The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-21

p TO ONE OF George Washincton'S
IN biogTaplcrS makes any record of
the fact that AT one period of
oais life eHr--i;-st President made. an
attempt to learn 10 play the nn;c. aud
that his effort was so earnest and 50
Ions continued that lie actually sue,
ceedcd III mcmoriztnc an air from ono
OF Gluck's early operas in a letter
written by one OF the young daughters
OF Sir William Fairfax to 1. relative
;n England, the following mcutiun IL
r'adc OF tho great Nirsinians musical
ambition:
Il must tell YOU tina; on yesterday
Mr. Augustine WaShinrton's Young son
came TO us for fortnight, bringing
his fiutc, and last night he played an
AIR from Gluck to my accompaniment,
on the harpsichord ] say truly that
never heard anything more melan-
cholE, although found it most trying
to keep a straight face. The player
mad SO little command OF his instru-
ment THAT could not keep with him,
and give YOU my word that it was a
sorry performance
Nor has there ever been much said
OF written about Washington's literary
achievements, although there is in the
market of the present time a collection
, OF his writings in fourteen volumes
I
dcs ute the authors lack of education
ano ignorance of literary method IL is
one of the most fascina ting collections
OF letters over printed 1t is in these
numerous epistlcs, written to all sorts
OF persons and inspired by all sorts of
occasions. that the true personality of
abe great American is revealed in all
aus oreacth and dignity. How llumin-
alive, for example. is the following ey-
n LOT al 81. I
on the da:- after the retiring President
reached hS' home at Mount Vernon:
a. length. am TO become n pri.
Vate citizen, and under the shadow OF
my own vine and fig tree. free from The
puStie OF camp and The busy scenes
VI puniic lie am solacing myscli
with those tranquil cnjoymcnts OF
which the soldier, who is ever in mr.
suit OF fame, the statesman, who's.
watchfuf days and slecpIess nights
are spent in deviling schemes to pro.
mote the welfare Of his own. pcrhnns
the ruin of other countries. as if this
globe were Insufficient 70 rus all, ana
the courtier, who is always watchinL
the coun;enancc OF his prince, i'm homes
OF catching. a gracious smile. can have
very little conception. Ervious OF
none, all determined TO he pleased
with all And this, my dear friend
being the order of my march. will
move gently down the stream of life
until | sleep with my gathers"
John Adnms'S Nocnt Efforts Pronounc-
cd "DrprcssInG.''
The only record that bears even re-
,notely OH the subject of John .Ada,nss
musical ability is to be found in !, Ict
ter written by the wife Of one of his
Braintree ncighhors To her cousin in
Annapolis. Md One OF tho mos, dc
pressing things about Braintree," she
writes, rs tile psalm tune singing or
Mr. John Adams, Boston lawyer who
is our nearest neighbour. Every even
inS Mt precisely the same hour there
arises from the Adams home n series
of the most lugubrious wailings thai
ever aSsailcd the ears of man. II is Mr.
Adams singing his; young family tosleen.
NOW mat II is summer and the doors
ana windows are open. assure YOU
that this is no light affection II ,nny.
and doubtless does, close the eyes or
the Adams children, but II has no such
soothing effect on ours. They are so
wide awake over II that I somctaimes
despair of getting them off ut all,
AS an author, John Adams was much
more successful. His fraunent contri-
buttons to the Boston Gazette in lT7a
and lIIt had much 10 do with III,
creation OF the popular sentiment
which brought about the decisive action
OF 1875. His literary style was hard
and laborious. but his writings bris
tied with facts and his logic was in
rincible II was 10 his fearless and
patriotic initiative that the Declare
ton OF Independence became newt :
able, but when II had to be put into
shape for publication h. called to his
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