Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-20


ton he now is. it shall be optional In
him to do So" In either case an annuity
of $40 was given him.
The stables at Mount Vernon were as
horses having q reputation throughout
the colonies. In 1860 Gen. Washing
ton imported at his own expense a
pure-blooded Arabian horse, which he
named Magnolia and which later on
played an important part in our great
revolution.
Old records show that in 1877 the
blood of the Virginia horse was further
enriched through copious infusions of
additional Arabian blood through Lind
says Arabian. "A horseman some years
ago, in writing of this famous stock.
attributes, in a measure. the success
which the continental army gained
through its unrivaled cavalry horses
and accomplished horsemen, and he
further attributes the origin back of
all this success to foxhunting. for had
not love of the cha Sc been so keen there
would not have been so strong an in
centive to cultivate blooded stock.
Among the horses in the stables at
VI
Ajax. Climbing. Blueskin. Valiant. the
noted wa horse Nelson and Lexin gton.
perhaps the hest known of the first
Presidents stable because of the pic
ture. painted by Trumbull, of Wash
ington mounted on this animal. OF all
these there is only record of two of
them having been used in the war of
the revolution-Blueskin and Nelson
both of whom were sired by the Ara
bian Magnolia. OF these two Washing
g n
for cavalry on account of his excellent
manners and Blueskin for general use
particularly on long march.
At the battle of Princeton. when
give way and the men flying pe1l-mel1
over the field. he remarked, with some
show of feeling. IAN old ia shioned Vir
GINA fox hunt. gentlemen" showing
ed. and in the long and hard marches
in those days which tried mems souls.
his thoughts must have often reverted
to those happy days in Virginia. when
the life of the gentleman planter.
though filled with many obligations to
the colony, was one of combined sport
and duty.
Washington was very fond of shoot
ing canvasback ducks, which were
plentiful on the Potomac river, and,
when in season. supplied them for his
table. often sending some neighbor a
choice pair which he had bagged.
He was very strict about trespa ssers
on his preserves and made most strin-
gent rules against them. However, he
was very much annoyed by a poacher
who lived on the opposite side of the
river, but who would often cross over
and shoot near Mount Vernon. The
but without effect So. one day, hear
ing a shot from the direction of the
river. he quickly mounted his horse and
arrived just in time to see the poacher
in skin rowing off with the deer he
had shot. Washington rode into the
water. seized the boat and dragged it
to the shore, where he gave the tres
passer a good cowhiding.
Like true sportsman Washington
liked well made and comfortably fit
ting riding clothes. and the latest and
best in the equipment of his stables.
In the following order to his London
agent he writes with a good deal of
detail:
Send riding frock of handsome drab
broadcloth. with plain double gilt buttons.
A riding waist"oat of sIperfne scarlet cloth
and gold lace with buttons like those Of the coat.
A blue surtout coat.
switch whip with silver cap.
! man g riding saddle. | hogskin seat, large
plated stirrnps. and everything complete.
Double rcigEed bride ard Pelham bit. pla ted.
a very neat and fashionable Newmarket saddle
cloth
!. large and best portmanteau, saddle, bride
and pillinn.
Cloak bag. surcinsle. checked saddle cloth,
holsters. &c. &c.
In this same order was also the black
velvet riding cap for the servant Billy,
worn at the fox chases. These orders
were not always for riding suits. There
were also ordered. in detail. the elegant
suits of satin. velvet and gold lace,
which were worn for dress and at the
assemblies where Washington's com
handing figure lowered above most of
the other guests in the room.
In his ledger there are innumerable
items of Il doz. packs playing cards.
and in his diary he notes on rainy
day. "at home all day with cards.
However. despite his fondness for play,
he seems not to have been very sue
cessful gambler, and to have oftener
lost than won.
In 174S, when he was about sixteen
years old, he won shillings and
pence from his sister-in-law at whist