The Dickinson press., 1909-03-06
IN WASHINGTON

Prof L. r. WaldronW Writes the Press
al Interesting Letter of His
Recent Experiences at the
National Capital.
Prof. L. R. Waldron of the Dickinson
Experiment station, who is on a years
leave of absence in the east writes the
PRESS an interesting letter about some
of the things he saw in Washington
while there a few weeks ago.
The Press
In these piping times Of patriot
ism when we are celebrating the birth
days of our heroes. it may be of some
interest to the readers of the PRESS
to learn of a few things that are closely
associated with the early and trying days
of our country. In n or wv rooms of
the most beautiful Congressional library
at Washington, there are deposited
many relics that must be held quite
sacred by every true American. Very
many pages could be used to good adj
vantage in describing the great beauties
of our national library but let us pro-
coed at once to the north corridor of the
second floor where these interesting
papers are deposited in large mahogany
cases.
AS n might expect. the Washington
papers are quite numerous. A number
of Washington's diaries are shown. He
was very careful in recording daily
events, the weather never escaped him
and the temperature was generally
recorded. He made notes of the pro-
eress of work upon the Mt. Vernon
estate in great detail. He was a great
student of agriculture and had worked
out a pretty thorough system of crop
rotation for tie estate. This system did
not much differ from good crop rotations
of the present day. The last diary entry
made by Washington was under date of
December 10. 1899. This last entry is
rather difficult to decipher but it is seen
to deal with the weather. Some of the
diaries have printed doggerel at the
beginning of each month. Under March
we find this:
IF you desire Health to be lasting,
Go not out in the cold morning fasting,
Get Cherry Bounce and a good toast
Before you face the morning post,
Or else a elass Of gin or brandy
Will do you good as sure as can be.
It is to be hoped that the Cherry Bounce
was better than the poetry.
Washington wrote out a lot of rules of
civility. These are in a large folio
volume. The rules evidently only occupy
q small part of the volume. There were
10 rules altogether, a rather formidable
list but from what we know of Washing
tons life. there is but little doubt but
what he had them well in mind. He
was young when he compiled them and
some of them are pretty formal and
pedantic and would sound strange enough
in modern ears. They comport better
with the days of wigs. stately manners
and knee breaches. However, they doubt
less had much effect upon the welfare of
our country. 1t took a great spirit,
fortified in every way. to Withstand the
fearful trials and reverses, ignominy
and suffering to which Washington was
constantly subject during the fourteen
years following the outbreak of the wal.
Washington's accounts during the
revolution are on display. As is well
known. he took command of the colonial
armies only with the understanding that
his sole compensation would be the ex.
penses necessarily incurred during the
war. These accounts were rendered
strictly even: down to the smallest item.
His private accounts are also shown.
His cash On hand on August 9, 1872.
consisted of gold, silver and paper t.
the amount of 404 pounds and fourpence.
His gold was in half sovereigns. guineas
pistoles and other pieces. The detail Of
such accounts is marvellous when ",
recollect that it was all done by himsel
at a time when he was writing a vas
number of letters to prominent peopl.
on the state of the colonies. all loni
hand without a secretary and at a tim
when he was busy with the many detail
of the great Mt. Vernon estate Unde
the date of 1910. there is a long an,
very detailed statement of a weaving
account in Washington's hand writ ing
The weaving was done by one Thos
Davis.
Of some interest are two diploma.
from Yale and Harvard colleges confer
ring the degree of Doctor of Laws upol
Washington. They did not confer much
49, L. = a = RAJ