The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-02-13

But by the all-powerful dispensations of ProYt
dence | have been protected beyond all human
probability and expectation, for had four bullets
through my coat and two horses shot under me-
yet escaped unhurt, aItho' death was leveling my
companions on every side Of me!
We have been most scandalously beaten by
trifling body Of men, but fatigue and want Of
time will prevent me from giving you the details
until have the happiness OF seeing you at Mount
Vernon. GEORGE" /
War is not supposed to develop the latent sense
OF humor in a commanding general, but Washing
tons wit never forsook him. His successful strata
gems were little more than practical jokes raised
to the highest power. They always worked"
and then he waited, laughing in hts military
sleeve, while his fatwitted enemies tried to play
his own tricks back on him. Even in his retreats
and escapes from the British--as at Long Island
and before Princeton-he laughed and kicked up
nimbe heels in the face of the sursuing enemy.
1t was while his headquarters were in Jersey
that Washington perpetrated the great Jersey
joke still perpetuated by SO many millions He
told an English traveller named Weld that be
was never so much annoyed by mosquitoes, for
they used to bite through the thickest boot"
When the war was over the victorious com.
mander entertained the 'yanquished general, Lord
CORVALLIS, at dinner with some of the leaders
among the French allies. Washington presided.
In calling for toasts, CORVALLIS, with an obliVt
BUSINESS Of the changed conditions that was truly
English, proposed THE King of England" as
subject for high praise.
Inc other guests were In CONSERVATION. Would
the presiding genius, on whose very head King
george had set price, resent this as an insult.
The King of England" announced the toast
master general, raising his glass The guests
gazed at him, transfixed with establishment
Long. may he,'' continued Washington Long
may he stay there!"
He pronounced the last two words in a stage
whisper with shrug and rueful grimace which
made all the company, including Lorn CORVALLIS,
VINO now saw his mistake, applaud with hearty
laughter; and Washington's ready humor had
prevented disagreeabe complication.
After the Revolution, Washington was permit
tea the long-coveted happiness of living peacefully
under his own vine and fgtree" as he called it
hundreds of times in as many letters 1t is great
mistake to think that his life at Mount Vernon
was either stale or stilted Nelly GUSTS. his adopt
ed daughter, Is authority for the statement that
retired. general was always full of gayety and
good spirits, surrounding himself with young pec
pies company, enjoying their lively conversation
particularly the Jokes" as he once said Nelli
went SO far as to claim that she found no one
quite SO willing to keep pace with her own e.
travagant spirits as her dear, delightful old fos
ter father
How Washington did enjoy his home when ha
was nnally permitted to stay there! Mount Yer
non was Mecca for pilgrims from all over the
world. he once wrote to Tobias Lear, Unless
some one pops In UNEXPECTEDLY Mrs Washington
and myself will do what believe has not within
the last ~ years been done by us-that is, to sit
down to dinner by ourselves"