The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-11

r. Is the popular Impression that
George Washington was too ser
ious to play; that the RESPONSE
aility which fell on bis young
shoulders at tho death of his father
and subsequent career as the Father
OF his Country made him Indifferent
TO sport OF any kind. Such an, as
SUMPTION is not Justified by fnct-,he
records which are still In our pos
session make 1t clear that our first
President was q sror;smu in tho tru-
ast sense of tho term.
Az mere youth he knew tho N!r
Sinia forest "as well as redski:
aud he had the reputation OF be &
handler with gun, kcener VIII q
trap and luckier with rod" than aI7
man In his part of the colony. That
WAS saying much at !, time when every
man was something OF Nimrod and
the quality OF his table depended sc
largely on his Skill as Il shot.
I, was this intimacy with tho woods
and its creatures that made young
Washington so interesting to LORD
Thomas Fairfax. who. disappointed In
love on his return home from oxford
had come out" to Virginia TO "have
look" AT the estate which his mother
had Inherited trom her father, Lore
Culpepcr. 1t was Il vast tract of vir'
Sln forest, comprising III all twenty
ono counties. about unc-quaTtcr of the
area III the entire colony Of virginia
From the first. his diSconSolatc lord
ship folt attracted toward ,nc young
Nrginian. and i, was their common
love Tor the orcn .hat ccrcnicd thei.
friendship. lord Fairfax was 4 de-
rctoc OF nature. II painter Of no NEAR
ability, and WashinGton'S deep know
lsdr" OF The ancient wood appealed
20 him with a Fascination he could not
49,,
his protection, employed him III i'm
'poriaiit surveying work OF his ow'
AMI made !, point OF turthcrin- his in
tyrcsts with the provincial government,
According to u Latter of that period
now preserved by the Fairfax family
as . priceless treasure. George Wash
ington in his teens was inordtnately
fond Of dancing. 81: William Fairfax.
,hc raruns Younger brother. had pre-
coded him 10 Virginia. started Il tobac.
ca plantation on the Rappahamnnck
built a rather pretent,ous mansion
witch lie named Belvotr, and settled
down IL enjoy the life of country
gentleman. Hs entertained largely. al
INC notable persons in the colony
meeting at his hospitable board
George Washingtom's half-bro;her
Lawrence, had married n daughter OF
this Jelly squire, and the lad was al.
ways welcome visitor AT gay Bel
voir. It was there that he acquired
his fundnsss for the dance and the ease
of manner which served him SO ad.
mirahly in official life
John Adem.s Game of Cards.
Despite his Puritan training. John
ADAMS occasionally found solace in Il
game OF cards. III those days no game
of interest was free from pecuniary
attachment and the massachusetts,
man lid not hesitate on that account.
il has been asserted that 10 acquired
the taste In France, hut such state
ment conflicts with a certain humorous
account of one OF .,damss Harvard cX-
u rienccs. AS tho story runs, four
divinity StudentS--thc Sraintrec MAJ
was so classified NJ the t!mc-wcre
having a quiet game In the room nj
ono of tn. number when tho latch ci
rho door was lifted forcihiy from g.,
outside. only TO reveal the fact that
the holt within made sudden entrance
Impractical BILE.
''Iourg men,'' came sepulchral
query from without, why do you con
iErcCate at this untim.ly hour u'
Vvns somewhere near midniEhtl
Because we are Coz -regat!onalists,
was the brazen reply.
- could Nhne the knavc who spofc.'
ihe voice declared anGr!ly. How
many OF you are there"
-Four knaves,' was the ready answer