Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-25
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WashingtOn the Farmer.

Mr. Editor: One of the chief treasures of our country is the memory of Wash inston, a character to be held up for the imitation of youth. the admiration of the stranger, and the applause of all ; mankind. Our greatest American was George Washington. and our greatest American woman was his lovely wife, Martha Washington We know great deal about Washington the statesman, and Washington the general, but he was also great farmer. His ambition was
 to be the leading farmer in the United
 States. He and Thomas Jefferson, who
 wrote the Declaration of Independence, were great friends. Talking with Jeffer- son one day Washington said, q would rather be a farmer than have all the titles of Europe" Washington inherit ed Mount Vernon, an estate of 5000 acres. He owned 300 slaves He hao a barge rowed by six uniformed negroes in which he visited his friends on the Maryland shore. He had a coach made 1 in England and drawn by four black l horses Mrs. Washington's turn out He | preferred horseS SIek riding and had
 stable filled wieh thorough bleods. He I delighted in the chase two or three times l a week-a fox hunt with the gentlemen l of the ifeighborhood, ending the day with | a hunting dinner. Then it was that | Martha Washington appeared in all her loveliness. As an evidence that he loved 1 farming-he had 5se acres in grass, 400 l in oats, TOO in buckwheat, 500 in corn, | 500 in barley, 100 acres in potatoes, beans, etc. He kept 20 ploughs going most of the year. He conducted 1 coopera ge and made all his barrels. | He owned schooners that carried his flour to market. He had shoe makers
 who made all the shoes worn on the es- | tate. He had weavers who made all the
 linen, woolen and cotton cloth needed on the plantation He had fisheries 'on the
 Potomac river. A blacksmith shop re- paired wagons and implements for his neighbors. A force of carpenters con structed not only his own buildings but many in Alexandria and Washington. He invented a plough. He introduced Hew
 methods of husbandry. He had dairy of 300 head of cattle; a large flock of sheep His pride was to produce the
 largest mutton and the best quality of wool. Every morning he rode around the estate to examine the condition of the slaves-if any were sick he provided
 medicine : weak and infirm everything 1 necessary for their comfort was admins
 tered. At his death all his slaves were set free. The germs of goodness and ex- } cellence were implanted in his youth He ; was frank in his intercourse, never stoop. 1 ed to mean devices, was always fraternal , never trivial or forgot his dignity. He , inspired every one with the feeling thai they were in the presence of one of the 5 first men amelg men. Like Lincoln Washington never saw the inside of g university. He had only a limited com = mon school education. From his youtl z he was a constant reader of the besi T literature of the times close observes ,l of the best models of the English |. language. Such is our Washington. H 2 still lives in the active beating heart O B our American life. His glory cover! 6 our continent. We stand in his presenc ,- and feel his power. Daniel Webster said Ii 'He was the greatest of good men ant
 the best of great men"
 CHAs ". HANNA.
 Bezrah, Conn, Feb. 21, 1921.