhat alarm
ing picture to those who have formed
their image of him from the immoDile
equestrian statue I'm Union Square. New
York. but the fact remains shat the run
ming high jump was one OF his favorite
methods Of keeping ia prime physical
trim
His manner Of indulging in this sport
ras somewhat peculiar. He did not al
ways have two posts with peg holes and
a cross bar handy. so ne tied one end or
a rope about breast high to tree ana
had negro boy servant hold il taut by
the other 1t may well be taken for
granted. however. that Sambo. or what
ever mis- name was favored the Presi-
dent a little and dipped "a the critical
moment
i so happens that the immediate ped
scessors OF President RoOsevelt-Mchln-
,ev. Cleveland. and HarrisOn-were not
especially given 20 physical exercise
wherefore his devotion TO its seems un-
usual enough TO be startling But ear
lier I'm the history Of the country II
would not have been so exceptional
Most cf our Presidents have come from
couDaratively small communities, Ike
Southern plantations, lonely Western
farms. or villages and minor towns oT
lilies. where by reason Of their very en-
vIrenments they grew up outdoors.
Washington a Keen Athlete.
Washington was keen athlete. II
living Today and q young man he d2ubi-
less would be captain OF his college
football eleven. sliding bases on the dia-
mond or pulling stroke on the varsity
eight. With him physical culture. though
the term was then unknown, kept up
with mental development. No baseball
was played I'm his day. but as Ions
distance stone thrower across the Rap
uahannock he had few if any rivals. lie
also was good at throwing the heavy
bar. winch probably was the equlv5l-
lent of our hammer. Nor did he al
low advancing maturity 10 interfere
with his athletic sports. q. W. Peale,
when painting his portrait at Mount
Vernon stood by when ne Outdistanced
several much younger men at throwing &
the bar He was also a swift runner.
A. a horseman he was noted. From
his Doynood hc had ridden 20 hounds.
AS "a lad he rode al Lord FairfaN's i'm
vitatiOn to the latter's pack and later
he had "a pack of his own The cherry
tree story Is set down by many as
aprocryphaI, but the following Is
vouched for; His mother had span
of superb grays FOR driving. They were
never broken 10 saddle. Some of Wash
ingtons boy friends suggested that IL
would be great sport 10 ride these
horses. on whose backs no one ever had
sat. But when the span was led ont
every one but Washington quailed before
their spirited action. lie, however
quickly threw himself upon the back
OF one OF them. The high mettled uri-
nal stralghtway tried every means
known To q ltlNt l'l Aii'N4tio a. 'i''r-
and then bolted al furious speed for the
open. BuJ young Washington stayed
on until th, animal fell exhausted be-
meath MIN. Then the boy went straight
IL his mother and confessed, and was
pardoneG for his bravery and his truth
fulness combined.
His Foxhounds Noted.
His mack of FOX hounds was so noted
that the names of some of the pack
have come down to this day. Among
them wer, Vulcan, BingWood, Singer,
ana Music. lie usually rode Blueslun.
so named from his dark iron gray coat.
when following the hounds. His cos
tunes for foS hunting always were
made by leading London tailors. lie
wore "a coat of hae blue cloth. a scar
let wJistCoat. buckskin brceches. and q