The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-07-12
the very nation whose domlnIo6 ID


For a few weeks, indeed. after he
had reached Mount Vernon, Nature
herself assisted him to little privacy
and real retirement. -. 49,
The winter (1783-4) was an I'm.
commonly severe oSe. Snow lay piled,
all 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" be
could write to Lafayette in his secur
ity. II am become 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
camp and the busy scenes of pub.
lilo life, am solacing myself. with
those tranquil enjoyments Of which
the soldier, who is ever In pursuit OF
fame. the statesman, whose watchfu]
days and sleepless nights are spent in
devising schemes to promote the well
fare OF his own, perhaps tho ruin OF
other countries, as If this globe was
insufficient for US all, and the courtier,
who is always watching tho counter
ance of his prince, can have very little
conception. I have not only retired
from all public employments, but am
retiring within myself. Envi.
Gus Of none, I am determined to be
pleased with all; and this, my dear
friend, being the order of my march.
I 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
the world seemed to come pouring in
upon Washington.
Men of note everywhere pressed
their correspondence upon him; no
stranger visited America but thought
first Of Mount Vernon in planning
where he should go and what he
should see; new friends and old sat
every day at his table; year and a
half had gone by since his home-com.
ing before he could note in his diary
(June 30, 1850: ,"Dined with only
Mrs. Washington, which, I"believe, ia
the first instance of it since my re-
arement from public life''-for soma
visitors 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
being said, everything that was being
done, seemed to find its way, If no.
where else, to Mount Vernon-tiI
those who knew his occupations could
speak Of Washington, very justly: al
the focus of political intelligence for
the new world" ".. 80 {
He would not alter his. way Of lv-
Ing even in the face Of such oyer.
whelming Interruptions.
Sticks to His Business.
His guests saw him for a little aft
Or dinner, and >once and again, it
might be, in the evening also; but he
kept to his business throughout all
The working hours of the day; was
at his desk even before breakfast,
and after breakfast was always early
IN the saddle and of to his farms.
Only at table did he play the host,
lingering over the wine to give and
call for toasts and relax In genial con-
versatfon, losing, as the months pass
ed by, some Of the deep gravity that
had settled upon him in the camp, and
showing once more an enjoying relish
for "a pleasant story an unaffected
sally Of wit, or burlesque descrip-
tion," as in the old days after hunt
Ing.
Strangers In Awe Of Him.
Strangers were oftensin awe of him.
It did not encourage talk In those who
had little to say to sit in the presence
Of a man who SO looked his greatness
in the very proportions of his strong
figure even, and whose grave and
steady eyes SO challenged the signif-
canoe of what was said.
Young people would, leave of dan
cling. and romping when he came into
the room, and force him to withdraw,
and peep at the fun from without the
door, unobserved.
1t was only among his intimates
that he was suffered and taken to be
the simple, straightforward, sympar
thizing man he was, exciting, not awe,
but only a warm and affectionate al.
legiance. '"rhe General with few
glasses Of champagne, got quite, mer.
ry,' a. young Englishman could: report
who had had the good luck to be I'm
troduced by Richard Henry Lee, "and,
being with his intimate friends, laugh.
ed and talked a good deal"
Resumes His Old Life. =
AS much as no could, he resumed
the old life, and the thoughts and
pastimes that had gone with it. S 3.
Once more he, became the familiar
of his hounds at the kennels, and fol-
1nwa6 Thorn % opto-, a g ,,oieI,t ~ q.