The Tupelo journal., 1905-02-17

although every inch a king" over
looked the disregard of established
forms into which his would-be hosts had
been betrayed by their patriotic zeal. and
made the following answer in his own
handwriting:
Gentlemen: thank you for your hos
pitable invitation and the gratifying terms
in which you have expressed your desire
that l should attend a banquet which you
propose to give in celebration OF Gen.
Washington's natal day. But you must ex-
cuse me from uniting with you TO honor
the memory of your illustrious country
man, since l could not do SO with sincerity,
for Washington scorned a crown, and did
more to bring royalty into contempt than
all men who nave ever lived. and / am d
king by trade"
On December 4 Washington took final
leave of the officers OF the army in the
dining room of the old Fraunces tavern.
at the corner of Pearl and Broad streets,
New York.
Pouring u a glass of wine, he re-
quested them to fill their glasses, and
after giving his habitual first toast. TO
all our friends" he said:
with a heart full of love and gratitude
| now take my leave of You, most devoted
~ praying that your latter days may be as
prosperous and happy as your former ones
have been honorable and glorious | can
not come to each of you, but will be glad if
every one of you will come forward and
take me by the hand"
The following anecdote. narrated by
Mr.. Watson, presents Washington not
in his additionally austere attitude,
habitually poised to be pedestalled In
bronze or marble, but as the kindly tenn
pered mar and considerate host, beneath
whose native dignity of name there
glowed the most tender sympathy with
the sufferings of others, suggesting the
pinions of the eagle folded around the
warm heart OF the cove:
although | had frequently seen Gen.
Washington in the progress of the rev.
olution, and had corresponded with him
from France in 81 and '82, this was the
first occasion on which | had contem-
plated him in his private relations. |
observed a peculiarly in his smile which
seemed to illuminate his eyes; his whole
countenarce beamed with intelligence,
while it commanded confidence and re-
spect. | found him kind and benignant
in the domestic circle, revered and be-
loved by all around him. agreeably social
without os%tentation, delighting in anec-
dotes and adventures without assump-
ton; his domestic arrangements harmo-
NOUS and systematic. His servants
seemed % watch his eye, and to antici-
pate his every wish. hence a look was
equivalent to a command. His servant
Billy, the faithful companion of his mil
itary career, was always at his side;
smiling content animated and beamed
on every countenance In his presence.
The first evening | spent under the wing
of his hospitality we sat a full hour at
table by ourselves, after the family had
retired. | was extremely oppressed with
a severe cold and excessive coughing,
and he pressed me to use some remedies.
but | declined dong so. AS usual after
retiring, my co Ching increased. When
some time had elapsed the door of my
room was gently opened, and on drawing
my ~bed-curtains, to my utter %astonish-
ment | beheld Washington himself
standing at my bedside with a bowl CT
O tea in his hand. | was mortified and
distressed beyond expression. This lit
tie incident occurring in common life
with an ordinary man, would not have
been noticed. but as a trait of the benev-
olence and private virtue OF Washington
it deserves to be recorded"