The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-10-28

him TO the view CT ali mauniuu uau
set him among the great captains of
the world; had marked him a states
man in the midst of affairs-more a
statesman than a soldier even, men
must have thought who had read his
letters or heard them read in congress,
on the floor or in the committee rooms; ;
had drawn to himself the admiration
Of the very men he had been lighting.
the very nation whose dominion he
had helped to cast off.
He had come he ne perhaps the most
famous man OF his day, and could not
take up the old life where he had left
It OF, much as he wished to; was
obliged, in spite of himself, to play a
new part in affairs.
Befriended by Nature.
For a few weeks. indeed, after he
had reached Mount Vernon, Nature
herself assisted him to little privacy
ard real retirement.
The winter G7S3-4) was an I'M
commonly severe one. Snow lay piled,
al but impossible, upon the roads;
frosts hardened all the country against
travel; he could not get even to Fred
ericksburg to see his aged mother;
and not many visitors. though they
were his near neighbors, could reach
him at Mount Vernon.
In Fancied Retirement.
AT length, my dear Marquis" he
could write to Lafayette in his secur-
ity, Il am become a private citizen on
the banks of the Potomac; and under
the shadow Of my own vine and my
own fig tree, free from the hustle of
a camp and the busy scenes of puo-
lie life, l am solacing myself with
those tranquil enjoyments of which
the soldier. who Is ever in pursuit of
days and sleepless nights are spent in
devising schemes to promote the wei.
fare of his own. perhaps the ruin of
other countri, 8, as II this globe was
INSULT cient for us all, and the courtier,
who is always watching the counter.
ance of his prince, can have very little
I have not only retired
from all public employments, but am
within myself Envi.
Gus Of none. l am determined to be
pleased with all; and this. my dear
friend, being the order Of my march,
will move gently down the stream of
time until sleep with my fathers"
The simple gentleman did not yet
realize what the breaking up of the
frosts would bring.
With the spring the whole life of
he world seemed to come pouring in
Ipon Washington.
Men of note everywhere pressed
heir correspondence upon him; no
itranger visited America but thought
irst of Mount Vernon in planning
where he should go and what he
should see; new friends and old sat !,
very day at mis- table; year and a
lalf had gone by since his home-com-
ng before he could note in his diary
June 80. 1850: "Dined with only
Hrs. Washington. which, believe, is /
he first instance of it since my re-
irement from public life"-for some
,isitors had broken their way even
through the winter roads.
All Roads Lead to Mount Vernon.
Authors sent him what they wrote;
INVENTORS submitted their ideas and
models to him; everything that was
'eing said. everything that was being
lone. seemed to find its way. " no
where else. to Mount Vernon-tili
hose who knew his occupations could
peak Of Washington. very justly, as
the focus of political intelligence for
he new world"
He would not alter his way o. liv
ng even In the face of such over
'helming Interruptions.
Sticks to His Business.
His guests saw him for a little AFT
r dinner. and once and again. L
light be. in the evening also; but he
ept TO his business throughout all
he working hours of the day: was
I his desk even before breakfast.
nd after breakfast was always early
| the saddle and on to his farms
Only at table did he play the host
ngering over the wine to give and
all for toasts and relax In genial con
creation. losing. as the months pass
4 by, some of the deep gravity that
Id settled upon him In the camp. and
lowing once more an enjoying relish
= 20 pleasant story. an unaffected
lily Of wit. or a burlesQue descrip-
No." ~ In the old days after hunt.