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

termination of romance with reign
ing beauty in the court of st. James.
The strong, manly young coloniSt
was endowed with all the character
istics of true sporting nature, which
appealed to this seasoned sportsman,
who had followed the hounds in Eng
Belvoir pack-after which the place in
Fairfax county, Va, was doubtless
named. The two f1shed, shot and hunt
ed together: and in the height of the
season would be out with the hounds
two or three times week.
\ x
In his diary Washington notes:
"Catched fox with bob'd tail and cut
ears after seven hours chase. in which
most of the dogs were worsted." Only
one who loves the chase can appre-
ciate with what pride in his pack
Washington must have made this en-
try. That they truly possessed "stami-
ma and speed, as well as tongue" is
proved by the frequent entries in
which he says: The fox was catched
in few minutes and by the names
he gave them. such as Tartar, Jupiter.
Trueman, Tipler. Truelove. Juno.
Duchess and Lady-all of whom were
puppies of his favorite Mopsey. Then
besides these chaunter brought For
well. Singer and Betsy. He also makes
frequent mention of Swectlps and
Music.
One could not imagine a more life
like picture of the first President than
one in which he is dressed in his drab
riding suit and scarlet waistcoat,
mounted on his beloved hunter Blue
skin, riding to the hounds over that
beautiful country which surrounds his
toric Mount Vernon. The ladies of his
ia followed
the hunt. some in crimson riding hab-
it's, keeping to the roads, and Mrs.
Washington in chariot and four, the
coachman and black position astride
forward horse dressed in the Wash
ington livery of scarlet, white and
gold. making gay background to the
picture as they rolled along between
the Indigenous and low stone fences
on gray hunting day in mid winter.
Billy. the negro huntsman. astride
Chinkling, was gayly dressed in his
hunting suit and his black velvet
cap ordered from London by his mas
ter Chinkling was built low and stur-
dy, like his rider, and was a wonder
ful leaper. When Billy would wind his
French horn and then with cry of
Come. Music, Come. Sweetlips: Ho,
Truelove," the hounds, in full cry,
would come on. and it was sometimes a
draw whether Col. Washington or Bill
ly was in first at the death. 1t seems
they never failed to bring Reynard to
cover, except on one occasion when
they had chased old black fox until all
were at fever heat and desperate about
the chance, but fast losing patience.
Old Blackie went ten or twenty miles
on end only to return at night to the
starting point fresh as the morning
and ready for another chase. They
never killed him, and Billy was of the
firm belief he was possessed of the
devil and that some supernatural pow
err saved him.
This Billy was famous Nimrod,
loved horses as much as his master
did and would have lived life of alb
solute joy in their>company had it not
been for his violent aversion for Bish
OPP. Col. shngton's body servant,
who. chief of stables, was the court
care of the horses.
In the servants hall he sat higher up
at table than did Billy. who always re-
ferred to him an Englishman and a
"biggety." Bishop. light mulatto.
was valet to Gen. Braddock. who when
would take him. AS chief of stables
it was his duty to make the rounds
every morning to see that the stable
boys had done their duty and that the
horses were kept IN SOOu CONDITION.
And woe to the boy who failed in his
duty, for Bishop was regular marti-
net when it came to exercising his
authority. He always took with him
en- his morning rounds n white muslin
I 10th, which he applied to the horses
{ oats, and if bit of stain was visible
: n it afterward he was severe
In later years Billy replaced Bishop
{: body servant. and after an absence
Ct nearly eight years in the service OF
Lis country when Cen. Washington re-
tIrned to Mount Vernon 1t was Billy
no rode ahead to announce the COM
i.ig of the great general and his lady
t, the household. Bishop. then an old
man. was dressed in his English regi-
o entails. which he liked to wear on
.casions, and came out to meet them.
Washington in his will gives: ITO my
ulatto man William calling himself
u lillian I.ee) ] give immediate free
uom, or. if he should prefer 1t Con ac-
count of accidents which have be-
fallen him and which have rendered
him Inca pable Of walking or any active