American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-02-19

But by the allpowerful dispensations Of Provi
dence have been protected beyond all human
probability and expectation, for l had four bullets
through my coat and two horses shot under me,
yet escaped unhurt, altho' death was leveling my
companions on every side of met
We have been most scandalously beaten by a
trihing body of men, but fatigue and want Of
time viii prevent me from giving you the details
until | have the happiness of seeing you at Mount
Vernon. r
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 his military
Sleeve Whhe MS fatwitted enemies tried to play
MS own tricks back on him. Even in his retreats
and escapes from the British-as AT Long leland
and before Princeton-he laughed and kicked M
nlmble heels in the face of the sursuing enemy
IL was while his headquarters were in Jersey
that Washington perpetrated the great Jersey
Joke sun perpetuated by so many millions. He
told an English traveller named Weld that he
was never SO mueh annoyed by mosquitoes, for
they used to bite through the thiokest boot -
When the war was over the victorious oou
mander entertained the vanquished general ora
at dinner, with some of tbe leodor~
among the French allies. Washington nresidod
IN calling for toasts, CORVALLIS. with an obliri
BUSINESS OF the changed conditions that o. 81
English. proposed The King of England" 90 :,
subject for high praise.
The other guests were in CONSERVATION Wo,,.
the presiding genius. on whose very head r.
George had set a price. resent this as an insult
The King of England announced the toast
master general, raising his glass. The CO..
gazed at him, transfxed with establishment
Long may he, continued Washington
may he stay therei" e
He pronounced the last two words in -
whisper, with a shrug and a rueful grimacs v,btes
made all the company. including Lorn Cornvau,-
who now saw his mistake. applaud with -"
laughter; and Washington's ready humor has
prevented a disagreeable complication. "a
After the Revolution, Washington was na~u.
ted the long-coveted happiness Of living nsaooenmS
under his own vine and hgtree." as he canos =
hundreds of times in as many letters. II is -.
mistake TO think that his life at Mount w.
was either stale OF stilted. Nelly Custis his oa1SN
ed daughter. is authority for the statement ~.
retired general was always fun of pavstr s"a '
good spirits. surrounding himself with vorn. s -
pies company, enjoying their lively conversottsS
particularly the jokes" as he once said ~
went so far as to claim that she found j,
quite so willing to keep pace with her ou, y
travagant spirits as her dear. delightful ola -
ter father. '0S
How Washington did enjoy his home Who,
was finally permitted to stay therel Mount ~
non was a Mecca for pilgrims from an ovsr ~.
world. He once wrote to Tobias Lear "Irr,N-.
some one pops in Unexpectedly Mrs. Washfn-ts'
and myself will do what l believe has no, v-;,ts-
the last 20 years been done by us-that il 80 -
down to dinner by ourselves."