The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-02-17
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Tho hurdens of the presidency, left Washington
with the simple instincts and HABITS Oh the coun
tv magnate and man of business. he wrote 10
friend in those latter days that he had found NIL
Vernon in need of careful attention on his return
from, the army Friends were welcome, put they
must expect simple fare-a bit OF mutton anu
GLASS of wine were all the table boasted Later
still, after Washington had definitely lald as.ue
the cares of state, Col. Darlington 1ouhd d. fn''
Vernon still marked simplicity. The veteran upon
tho occasion of Carrington's visit went to bed at
midnight instead Of nine o'clock, extending MS
time three hours in honor OF MS guess. MIS-
Washington always spoke OF her omclal NE Will
it's levees and formality as her lost DAYS anu
Mrs Darlington found her in her own rooms, WIN
a chambermaid knitting in one corner, and niue
neeress learning to sew in another. The first lady
of the White House was even then knitting gloves
and stockings for friends and dependents. 1t was
of this period perhaps few years earlier, that
an English actor tells pleasant story. ne was
on the public road somewhere near MI. vernon
when a private coach was upset. The occupants
a fine lady and her escort almost angrily demand
ed help. While the actor was doing what ne coula'
a large man rode up on horseback, dlsmounteo'
rendered efectual aid for which he received scant
thanks and started the ill-mannered pair upon
their journey. Then the stranger turned 10 the
actor recognized him and recalled the fact OF nav
ing seen him more than once upon the stage. by
this time the actor in turn had recognized the man
on horseback as Gen. Washington. The incident
closed with the actor on his way to dine at MT.
Vernon.
"For most of us to-day that giant figure in the
background of our short national history suffices
to hide the perspective of the earlier Washington
in his successive stages as colonial American.
Nevertheless, the plain planter and provincial sol
der called upon to lead new nation in war and
in peace and to take unwilling hand in world
politics. must always have thought of his later
life in relation with his humber past Whoever
would know Washington in his entirety must not
content himself with reading American history
from Bunker Hill to the middle of John Adams
administration, and standing barred before the
tomb at Mt. Vernon.
"He must visit the Northern Neck where
Washington, even at his greatest, loved to live an
equal among his neighbors; he must see Freder
icksburg, with the still standing homestead OF
Washington's mother and the house of his sister;
he must take the delicious walk from Wakefield
wharf to the lonely birthplace monument in the
great wheat field overlooking the Potomac, see
the very plantations that the schoolboy OF i74C
looked upon, hear the mad mocktngbirGs ~ ne
must have heard them. Above all, such g sslden
must navigate the lovely waters Of the Potomac
in it's lower course, where the stream and its
tributaries spread and branch like an inland sea
must hear the homely speech of the native popu
lation to whom the name Washington connotes
not only the dead hero, but their living negt hori
of one blood with the first president