The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-04-25

and in the fashion; and the master OF
Mount Vernon would have deemed it
an improperly to be less careful than
his neighbors, less well dressed than
his station and fortune warranted
He watched the tradesmen sharply.
lis custom, have some reason
to believe, with many shopkeepers and
tradesmen in London" he wrote blunt
ly to the Messrs. Cary, when they
know goods are bespoken for exporta-
ton. to palm sometimes old. and
sometimes very slight and Indifferent,
goods upon US. taking care at the same
4 time to advance the price" and he
wished them informed that their dis
tant customers would not be SO duped.
Lonaed to Go Abroad.
He longed once and again to be quit
OF the narrow life of the colony. and
stretch himself for a little upon the
broader English stage at home. But
am tied by the leg" he told his
friends there, "and must set inclina-
ton aside. Ny INDUCING myself in a
trip to England depends upon SO
many contingencies, which, in all prob
ability, may never occur. that | dare
not even think of such qualification .
But the disappointment bred no real
discomfort
There could be no better air or
company to come to maturity in than
were to be had there in Virginia, If a
young man were poised and master of
himself. We have few things here
striking to European travellers Except
our abundant woods)," he professed,
when he wrote to his kinsman, Rich
ard Washington. in England; but lit
tie variety, a welcome reception
among few friends, and the open and
prevalent hospitality of the country .
but it was land that bred men. and
men Of affairs, in no common fashion.
Unrest In the Colonies.
Especially now, after the quickening
of pulses that had come with the
French war, and its sweep of CONT
mental, even of international. forces
across the colonial stage, hitherto set
only for petty and sectional affairs.
The colonies had grown self-conscious
and restless as the plot thickened and
thrust them forward to a role of con-
sequence in the empire such as they
had never thought TO play. and the
events which succeeded hurried them
to quick maturity.
1t was a season young man was
sure to ripen in, and there was good
company. The house of burgesses was
very quiet the year Washington first
took his place in it and stood abashed
Mr.. Robinson. IT'S already veteran
speaker, was dead. a notable change
had set in.
At Odds With Parliament
Within FIVE years, before the coun-
try on the ST. Lawrence and the lakes
was well out OF the hands Of the
French, the parliament in England had
entered upon measures Of government
which seemed meant Of deliberate pur-
pose to set the colonies agog, and
every body of counselors In America
stood between anger and amazement
to see their people in danger to be
so put upon.
The threat and pressure OF the
French power upon the frontiers had
! made the colonies thoughtful always,
so long as it lasted, of their depend
ence upon England for succor and de-
tense should there come a time of
need
Once and again-often enough 10
keep them sensible how they must
+ go 60 81
! power at home-their own raw levies
had taken part with the kings troops
out OF England in some clumsy stroke
or other against a French stronghold
in the north or a Spanish fortress in
the south; and now at last they had
gone with English troops into the field
in national cause. Provincials and
redcoats had Joined for final grapple
with the French. to settle once and for
all who should be owners and masters
'on the coveted continent.
No Longer Dependent.
The issue had been decisive. By the
summer of 1850 Washington could
write his kinsman in England that the
French were so thoroughly drubbed
and humbled that there remained lit
tie to do TO reduce Canada from end to
end to the British power
But the very thorcughness OF the
success wrought revolution in the
relations of the colonies to the mother
country. 1t rid them Of their sense
of dependence. English regiments
had mustered their thousands. no
doubt. upon the battlefelds of the
war in order that the colonies might
be free to possess the continent. and
it was hard to see how the thing could
have been accomplished without them.
But it had been accomplished. and
would not need to be done again.
Not overawed by Foreigners.
Moreover. 1t had shown the colonial
militia how strong they were even in
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