Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-02-18

4 But by the allpowerfu dispensations OF Provi-
sdence have been protected beyond all human
probability and expectation for had four bullets
4 through my coat and two horses shot under me-
yet; escaped unhurt altho' death was leveling my
companions on every side Of me!
..sWe have been most scandalously beaten by
4triaing 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 q commanding general, but Washing
tons wit forsook him. His successful strata
gems were little more than practical jokes raised
4 to the highest power. They always worked, q
+ and then he waited laughing in his 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
nimble heels In the face Of the sursuing enemy.
ii It was while his headquarters were in Jersey
A that Washington perpetrated the great Jersey
joke still perpetuated by many millions. He
told an English traveller named Weld that he
& "was never SO much annoyed by mosquitoes, for
they used to bite through the thickest boot 558
81 When the war was over the victorious COM
mander entertained the vanquished general, Lord
CORVALLIS, at dinner, with some of the leaders
among the French allies. Washington presided
In calling for toasts, Corvallis, with an oblivi.
BUSINESS Of the changed conditions that was truly
English proposed "The King of England" as
subject LOT nlSn praise. a.- ssst{
5 The other guests were in CONSERVATION. Would
the presiding genius, on whose very head King
George had set price, resent this as an insult!
a& "The King of England" announced the toast
master general raising his glass. The guests
gazed at him, transfxed with establishment $
Long may he,' continued Washington. Long
may he stay there!" iG B s @
He pronounced the last two words in stage
whisper, with a shrug and rueful grimace which
made all the company, including Lorn CORVALLIS,
who now saw his mistake, applaud with hearty
laughter; and Washington's ready humor had
prevented a disagreeable complication.
After the Revolution, Washington was permit
ted the 1ong-coveted happiness of living peacefully
under his Gown vine and fgtree," as he called 1t
hundreds OF times in as many letters 1t Is great
mistake to think that his life at Mount Vernon
was either stale stilted Nelly Custis his adopt
ed daughter, is authority for the statement that
retired general was always full of gayety and
good spirits, surrounding himself with young peo-
PIES company, enjoying their lively conversation,
particularly the jokes" as he once said. Nelly
went so far as to claim that she found no one
quite so willing to keep pace with her own ex-
travagant spirits as her DEAR delightful old fos-
ter father.
81 How Washington did enjoy his home when he
was finally permitted to stay there! Mount Yer
non was a 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 20 years been done by us-that Is to sit
down to dinner by ourselves!" l, 5r