The Ordway new era., 1913-10-31

of office once taken, he was no longer
. simple citizen, as he had sen dur
ing those two days of waiting; the
dignity of the government had come
into his keeping with the office. Hence
forth he would pay no more calls. ao-
cept no Invitations.
On day fixed he would receive
calls; and he would show himself once
= week at Mrs. Washington's general
receptions. He would invite persons
of official rank or marked distinction
to his table at suitable intervals.
There should be no pretense of seclu.
sion, no parade of inaccessibility. The
president should be republican on
Ger. the servant of the people. But he
would not be common. 1t should be
known that his office and authority
were the first In the land.
Every proper outward form OF dig.
nifty, ceremony and self-respect should
be observed that might tell whole.
somely upon the imagination OF the
people; that might be made to serve
as visible sign, which no man could
miss, that there was here no vestige
of the old federal authority, at which
It had been the fashion to laugh. but
q real government. and that the great
est In the land.
Prestige for Government.
Some thought him stiff. but only the
churlish could deem him unrepublican,
70 evident was 1t to every candid man
that 1t was not himself but his office
he was exalting. His old passion for
success was upon him. and he meant
that this government of which he had
been made the head should have pres
tige from the first.
Count de Moustier. the French min
lister to the United States. deeming
America, no doubt, protege OF
France, claimed the right to deal di.
rectly with the president In person.
a. II upon terms Of familiar privilege,
when conducting his diplomatic bust
ness: but was checked very promptly.
1t was not likely a man bred in the
proud school of virginian country gen.
tlemen would miss SO obvious point
OF etiquette as this. To demand init.
macy was to intimate superiority. and
Washington's reply drew from the
count an instant apology.
That the United States had every
reason to hold France in loyal afiec.
tion Washington gladly admitted with
all stately courtesy; but affection be.
came servility when 1t lost self
respect. ,and France must approach
the. president OF the United States as
every other country did. through the
properly constituted department. III
there are rules of proceeding" no said.
quietly, which have originated from
the wisdom of statesmen. and are
sanctioned by the common assent OF
nations. 1t would not be prudent for a
young state to dispense with them al.
together"-particular a young state
(his thought added) which foreign
states had despised and might now
try to patronize.
These small matters would carry
an infinite weight of suggestion with
them, as he knew. and every sugses'
ton that proceeded from the president
should speak OF dignity and indepen.
dence.
Stricken With illness.
He had been scarcely six weeks IN
office when he was stricken with q
sharp illness. A malignant tumor In
his thigh seemed to his physicians for
a time to threaten, modification. 1t
was three weeks before he could take
the air again. stretched painfully at
length In his coach; even his stalwart
strength was slow to rally from the
draft made upon 1t by the disease. and
its cure with the knife.
There was deep anxiety for a little
among those who knew. 30 likely did
1t seem that the life OF the govern.
ment was staked upon his life. He
himself had looked very calmly into
the doctors troubled face. and had
hidden him tell him the worst with
that placid Rrmness that always came
to him in moments of danger.
II am not afraid to die" he said.
Whether tonight or twenty years
hence makes no difference. l know
that am in the hands of good Prov
idence."
ITO BE coNTINUBp)